For PDFs: If you have been selected for the YIM as a Post Doctoral Fellow (PDF), you are expected to attend the meeting from 14 – 18 February 2020. You arrive before lunch on 14 February and leave after lunch on 18 February 2020.

For YIs: If you have been selected for the YIM as a Young Investigator (YI), you are expected to attend the meeting from 14 — 16 February 2020. You should arrive before lunch on 14 February and need to check out on the morning of 17 February 2020.

The meeting starts post lunch and accommodation will be provided from the noon of 14 February (check-in time is 12 noon). 

If you are a mentor, institute director or funding agency representative, you will be informed of your required dates of attendance via email.

YIM 2020 ends immediately after lunch on 18 February 2020. You are welcome to leave anytime after this. We will not be providing accommodation on the night of 18 February 2020.

All selected participants are required to attend all days of the YIM as per their category. Participants who cannot stay for all days are requested to decline attendance.

PDFs and YIs will present their scientific work at YIM and receive feedback from their peers. A number of sessions will focus on jump-starting your career in India and strategies to overcome common issues faced by young faculty. There will be lots of opportunities to interact with mentors and directors to get the maximum out of the experience.

PDFs — Post-Doctoral Fellows who are looking to apply for jobs in the coming year, and who think they will benefit from meeting Directors/​Heads of Institutions that are hiring. Early-stage PDFs are not encouraged to apply, as the meeting will not be useful for them. 

YIs — Young Investigators with jobs in India who are <8 years into their careers can apply for the YIM.

YIM is a unique meeting, being a blend of science and career discussions.

For PDFs looking to start independent careers in India, the meeting is an opportunity to meet several Directors/​Heads of institutes under one roof. Your CVs will be circulated to them in advance of the meeting and you will have the opportunity to meet with them one-on-one to discuss your career goals. 

For YIs who have established themselves in the Indian scenario, the meeting provides a space to discuss strategies to boost productivity and deal with issues. It is also a space for all attendees to get to know their peers in the life science profession in India and make a strong knit network.

Several hours each day are devoted to poster sessions and break out sessions, which are prime networking times. PDFs will also have a dedicated session with Directors. Also, since this is a residential meeting and all attendees will be at the venue for the entire duration of the meeting, we encourage you to initiate discussions with your peers, the mentors and others at the meeting. The mentors have dedicated the entire duration of this meeting, and we urge you to interact with them as much as possible.

By networking, engaging and participating in sessions!

YIM 2020 is a meeting focused on networking, mentorship and scientific exchange. We value the presence of every attendee and want everyone to have a rewarding experience at the meeting. All attendees are therefore expected to show respect and courtesy towards others through the meeting. All attendees are required to follow the Conference Code of Conduct given on our website.

All PDF and YI participants at the YIM have to fill out the application form on our site and get through the review process to get selected for the YIM. The application process for YIM 2020 will open on 1 July 2019. The only other participants at YIMs are invited and fall into the categories of Institute Directors, Mentors and Funding Agency representatives. No walk-in attendees are entertained at YIMs.

Please visit the Programme page for more details.

Please visit the Programme page for more details on PDF and YI poster sessions.

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 on yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org

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

We will have participation certificates to hand out at the event to those who require the certificates.

The Young Investigators’ Meeting will be held once in a year, usually in the month of February or March. The call for applications for YIM 2021 will open in the beginning of July 2020.

The meeting will be held in Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay, Mahabalipuram which is about one and a half hours away from the Chennai Airport.

Please visit the hotel website for more information. https://​www​.radis​son​blu​.com/​e​n​/​h​o​t​e​l​-​m​a​m​a​l​l​a​puram.

No, we will take care of the bookings.

PDFs and YIs are expected to share accommodation. If you are attending the YIM with your spouse or partner (who has also been selected), please email us at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org requesting shared accommodation.

PDFs: You are expected to arrive on 14 February and accommodation will be provided to you at the conference venue from 12 noon (check-in time) on 14 February. If you choose to arrive earlier than this, we request you to arrange your own accommodation in Mahabalipuram/​Chennai.

YIs: You are expected to arrive on 14 February, and accommodation will be provided to you at the conference venue from 12 noon (check-in time) on 14 February.

Please find below a list of hotels where one can book accommodation incase of early arrival. All of the hotels are on OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road) and cabs will be available from here to the venue or from the airport to any one of these hotels. It should take roughly 45 minutes — 1 hour from any of these hotels to the venue.

