Anjana Badrinarayanan: HFSP Long-term Fellowship, HFSP Career Development and HFSP Programme Grant awardee

Since 2013, I've been fortunate to receive support from HFSP that has played an instrumental role in my career trajectory. It all started with the HFSP Long-term fellowship that I was awarded to carry out postdoctoral work in the lab of Prof. Michael Laub. The research there, opened doors to numerous fundamental questions about the regulation of DNA repair in bacteria. Building on these ideas, I transitioned to start my independent research group at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, India, thanks to the HFSP Career Development Award. And recently, my team and I were awarded the HFSP Programme Grant, which has taken us in a new direction. The exciting research work we do has been largely due to the generous support from HFSP, which has allowed me to pursue frontier science in a way that would have been very challenging otherwise.

I highlight a few key points of HFSP programs below:

1. Research: One of the unique aspects of HFSP funding is their encouragement to pursue science in new frontiers, including new model systems. This has allowed my lab to establish new models to study genome maintenance, which has opened up exciting avenues for scientific pursuit.
2. Collaboration: Another aspect that I particularly appreciate about HFSP is their support for collaborative science across disciplines. Through their funding, my lab has been able to collaborate with computational biologists and biophysicists, which has broadened our expertise and enabled us to work on exciting problems outside of our area of specialisation.
   
3. Flexible funding: The flexible funding option of HFSP allowed me to make excellent personnel hires, build imaging systems rapidly, and explore new avenues of scientific research. The support has also allowed me to stay connected with the bacterial cell biology community by presenting our work at international meetings.
4. HFSP meetings. Attending the HFSP annual meetings has been an incredible opportunity for me to broaden my scientific horizons and expand my professional network.
5. Support from programme officers. I have interacted with various granting agencies, but the HFSP team stands out as fantastic. They have been incredibly understanding, responsive, and supportive throughout my scientific journey.

Garima Rani: HFSP Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship awardee

My interest in bacteria began during my postgraduate studies when I applied physical principles to model their growth laws. During my PhD, I continued to study bacteria using theoretical and simulation-based techniques, but as my work progressed, I became increasingly interested in their biological aspects. To address the issue of antibiotic resistance, which is prevalent in India, I realized the need to learn experimental techniques. This is how my HFSP journey began, with a desire to learn and apply these techniques for transformative research.

I first learned about HFSP from Prof. Anupam Sengupta at a conference, where he suggested that I apply for the HFSP Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship (CDF) to work in his lab. The CDF is unique in that it allows for individuals with non-biological backgrounds to transition into biology research. The fellowship welcomes diverse ideas from fields such as mathematics, engineering, and pure sciences, which I believe is necessary to address global challenges.

For me, the HFSP application process was an immersive experience, taking close to a year to finalise the research plan with Prof. Sengupta. My project focuses on understanding the organisation of cells in bacterial colonies through tracking the dynamics of topological defects using advanced microscopy, machine learning, and theoretical methods. Indeed, it has been an exciting journey and I am grateful to HFSP for this opportunity.

To prepare for and apply for an HFSP Cross-Disciplinary Fellowship, I recommend the following:

1. Contact your potential host well in advance: This will give you enough time to have an extensive discussion with them about the appropriate research directions to match your background and skills.
2. Use the research project as an opportunity to learn a new subject: Conduct a thorough literature review and develop innovative ideas for the potential project.
3. Propose to use methods you learned from previous research: In conjunction with newer tools and techniques for the HFSP research project, you can also tie in previous research experience with the HFSP research proposal, via methods, techniques and tools you are familiar with.
4. Contacting the HFSP team: The HFSP team is very helpful and can be contacted for any questions before, during, and after the application. They are the definitive source of information on the HFSP CD (or any other HFSP) Fellowship.

MSCA postdoctoral fellowships are of two types — Global Fellowships that fund researchers moving out of Europe and European Fellowships that fund researchers moving to or within Europe. Researchers of any nationality can apply for the latter. Applicants must have a PhD degree or have successfully defended their doctoral thesis with a maximum of eight years of research experience. Monthly salary, research allowance as well as living and travel costs are supported in this programme. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships' call for proposals is currently open and the call closes in October 2021.

