We hope June has brought you moments of inspiration, learning, and a little bit of sunshine (or maybe a bit too much — summer, right?).
We have announcements, opportunities, and initiatives specially curated for you. But first, the BIG NEWS!
We launched the sixth call for IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants (2025-2026). These grants support Young Investigators in bringing science to society by partnering with students, science communicators, artists, and other life science professionals.
If you are currently engaged in an outreach project or have an idea, now is the time to apply!
This month, we co-organised a Virtual Town Hall with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology to share about the i3c BRIC-RCB Ph.D. Programme 2025 in Biosciences on 10 June 2025. IndiaBiostreams’ Virtual Town Halls provide a space to discuss contemporary themes in life science research in India. We were joined by Arvind K. Sahu, Executive Director of RCB, who provided participants with an insightful overview of the programme and answered their questions about eligibility, scope of the programme and others.
Missed it? No worries — you can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel.
RYIM grants support Young Investigator-led initiatives that build on the ethos of national YIMs, strengthening local scientific communities, and promoting collaborative leadership among YIs across the country. If you have attended a YIM in the past and want to create a network of young investigators with a stronger voice in India’s scientific ecosystem in your region, this could be the place to start.
Have a great idea for science outreach but need a little support to bring it to life?
The 6th IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants (IOG) are here to support! These grants in their sixth year support Young Investigators collaborating with students, science communicators, artists, and other life science professionals to take science beyond the lab and into the community. This year, at least one grant will support a project conducted in an Indian language to promote greater accessibility and inclusivity. Apply by 14 July 2025!
In partnership with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, we organised a webinar on the i3c BRIC-RCB PhD Programme in Biosciences. With Arvind K. Sahu, Executive Director, BRIC-RCB, the virtual session addressed the application process, selection criteria, and unique structure and features of this newly-launched programme.
Swagatama Mukherjee writes “P” in PhD stood for “Philosophy,” but I couldn’t help but wonder — how does a degree in biology, for instance, translate to a ‘Doctor of Philosophy?’ Now, as I near the end of this journey and look back on the path I’ve travelled, I’m struck by how fitting that “Philosophy” part really is. Read the article here.
Sabyasachi Parija, a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Berhampur, is exploring the fascinating world of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical process in cancer biology. In this opinion article, Sabyasachi reflects on the molecular intricacies of EMT and its role in cancer progression, sharing his thoughts on why understanding this process could be key to unlocking new cancer treatment and research strategies. Read the article here.
The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with biotechnology has ushered in a period of innovation in healthcare. The interdisciplinary nature of AI enables analysis and interpretation of large data sets from multiple domains. In life sciences, AI-biotech convergence holds the potential to alter the landscape of diagnostics, monitoring of disease progression, precision medicine, and prediction of public health threats.
The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers for up to two years. It emphasises international mobility and offers a salary or stipend, relocation support, and benefits for researchers with children.
Science isn’t a luxury — it’s a way to understand and navigate the world,” says Somdatta Karak, biologist and science communicator. In this interview, she recounts her journey from Teach For India to spearheading pioneering outreach programmes at CSIR-CCMB. From empowering underrepresented students through projects such as Milo CCMB and Project Abhilasha to constructing mentorship bridges between scientists and learners, Somdatta presents an unassailable argument for inclusive, experiential, and value-based science education in India.
Aarti Sevilimedu, Principal Research Scientist at Dr Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS), shares her insights on working with rare diseases in India. In this “10 Women, 10 Questions” she highlights her career journey and also the different initiatives on developing treatment for rare diseases in India.
Citizen science is research conducted with the help of the general public, where amateur, non-professional, and passionate individuals are provided with an opportunity to contribute to science. It serves as a medium to foster scientific curiosity and collaboration between scientists and society, enabling individuals to contribute to data collection, organisation, and analysis — which are key elements in evidence-based decision-making and addressing community challenges through research and policy initiatives. Additionally, it also helps alleviate the workload and conserve the bandwidth of scientists and experts, allowing them to focus better on advancing research and innovation.
BioWorld, a student-focused retreat held in the tranquil environment of Naukuchiatal, India from November 26th to 29th, 2024, provided a significant intervention that emphasised the critical, yet frequently neglected, role of mental well-being in the Indian scientific community. The retreat’s success serves as a compelling model for fostering resilience, collaboration, and a supportive academic culture.
#EducatorsMonday
This Educator’s Monday, we asked the question: How can research in India help to better understand and address the public health implications of air pollution on respiratory diseases?
We welcome Saman Habib, Chief Scientist and Professor (AcSIR) in the Molecular Biology Division of the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow). Saman is a malaria researcher, and her work focuses on the molecular biology of the malaria parasite Plasmodium, particularly its relict plastid (apicoplast), organelle-specific protein translation, and host genetic factors affecting malaria severity. The IndiaBioscience Board and team look forward to the new dimensions that Habib will add to our programmes and initiatives!
Meet the new team member at IndiaBioscience
We also welcome Sreshtha Mondal to the IBS team as she joined as the Program Manager – Digital Initiatives. Sreshtha is trained in Zoology and Biotechnology and studied at Delhi University, IIT-Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia and CSIR-IGIB. She also trained in Science Journalism and Science Communication alongside and pursued doctoral research in science communication and Human Cognition at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.
Are you following our social media campaign #ScienceJobsTuesdays to stay updated about jobs, grants and events on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn? Subscribe to our monthly Jobs and Internships newsletter here if you haven’t already.
The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards at the University of Oxford that support outstanding students. These scholarships are achievement-based awards open to students with proven intellectual and academic attainment of a high standard who show exceptional character, leadership, achievement in extracurricular activities, and a commitment to service in the public good.
C‑CAMP is now in its 4th year of operating the Research Translation programme. Through this programme, C‑CAMP aims to work with academic researchers in their Proof-of-Concept (POC) stage innovations towards ‘Research Translation’ and ‘Industry Out-Licensing of Translated Technologies’.
As the American Society for Microbiology (ASM)’s first symposium in India — and the second in the ASM Global Research Symposium series — this event will bring together scientists, clinicians, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world to drive meaningful dialogue and action on AMR.
IndiaBioscience will continue its journey with you through shared stories, experiences, and opportunities that lie ahead. If you have an inspiring story to share, an insightful article to contribute, or a collaborative event idea, we invite you to reach out to us at hello[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.
Your active engagement contributes immensely to our shared journey.