• Holiday Inn Express, Chennai OMR, Thoraipakkam https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​m​s​q​5​5​r​X​F​j​e​g​x​vKEh7

• Citadines OMR Chennai https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​M​n​t​P​Y​A​5​8​Y​f​P​K​Ps7X9

• Ibis Chennai OMR https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​V​G​x​Y​Z​k​R​R​z​w​m​o​G2an9

• The Centrepoint OMR https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​q​W​C​M​H​T​r​G​u​o​g​2​KwLLA

We will arrange two shuttles for the participants from Chennai Airport to the venue on the morning of 14^th February (at 9.30 am and 11:30 am) and a shuttle from IIT Madras at 10:30 am. More information can be found here — https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​d​i​a​/​a​r​t​i​c​l​e​s​/​Y​I​M​2​0​2​0​_​S​h​u​t​t​l​e​T​i​m​i​n​g​s.pdf

You can check www​.accuweath​er​.com for more details closer to the event. While most of the conference will be in the air-conditioned conference hall, some events will be in semi-outdoor spaces. We request you to bring appropriate clothing to keep yourself comfortable.

If you have specific requirements, please get in touch with us so we can assign you a convenient room.

We do not currently have a facility for child care at the venue. If anyone wishes to travel with minor children, we can provide accommodation to the accompanying person at the hotel. Please write to us at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

The entire hotel will have complimentary Internet/​wifi access. We will provide details of the same on your arrival.

The conference does not provide any accommodation for family members. Please let us know if you are planning to stay with your family outside the conference venue so that we can plan our room count accordingly. While we understand that in some cases you might have to travel with family and stay outside the resort, we suggest that you stay at the conference venue to really benefit from the YIM. You can email us at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

YIM2020 does not have specific activities designed for guests or family members. Family members will not be allowed to sit for the sessions at the YIM, or participate in meals. The YIM is a closed conference, by selection/​invitation only. There is plenty to see and do in Chennai and surrounding areas. Contact your hotel concierge to help you plan activities and day trips during your stay for the family.

We will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. Please contact us by email at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org by January 1, 2020.

Chennai International Airport is the nearest airport to Mahabalipuram. The venue is about 52 km from the airport and takes about 1 hr 20 mins to reach by car.

PDFs and YIs should reach Mahabalipuram on the morning of 14 February. The check-in time is 12 noon and the conference will start at 2 pm on the same day.

We will arrange two shuttles for the participants from Chennai Airport to the venue on the morning of 14^th February (at ~ 9.30 am and 11.30 am from Airport and 10.30 am from IIT-Madras). More information can be found ‑https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​d​i​a​/​a​r​t​i​c​l​e​s​/​Y​I​M​2​0​2​0​_​S​h​u​t​t​l​e​T​i​m​i​n​g​s.pdf

We suggest you arrange for your own accommodation and reach Mahabalipuram only on the morning of 14^th February. The check-in time for the resort is 12 noon.

Please find below a list of hotels where one can book accommodation incase of early arrival. All of the hotels are on OMR (Old Mahabalipuram Road) and cabs will be available from here to the venue or from the airport to any one of these hotels. It should take roughly 45 minutes — 1 hour from any of these hotels to the venue.

• Holiday Inn Express, Chennai OMR, Thoraipakkam https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​m​s​q​5​5​r​X​F​j​e​g​x​vKEh7

• Citadines OMR Chennai https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​M​n​t​P​Y​A​5​8​Y​f​P​K​Ps7X9

• Ibis Chennai OMR https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​V​G​x​Y​Z​k​R​R​z​w​m​o​G2an9

• The Centrepoint OMR https://​goo​.gl/​m​a​p​s​/​q​W​C​M​H​T​r​G​u​o​g​2​KwLLA

Please email us at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org as well as at smita[at]indiabioscience[dot]org at the earliest.

Please contact the conference team by email at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org as soon as possible.

Yes, preferably. Only if a direct flight is not available or timings are not very suitable, you may book private airlines.

Yes, we reimburse part of your travel, according to your attendee category at the YIM. 