Jaishree Subrahmaniam is a Ph.D. graduate from Universite’ Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, INRAe, France specializing in ecological genomics. She has been awarded an MSCA Postdoctoral European Fellowship award in 2020. She will move to Aarhus University, Denmark in the fall of 2021 to pursue her postdoctoral research in plant evolutionary ecology.

George: Jaishree, please tell us 10 things to keep in mind while working on the MSCA fellowship application.

Subrahmaniam:

1. Start early: Starting early gives time for innumerable rounds of refining. It is advisable that prospective applicants should start searching for a host lab early. The grant is a collaborative product of the host lab and yourself, so the sooner the better.

2. Host lab: A suitable host lab is the one that complements your skill set. It's important to have a clarity of purpose on what training you need. Consider your own strengths and weaknesses and areas that you find interesting but haven’t had the time to explore yet. Identify labs that work in those areas as the next step. Contacts are cultivated through conversations and professional networks. If you have an interesting idea, reach out to potential labs. Moreover, Marie Curie fellowship allows more than one host lab. So, don't be shy from seeking collaborations, or having multiple people as supervisors or mentors. If selected well, this strengthens the proposal.

3. Content of research proposal: The application is divided into three parts. The Excellence part includes the scientific aspect of the whole project. The applicant can be daring or ambitious enough to seek a new direction but should be smart in convincing the selection committee that (and why) you are keen to learn a particular technique or field of science. Also, lay down a clear vision of the importance of the proposed project in your career development.

4. Impact part: This is the second and significant part of the fellowship application. The questions that need to be answered in this section are:

• What could be the impact of this research, not just for your career, but for European science and science in general?

• Why should you be the person conducting this research?

• Why is the host lab perfect for you to work with on this research?

Be innovative in answering these questions from a non-scientific perspective (because the scientific part is already covered in the excellence section) such as:

• What are your qualities as a person such as leadership skills?

• What do you already possess that puts you in the right spot to conduct this research?

Include experiences and achievements even from your undergraduate studies such as being a member of a society, organizing committee of an event or science communication in my case. Remember, you are being assessed whether you can be an independent faculty in future.

5. Implementation: This is the third section of application. Propose a realistic plan regarding implementation of the project in a 2 years timeframe. It is advisable not to get too ambitious. Showing deliverables and milestones via Gantt charts can really help.

6. Putting relevant information in the correct place: Texts have to be coherent enough to form a story so that reviewers grasp the project in limited time. Putting correct information in the right section is the key. Be especially careful while writing about impact and implementation.

7. It's all about YOU! Applicants should emphasize and highlight their achievements well. It is important to underscore how this particular grant will help you to become the next paradigm-shifting researcher. Be true and smart about conveying your life’s ambitions, whether it's a career in academia or industry.

8. Make use of limited spacing: The whole application including references has to be fitted in 10 pages. Think of innovative ways to concise information such as tabulating information, flowcharts, bullet points, etc.

9. Seek inputs: Getting inputs from researchers with diverse backgrounds is essential. My proposal was evaluated by 6 scientists in non-related fields.

10. Quality over quantity: The success rate of fresh PhD graduates for an MSCA application is low but not impossible, because I am the testament for that. Research experiences and publications matter but are not the only deciding factors. If you think your idea is worth being funded, go ahead and do not be scared about applying. There are applicants who failed many times before finally being awarded with an MSCA fellowship. So, perseverance and determination to not give up matters here just as well as in science.

Arun K. Shukla, Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) and an EMBO YI shares his 10 pointers for the last mile of the application process with Shantala Hari Dass. Arun’s lab at IIT-K utilises a multifunctional approach to look at activation and signalling of GPCRs with the hope to improve therapeutic approaches for human diseases.

Here are 10 things to keep in mind as you work on your EMBO-YIP application.

