For PDFs: If you have been selected for the YIM as a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF), you are expected to attend the meeting from 11 – 15 March 2024. You arrive before lunch on 11 March and leave after lunch on 15 March 2024.

For YIs: If you have been selected for the YIM as a Young Investigator (YI), you are expected to attend the meeting from 11 — 13 March 2024. You should arrive before lunch on 11 March and need to check out on the morning of 14 March 2024.

The meeting starts post lunch and accommodation will be provided from the noon of 11 March (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 2024 ends immediately after lunch on 15 March 2024. You are welcome to leave anytime after this. We will not be providing accommodation on the night of 15 March 2024.

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 — Postdoctoral Fellows who are looking to apply for academic jobs in India in the coming year, and who think they will benefit from interacting with 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 <5 years into their independent careers can apply for the YIM.

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

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 challenges. It is also a space for all attendees to get to know their peers in the life sciences in India and build a strong-knit network.

Several hours each day are devoted to networking sessions, poster sessions and interactive sessions. PDFs will also have a dedicated session with Directors in the PDF Satellite Meeting. 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 2024 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 throughout 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 2024 will open on 06 October 2023. 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 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 wait list participants. Please mail us on yim2024[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 request the certificates.

The Young Investigators’ Meeting will be held once a year, usually in the month of February or March. The call for applications for YIM 2025 will open in September/​October 2024.

To Whom it may Concern

This is to certify that has been working as a in at <University/​Institute name> since and has less than 5 years of starting an independent group. The <University/​Institute name> supports their application towards the Young Investigators’ Meeting 2024.

Sincerely, Signature Date

Yes, you can apply if you fulfil the eligibility criteria.

The meeting will be held jointly at Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal campus.

No, we will take care of the bookings.

The accommodation is booked at Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal. 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 yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org requesting shared accommodation. If you are a recipient of the IndiaBioscience Childcare Grants, and require special arrangements, please email us at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

PDFs: You are expected to arrive on 11 March 2024 and accommodation will be provided to you at the conference venue from 12 noon (check-in time). If you choose to arrive earlier than this, we request you to arrange your own accommodation in Bhopal.

YIs: You are expected to arrive on 11 March, and accommodation will be provided to you at the conference venue from 12 noon (check-in time) on 11 March 2024.

Please find the hotel where one can book accommodation in case of early arrival.

Participants should make their own travel arrangements to reach the venue on 11 March 2024 and to return on the last day of the meeting on 15 March 2024.

The average temperatures are between 17°C and 33°C. 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.

There is no facility for childcare at the venue. However, please apply to the IndiaBioscience childcare grants as soon as you are intimated of your selection to participate in YIM 2024.

If you are a nursing parent with an accompanying child, we will provide a private space with an electrical supply and wash facilities for you to use. Please email us at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org to request this.

Yes. 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 Courtyard by Marriott, we suggest that you stay at the conference venue to really benefit from the YIM. You can email us at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

YIM 2024 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 Bhopal and the surrounding areas.

We will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. Please contact us by email at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org by December 15, 2023.

Raja Bhoj Airport, Bhopal is the nearest airport to Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal. The venue is about half an hour’s drive from Bhopal Airport and about fifteen minutes drive from Bhopal railway station.

PDFs and YIs should reach the venue on the morning of 11 March. The check-in time is 12 noon and the conference will start at 2 pm on the same day.

No. Participants should make their own arrangements from Bhopal Airport and Bhopal Railway station to reach the conference venue (Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal).

We suggest you arrange for your own accommodation and reach Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal on the morning of 11 March. The check-in time for the hotel is 12 noon.

Please email us at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org as well as karishma[at]indiabioscience[dot]org at the earliest.

Please contact the conference team by email at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org as soon as possible.

No, you can book Air India or private airlines. But please book via IRCTC or Balmer & Lawrie ONLY. Travel can be reimbursed only if booked via the above means and only the shortest, economy fare travel. Please contact the conference team by email at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org for any questions.

If you want to travel by train, and are unsure of the reservation category in the train, please contact us on email at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org for any questions.

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

Support for international PDF participants: The partial travel reimbursement covers the domestic leg of the participants and not the International sectors. 

Both national and international PDFs will get a maximum of Rs. 12000/- or the actual amount, whichever is the lower amount. 

Support for YI participants: 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 you via wire transfer only. The bank details of your account should be provided while filling in the travel details in the travel section of your online application.

We shall reimburse you by end of March.

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 you 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.

You can mail your queries to yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.

If you are interested in sponsoring / being an engagement partner for the YIM, please contact Karishma S Kaushik, Executive Director, IndiaBioscience at karishma[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 it again. Please upload good-quality photos. If you have trouble email us at yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org. The photo will be used in the abstract book.

POSTERS: No poster session for PDFs, only YIs 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.

Only YIs are required to present posters at the meeting. PDFs will not be required to give posters, but only 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 YIM 2024 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 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 or different research projects you want feedback on. 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 one hour on most days devoted to posters, and suggest you make your posters exciting and attractive.

Please print and bring your posters, we do not have a facility to print the poster at the local venue.

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

YI Poster Session [Please check the program].

All poster boards will be numbered. The poster number corresponds to your number in the YIM 2024 abstract book and will also be found on the notice board at the Conference venue.

All the PDF participants need 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 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. 

PDF Satellite Talk presentation sample template — https://​indi​a​bio​science​.org/​m​e​d​i​a​/​a​r​t​i​c​l​e​s​/​P​D​F​-​L​i​g​h​t​n​i​n​g​-​T​a​l​k​s​.pptx

REQUIRED: You are required to email your presentation to yim2024[at]indiabioscience[dot]org latest by 20 February 2024. 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.