Traditionally the Young Investigators’ Meetings comprise of two major components- the YIM followed by the PDF Satellite Meeting. This year (in the virtual mode) these have been split into the YIM 2021 and the PDF Meeting 2021. The PDF Meeting 2021 in it’s virtual format will maintain the essence of the prior PDF Satellite Meetings. It is a platform for postdoctoral fellows (from India and across the globe) who intend to set up an independent research group in India to learn about the thriving research ecosystem in India and virtually meet and listen to Directors/Vice-Chancellors/ Representatives of institutes and universities from across India.

The PDF Meeting 2021 will maintain the essence of the PDF Satellite Meetings in a virtual format. It will differ in its duration- the (virtual) PDF Meeting 2021 will be spread over 4 days.

The PDF Meeting 2021 begins on 18 May, 2021 and ends on 21 May 2021.

Yes. We welcome postdoctoral fellows who are attending YIM 2021 to apply for this meeting. Even if you have been selected to attend YIM 2021 as a PDF, you will need to complete a separate application form for this meeting. Please note that the selection process for the two meetings is independent.

At the PDF Meeting 2021 you will learn about the thriving research ecosystem in India and virtually meet and interact with Directors/Vice-Chancellors/ Representatives of institutes and universities from across India. They will shed light on the hiring practices of their institution. The meeting will also include two-panel discussions on topics related to the growing research ecosystem in India, the hiring focus, and the process of establishing an independent research career in India.

We strongly encourage selected postdoctoral fellows to attend the entire meeting.

We request you to let us know well in advance if you cannot attend the meeting. This will provide a spot for waitlist participants. Please mail us at yim2021[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

It is not possible to transfer your slot. The selection of attendees is done on the basis of the merit of individual applications.

The PDF Meeting 2021 is a virtual meeting and the sessions will be held on Zoom.

No. There is no fee to attend this meeting.

The PDF Meeting 2021 is open to postdoctoral fellows, in India and overseas, looking to start their independent research careers in India in the near future.

To apply, complete the application form (https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​s​/​p​d​f​-​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​-​2​0​2​1​/​apply). Please ensure that you read the ​‘Instructions to Apply’ (https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​s​/​p​d​f​-​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​-​2​0​2​1​/​i​n​s​t​r​u​c​t​i​o​n​s​-​f​o​r​-​a​p​p​lying) section carefully prior to applying.

Apart from the application form, you will also need to submit the following: 1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2. Letter of motivation- i.e. why do you want to attend this meeting (250 words) 3. Your thoughts on starting a career in India (100 words) 4. Abstract (Technical summary of your research) (500 words) + accompanying image 5. Recording of an elevator pitch/​lightning talk (3‑minute long) based on template provided* [share drive link (with permissions to view the file) at the end of your Technical summary of research]. 6. Recommendation letter (1) to be submitted (directly) to us via email at YIM2021[at] indiabioscience[dot]org using the Subject “ Recommendation letter [FullName] | PDF Meeting 2021. Please ensure that your referee shares this letter with us by 31stMarch.

The deadline to apply is 09 April 2021 (23:59, IST). Please ensure that we receive your completed application form with the link to the recording of your lightning talk and recommendation letter by then.

A maximum of 50 postdoctoral fellows will be selected to attend the meeting.

Yes, you are welcome to apply.

Yes, you are welcome to apply for future in-person YIMs.

You will be intimated about the outcome of your application by mid-April 2021.

We will compile the CV, lightning talk (elevator pitch) and the technical summary that you submit in your application into a database. This database will be shared with all the institutional representatives for their perusal prior to the meeting.

Yes. All invited participants need to register to be able to attend the meeting sessions on Zoom. These registration links will be shared with you closer to the meeting date.

When you apply for this meeting you are required to submit a recording of a lightning talk/​elevator pitch. The lightning talks of all the invited meeting participants will be compiled into a database that will be shared with the institutional representatives attending this meeting.

There will be no poster or talk session at the PDF Meeting 2021.

We will have two networking sessions where postdoctoral fellows will be able to initiate an interaction with the institutional representatives. You can also interact with the institutional representatives via email.

The two networking sessions are 30-minute slots at the end of days 1 and 3 of the meeting when the attending postdoctoral fellows can initiate contact with the institution representatives via the chatbox on the Zoom session. This time is not meant for you to have a detailed discussion with the institution representatives as they will likely be chatting with multiple participants. Instead, use this time to initiate contact and possibly set up a time/​mode for more detailed subsequent interaction.

The list of institutional representatives attending the PDF Meeting 2021 will be updated to the Programme (https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​s​/​p​d​f​-​m​e​e​t​i​n​g​-​2​0​2​1​/​p​r​o​g​ramme) by late-March. We strive to ensure that we have diversity, inviting representatives from research institutions and central/​state/​private universities. All of the invited institutions are currently/​soon to be in the hiring process.

No. The sessions will not be recorded.

We will send e‑participation certificates to those who require certificates.

You are welcome to share snapshots and updates of the meeting, but kindly adhere to the Code of Conduct when doing so. Briefly, please keep privacy, confidentiality and relevance to the meeting in mind.

The PDF Meeting 2021 social media team will also be sharing snippets through the sessions, as well as a summary of the day’s sessions on Twitter.

Kindly use the hashtag #yim2021 on social media.

As per relevance, you can tag @IndiaBioscience, @DBTIndia, and personal participant handles.