1. Double-check: Go through the application process. All the details about the process, different stages and well-crafted guidelines are available at this link. The applicant should go through this a couple of times to get familiar with all the requirements. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants should have been an independent Principal Investigator (PI) for at least one year but less than four years, and have at least one corresponding author research paper published (or, at least formally accepted) from her/his independent laboratory. Please refer to the detailed application guidelines for relaxations in the four-year criterion in case of maternity and paternity leave. Those who have already crossed four years of being an independent PI but are within six years of the same can apply to the EMBO GI program instead.
2. Plan: Be aware that the application process has multiple stages and plan accordingly. There is a pre-application followed by the full application and interview for the shortlisted applicants. Reference letters are required at the pre-application stage itself. Therefore, identify and request the referees well in advance.
3. Recommendation letters: Three letters are required, and the referees should directly submit them using the link provided to them. Although former supervisors can serve as referees, it may also be a good idea to have at least one (or more) letters from the leaders in your field of research. They may be able to comment specifically on your research outcomes, which can make your application stronger.
4. Achievements: The primary selection criterion for EMBO YIP is scientific excellence, and the applications are assessed primarily based on the publication track record, a demonstrated ability to have established an independent and ambitious research program reasonably distinct from PhD and postdoctoral work, potential to emerge as a leader in the research domain, and the research environment at the host institution.
5. Highlight: The full application requires a two-page write-up on your research program including the ongoing work, future directions, and long-term vision. The applicants may use this space to highlight the importance, novelty and innovation of their research program. In addition, the full application also requires the details of current research funding support, key research personnel working in your laboratory, and a brief description of the host institute to underline the feasibility of running an ambitious research program.
6. Ongoing research program: EMBO YIP is primarily an opportunity to interact and network with peers in the broad domain of life sciences, and there are additional benefits as outlined in the program booklet. It also includes some research funding support but the applicant is expected to have sufficient research funding to sustain and develop the independent research program. Therefore, it is important that the existing research funding support (extramural and intramural) if clearly highlighted and explained.
7. Host institution and collaborative network: The applicants should clearly underscore the suitability of the host institution for running an ambitious research program with specific mention of infrastructure and a conducive environment for interdisciplinary work. Applicants should also outline key research collaborations (national and international) to demonstrate the comprehensive and interdisciplinary nature of their research program.
8. Review and refine: Once you have put together your application, take a step back for a few days and then review it carefully. Do this a few times to finetune your application.
9. Inputs: Pick 2-3 (or more) senior scientists with experience in writing proposals who will be willing to critically read through your application package. Ask them to be brutally honest with their feedback. As with the reference letter, do give them sufficient time to carry out this exercise. Also, share the application package with your peers and request them to give it a careful read for science and writing. Note: Make sure that you select people with whom you are comfortable sharing your research proposal.
10. Ask: If you have any additional queries about any aspect of the application process, feel free to email EMBO YIP staff members for clarification. If you would like to discuss any technical aspects of the application or get feedback on your application, feel free to contact Arun or other EMBO YIs in India.

The details of the next call can be found here. For any other details and clarification write to yip@​embo.​org.

Watch the recording of our webinar on EMBO Schemes for Young Investigators here.

Success is where preparation and opportunity meet - Bobby Unser

Research is increasingly becoming more global in nature, traversing geographical and thematic boundaries. This is reflected in the growing numbers of international funding opportunities, some of which India even contributes to. The international funds available to Indian life science researchers include schemes such as postdoctoral fellowships, research grants, support for networking, skill-building, and team awards amongst others. IndiaBioscience launched the International Grants Awareness Program (iGAP) in late 2019 to facilitate the Indian life science community’s pursuit of international funds. The iGAP program follows a three-pronged approach, by aiming to educate by spreading awareness about various international funding opportunities, to equip by training aspiring applicants to draft successful applications, and to inspire by boosting the confidence of researchers to apply for more international funds by sharing success stories from India.

In order to bridge the gap in awareness, build confidence, and provide skill-sets to build a strong application, we have been creating resources and hosting events for prospective applicants. Through these events, we expose them to the perspectives of the funding agencies, selection/review committee members, and awardees. Till now, we have created a pool of resources for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and independent investigators. The resources are in various formats - informative articles, in-depth conversations, podcasts, webinars, and in-person workshops (prior to the pandemic). In Oct 2020, Smita Jain and Shantala Hari Dass received financial support for 1 year in the form of the IRMI Research Management Grant from DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance to execute and grow the iGAP initiative.

In its first year, iGAP has covered funding opportunities (available to Indian researchers) from three agencies - the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP), and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). We began with Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships through an informative article, an interactive podcast and an Ask-Me-Anything session with past Indian MSCA awardees - Amey Redkar and Mahipal Ganji. An interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse is that it was the community’s interest in the MSCA fellowship that led us to delve into the MSCA schemes in our first year.