Support for PDF participants: 

From the United States or Australia: maximum of USD 500 or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

From Europe: maximum of USD 300 or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

From South Asia: maximum of USD 150 or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

From India: maximum of Rs. 12000/- or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

Support for YI participants: 

From India: maximum of Rs. 12000/- or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

Support for Mentors: We will communicate by email with Mentors about travel support.

We will reimburse via wire transfer only. This details of your account should be provided while filling the travel details in the travel section of your online dashboard.

We shall reimburse you after the meeting is over.

It is a must to submit a physical copy of the onward journey boarding pass when you are at the venue so as to facilitate your reimbursement (we will not be able to reimburse if the boarding pass is not submitted). Prior to attending the event you will be required to fill out the travel forms and attach your ticket and signed bank details form.

We require the original onward boarding pass and the soft copy of the return boarding pass to reimburse your travel. Please discuss this with the IndiaBioscience team at the YIM.

You can mail your queries to yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

If you are interested in sponsoring the YIM, please contact Smita Jain at smita[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

The Abstract submitted with the application is sufficient. If we think any changes have to be incorporated, we will write to you separately.

Recheck the size and format of the photo and try to upload again. Please upload good quality photos. If you have trouble email us at yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org. The photo will be used in the abstract book that forms part of the registration kit for the meeting.

POSTERS: All attendees, both PDF and YI, will be required to present posters.

LIGHTNING TALKS: All PDFs will be required to present Lightning Talks. YIs are not required to present Lightning Talks.

All PDFs and YIs are required to present posters at the meeting. All PDFs will also be required to give short talks during the PDF meeting on the last two days. You can check the times for poster presentations on the YIM2020 Programme page.

SIZE: Dimension in 3.5 ft (H) x 3 Dimension ft (W)

AUDIENCE: We advise you to design your poster keeping in mind your audience — institute directors (for PDFs only) – who will judge you as a potential faculty applicant, mentors – who will give you feedback and advice and might even be collaborators, and peers (YIs and PDFs) – potential collaborators and future colleagues. Do keep in mind that this is a mixed biology meeting, and many in the audience will not be experts in your subject.

CONTENT: As in a typically academic poster, we suggest you follow the Introduction, Methods, Results and Conclusion format if you are presenting a study in progress or one that is completed. You could otherwise present a proposed research direction you want feedback on if you have a young lab. In either case, we advise you to add a short section called ​“Future Directions” that explains the directions you want your research program or group to take in the next few years.

DESIGN: We have a good two hours on most days devoted to posters, and suggest you make your posters exciting and attractive.

Pushpins, tape and tags will be provided at the venue.

PDF Poster session [Please check program]

YI Poster session [Please check program]

All poster boards will be numbered. The number corresponds to your number in the YIM2020 abstract book that you will be given at the YIM2020 registration desk.

This year all the PDF participants will be asked to present their research work in the form of Lightning Talks, each 5 minutes in length. These talks will be presented by all PDFs on Day 4 and Day 5 (please check the programme schedule for more details).

We encourage all PDFs to use the Lightning Talks as an advertisement of their research and to use the 5 minutes to attract Directors and other attendees.

PRESENTATION: Presentations will be in alphabetical order and a bell will be rung at the end of your 5 minutes. During your five minutes, present yourself and your work in an ​“Elevator pitch style”. A concept borrowed from the business world, this is a brief, rehearsed statement that describes why someone should hire you or pay attention to your work.

Keeping in mind that there are potential employers in the audience, we suggest the following key points for an effective pitch: 1. Write down, edit and practise your pitch. Keep it concise. 2. Introduce yourself (typically name, position & affiliation). Then quickly go on to pose a question or state a research problem. 3. Describe what motivated your study, and any the unique approach or insight. 4. Remember that the pitch is the start of a discussion, and not the final word on the matter. If you must present results here keep it brief. The main aim is to give an idea about your research background/​area. 5. Stay casual — the wording and delivery should be conversational. 6. These are key – your descriptions should be a high-level overview, not an unravelling of details. 7. Give a brief overview of your future research program. Explain exactly what is the biggest question you are going to pursue in your independent career. 

REQUIRED: You are required to email your presentation to yim2020[at]indiabioscience[dot]org latest by January 31, 2020. Please use this format for the subject line of your email: Lightning Talk FirstName LastName. Label your slide in the same manner (Lightning Talk FirstName LastName). This will greatly help us in compiling the slides prior to the event. You can send your slide as a PPT, PDF or Keynote Slide.