Next, we moved on to a deep dive into the EMBO schemes for Young (independent) Investigators and EMBO Fellowships with representation from EMBO (Gerlind Wallon, Betsi Flores and David del Alamo) and insights from EMBO Young Investigator Minhaj Sirajjuddin, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem), Bengaluru. We also shone a light on success stories from India in the ‘Awardee-in-Focus’ column. Our first offering here is a conversation with Dimple Notani, a group leader at National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru who was among the first cohort of EMBO Global Investigator Network (GIN) awardees, describing her experiences and insights into the application process and what the award will mean for her scientific career.

Lastly, we conducted two informational webinars on the HFSP- Research Grants and Postdoctoral Fellowship, bringing in perspectives from HFSP directly, as well as from Review Committee members Shubha Tole, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai, and Gautam Menon, Ashoka University, Sonipat, and past awardees Satyajit Mayor (NCBS), Anjana Badrinarayanan (NCBS) and Rashna Bhandari, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad. Driven by the questions asked during our live sessions, we recorded a podcast with Vidita Vaidya (TIFR), who has been on the selection committee for the HFSP Fellowships, and Guntram Bauer (HFSP), breaking down the HFSP mindset and addressing misconceptions.

All of these resources have been compiled into funding-body-specific infographics that serve as a one-stop source of information. During the course of building these resources, many experts came forward as mentors to prospective applicants. For this, a database of mentors and resource people has been (and will continue to be) built. This growing database currently includes about 20 mentors and resource people. Our live sessions (5 webinars + 1 workshop) drew a cumulative attendance of over 900 researchers from across India. Through our live sessions, we give researchers an opportunity to ask and interact with the panel of experts. We also conducted an Ask-Me-Anything session to address more candidate-specific questions closer to the application submission deadline. The recorded videos of these webinars have had about 1500 views while our website (where all the informative articles are housed) has a monthly viewership of over 1 lakh. The response of the community - applicants, prospective applicants, and mentors - to iGAP resources and events has reinforced its need.

We have exciting plans for the coming year. While 2020 was dedicated to laying the foundation for iGAP, 2021 will be our period of extensive growth. We plan to grow the repository of iGAP resources, share existing resources as per the application cycle calendars of the various funding agencies that we have created resources for, and foster interactions with our expanding database of mentors and resource people. We plan to do this via moderated discussion forums and periodic Ask-Me-Anything sessions a few months prior to the application deadlines.

In order to integrate resources all in one place, we are happy to launch a dedicated iGAP webpage housed at the IndiaBioscience website. Please check out the iGAP webpage, share it with your network, participate in our sessions, and engage with us.

In March 2019, EMBO launched its new programme, the Global Investigator Network (GIN). GIN builds upon the model of the Young Investigator Programme (YIP) and aims to provide early-career scientists in life sciences from a select number of countries with a fertile ground to network and collaborate. GIN also provides the awardees with support to further their scientific career, such as, (i) an avenue to access instrumentation facilities in Europe, (ii) support for hosting and attending seminars, talks, and student-exchange, and (iii) opportunities for mentorship.

The first cohort of awardees of the GIN Programme included three young scientists from India. They were Dimple Notani, Assistant Professor, National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore; Santosh Chauhan, Scientist E, Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar; and Jyotilakshmi Vadassery, Staff Scientist IV, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi.

Earlier in 2020, Shantala Hari Dass spoke with Dimple Notani. Notani’s lab at NCBS focuses on studying chromosome architecture through temporal and spatial transcriptional regulation that affects normal homeostasis and development, and causes diseases if dysregulated. In the following conversation, Notani reflects on her journey towards becoming a EMBO Global Investigator, her expectations from this award, and suggestions for prospective candidates.

Congratulations on being awarded the EMBO GI. Can you walk us through how you got to know of this award?

Thank you, Shantala. I was aware of EMBO's YIP and was looking forward to applying for it. I had casually logged in to EMBO’s website and then got to know that they had started a new program called the “Global Investigator Network”. The scheme is similar to the existing YIP but here they have restricted the applications to some countries like India, Singapore, Taiwan and Chile. Instead of waiting for YIP till next year I thought I should apply for this because the eligibility and benefits looked similar.

What did the application process entail?

The application process, like most other applications of this type, involved a CV, an online application, professional qualifications, scientific achievements including some papers that I had published, and the contributions made in the field. Apart from that, a two page summary of research currently being carried out in the PI’s group was needed. These two pages took the maximum time of my application preparation because I had to really think about (i) what I’m doing, (ii) the projects going on in the lab, and (iii) where I see myself in the next 5 years, in a logical manner, such that when someone reads those two pages, they would clearly see where I want to be in the next few years. I think this process was really important and I dedicated a lot of time to writing this. Once I was done with it, I sent it to a couple of my friends to read. The feedback I got was very important because while you are passionate about your field, someone on the outside has the ability to give an opinion which is really unbiased.

Can you tell us about the post-submission process and the interview?

I submitted the application in June, 2019 and in July I got to know that I was shortlisted for the interview, which was to happen in November in Heidelberg. In terms of eligibility, the PI has to be within 6 years of starting their independent lab and should have published at least one paper as a corresponding author. When I applied, I fitted the first point, but the last author paper was a bottleneck since I had submitted a manuscript which was still under review. I was expecting it to be accepted by the time of the interview.

It was very clear to me that I would be considered only if my paper got accepted by the day of the interview. Since my paper was not yet accepted on the day of my departure for the interviews, I was in a dilemma whether to go or not. My husband motivated me to go for the experience which I would gain from attending and meeting people. As I was waiting for my turn on the day of the interviews, I received a mail saying that my paper was accepted which sounded like a miracle! During the interview, I had to explain the on-going research in my lab in just 10 minutes. I was also surprised to find that the interview panel was well-read about the research of each and every candidate. Within two days, we came to know about the final outcome of the GIN selection process.

From your journey, when do you think aspiring applicants should start working on their application?

I think one has to give a lot of time to it. It also depends on the person. I take very long to distil ideas, put them on paper, and polish them. It took me almost two months to finish my application.

What were some of the challenges that you faced during the application process?

The biggest challenge I faced was to believe that I am good enough to apply. I knew many people who had applied for YIP but didn't get through, so at one point I was reluctant to apply. I also noticed lack of awareness and bravery in people regarding such applications. Another challenge came when I started drafting my application: I felt isolated and was worried about how much data to reveal in order to make a good application for myself. Making this call was a challenge.

What role did support from your institute play during your application process? Were there any mentors you would like to speak about?

Mentoring really helped and assured me that I was not alone in this process. I have some mentors including Gaiti Hasan, Raghu Padinjat and Uma Ramakrishnan at NCBS, who motivated me to apply and helped put my research work into a bigger picture, Minhaj Sirajuddin (InStem), who is an EMBO-YI, gave me some pointers for the interview. These interactions really helped. Apart from this, my postdoc mentor Michael Geoff Rosenfeld, UCSD, was also encouraging. His support was quite meaningful as I regard him to be one of the best scientists that I know.

Taking a step back, why did you apply for this award? What do you think it will mean for your scientific career?
The kind of support EMBO offers to GIs is very different. Through other EMBO awardees, I knew that EMBO does not provide direct research funds but is of huge help for forging collaborations, building leadership skills, learning laboratory management, obtaining support for travel and networking. Networking is a very beneficial aspect. I think at the early career stage, it is very important to have such large networks to discuss your ideas and receive feedback on manuscripts and grant proposals. Through this award, I am hoping for more collaborations.

EMBO is open for using instrumentation facilities in Europe as a GI for me and my students, which will be covered as part of this award. The annual meetings are a platform for discussions and learning. After receiving this award, I’m getting many more opportunities and I don’t think I would have got them only through my publications. EMBO also provides allowances for childcare while attending conferences which is important for people like me who have a young one.

There are many prospective candidates who are looking forward to applying. Based on your experience, what do you think EMBO is looking for in a GI application?

When I went for the interview, it was very clear that EMBO was looking for great science and not just focusing on where one has published. Whoever I interacted with was doing great science. Being able to present one’s current research in a manner in which one also highlights one’s future, is very important to EMBO. Clarity of vision is also important.

During the application process of GI, a list of fields is provided that EMBO is interested in. I would certainly suggest prospective applicants to see if what they are proposing is there in that mandate or not. I also learnt upon writing to EMBO that there was no age limit or criteria. I found the EMBO staff really interactive and helpful.

Do you have any advice for aspiring applicants?

It is my observation and was also pointed out by other EMBO members that applicants from India, in general, have an inhibition. Whatever the outcome, the application process itself teaches a lot. Interacting with the committee members is helpful regardless of whether the application is selected.

I would suggest that prospective applicants put their best foot forward. They need not be timid while projecting themselves and have no need to shy away from speaking out about their achievements and successes. I also encourage female scientists to apply. Often, we [female scientists] carry responsibilities of both family and lab and applying for such awards takes the last priority.

How do you think you can help aspiring applicants?

DN: I’m open to sharing my feedback for presentations and holding discussions with aspiring applicants. I will be happy to offer any help in application crafting and other aspects.

The details of the next call can be found here. The previous call was opened for applications on 19 March, 2020 and ran until 1 June, 2020. For any other details and clarification write to global@embo.org.

More Information on EMBO Schemes for Young Investigators

On 25 June 1903, Marie Skłodowska-Curie defended her PhD thesis, becoming the first woman in France to receive a doctoral degree. The committee members noted that Curie’s findings were some of the greatest scientific contributions presented through a doctoral thesis. Later, Curie became a two-time winner of the Nobel Prize. In order to honour the excellence Curie showed in her research and the values she stood for, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) were initiated in 1996.

MSCA Fellowships (MSCF) is an opportunity for researchers to enhance their research skills through international and intersectoral mobility. There are two types of individual fellowships - Global Fellowships that fund researchers moving out of Europe and European Fellowships that fund researchers moving to Europe. Researchers from India are eligible to apply for both. However, those presently working in India are only eligible for the latter.

Talking about the impact of the fellowship, Amey Redkar, a postdoctoral fellow at University of Cordoba, Spain and an MSCF awardee, says, “MSCF is an attractive opportunity for early career researchers to develop their own research projects and ideas in any field or interdisciplinary nature. As an MSCA Fellow, I feel this scheme is a highly rewarding opportunity to gain freedom and lay the foundation towards developing an independent research career. MSCA offers support towards bench fees and consumable costs and hence you have experience of managing a research project and also prepares you for the next phases in your academic career.”

The European Commission supports monthly salary, research allowance and other non-monetary benefits of the awardees. Typically, the fellowship covers living, travel, and family costs. The amount of financial support is decided by subject-specific panels.

Tenure for the European MSCF lasts from 12 to 24 months. In order to apply, the applicants must have a doctoral degree or at least four years of full-time equivalent research experience at the time of the call deadline. MSCF does not have any age limit for applicants and supports their career development and advanced skill training in all scientific disciplines. The applicants are expected to team up with a host supervisor for a competitive and justified proposal.

The electronically submitted proposals must be prepared by the researcher in cooperation with the main supervisor in the host organization. The proposals can cover a wide range of scientific areas such as life sciences, chemistry, information sciences, environment and geosciences and physics. The proposal has two parts: (1) administrative forms, declarations and contacts and (2) technical description of the proposed project. The latter component is the most crucial aspect of the application and should describe the proposed work in detail along with clear objectives, deliverables, and milestones in not more than ten pages.

“Having the first draft of the application ready well in advance of the deadline helps a lot. Getting feedback from as many diverse backgrounds as possible is also beneficial. I think MSCA likes those risky and challenging projects, not the incremental ones. Also, it is important to emphasize your achievements well and lay down a clear vision about career plans,” recommends Mahipal Ganji, an MSCF awardee working at Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry Martinsried and LMU in Munich, Germany.

"In order to increase the chances of success, review the list of successful projects of the scheme and if possible, have informational interviews with past awardees to get their views on what worked best for their application,” suggests Vineetha Raghavan, Grants Manager at National Centre For Biological Sciences, Bengaluru.

MCSF is a fellowship that benefits both the researchers and their host institutions, by providing the former with an opportunity to build their careers through mobility, and allowing the latter to build stronger worldwide networks.

The deadline for this year’s call is 9 September, 2020.