Applications for the 19thYoungInvestigators’Meeting(YIM2027) are now closed, and we are beginning to put the final programme together. We received an overwhelming response from young investigators and postdoctoral researchers from India and overseas. Thank you to everyone who applied and helped us spread the word. Shortlisted applicants will hear from us over the coming month, and we look forward to welcoming them to Mohali next year.
This month’s science communication section brings together stories on vascular regeneration, the mysterious world of viruses, tuberculosis vaccine development and emerging approaches to affordable healthcare, to animal welfare and conservation. We also wrap up our collaboration with CSIR-CCMB, which brought articles originally published on SciTalesto IndiaBioscience, giving our readers a chance to discover the work of young science writers and visual communicators. You can continue reading stories from SciTales on their website.
We have also been busy with career and skill development. In collaboration with ANRF, we are organising peer-driven proposal development workshops across five cities for early-career life-science researchers preparing for the upcoming PMECRG call. Our Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshops at IIT Jodhpur and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, brought students together to think about their skills, interests and career options in science.
We received an overwhelming response to the 19th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2027), which will be held in Mohali, Punjab, and locally hosted and co-organised with IISER Mohali and BRIC-NABI, Mohali. Applications are now closed, and we thank everyone who applied and helped us spread the word.
YIM brings together early-career life scientists, including young faculty members and postdoctoral fellows from India and overseas, to meet peers, mentors and senior members of the scientific community. Shortlisted applicants will hear from us within the next month.
SCIENCE COMMUNICATION
NEWS and COLUMNS
IndiaBioscience at NCBS Open Day
The team was at NCBS’s Open Day this September. NCBS hosted school students and visitors, and the IndiaBioscience booth was curated to spark curiosity about the diverse career opportunities available in science. Through interactive discussions and resources, the team introduced students and visitors to a range of science-related careers, including options beyond traditional research roles. The initiative aimed to encourage young people to explore the many ways they can pursue their interests in science and contribute to the scientific community.
When an artery is blocked, the body can forge new pathways for blood to flow around damaged tissue. Soumyashree Das, Assistant Professor at NCBS-TIFR, studies how these collateral arteries form, exploring the biology of vascular regeneration and the genetic mechanisms that could one day help improve recovery from heart attacks and strokes. The article was written by Christeen Paulson, a science communicator based in Bengaluru and an Executive (Outreach & Digital Media) at the National Centre for Biological Sciences.
Working in a zoo reveals the science behind animal welfare. From understanding animal behaviour and visitor responses to designing enrichment and more naturalistic enclosures, good zoo management is also about preserving choice and wellbeing. For biologist Shweta Mukundan, observing animals has changed how she thinks about captivity, conservation, and care.
In this piece, Rishabh Kachroo, a Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute, Florence, examines what India’s PreVenTB trial reveals about the challenges of developing an effective TB vaccine, and why tackling the wider social and public health conditions surrounding TB will also be important for its elimination.
An Indian folk-art inspired visual interpretation of TB vaccination. Credit: Moumita Mazumdar
Imagine treating diseases not with pills or invasive procedures, but with carefully calibrated light. This is the idea behind photobiomodulation (PBM), a non-invasive therapy that uses specific wavelengths of light to influence biological systems. As healthcare systems worldwide look for safer, cost-effective, and scalable approaches, PBM is being explored as a means to make emerging therapies more accessible in countries like India. This article is written by Prabhat Upadhyay, an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology at NIPER‑A, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Indian folk-art-inspired digital illustration that blends Indian visuals with modern scientific imagery, depicting the emerging possibilities of photobiomodulation and the use of carefully calibrated light in non-invasive healthcare. Credit: Moumita Mazumdar
As part of our ongoing partnership with CSIR-CCMB, Hyderabad, to showcase work by young science writers and visual communicators, we have been sharing articles originally published on SciTales by CCMB.
Viruses are far more than agents of disease. Tracing their discovery, extraordinary diversity, and mysterious evolutionary origins, this article explores how viruses challenge our understanding of life itself. From ancient giant viruses to the debate over a possible fourth domain of life, it asks why these microscopic entities remain one of biology’s greatest enigmas. The article is authored by Shantanu S Visal, a PhD candidate in the Membrane Protein Biology lab at CSIR-CCMB.
Cellular landscape cross-section through a eukaryotic cell, by Evan Ingersoll & Gael McGill.
Thinking about applying for the ANRF PMECRG call? IndiaBioscience, in collaboration with ANRF, is organising peer-driven proposal development workshops for early-career life-science researchers across five cities: Bengaluru (NCBS-TIFR), Delhi (BRIC-NII), Bhubaneswar (IBRIC-ILS), Pune (BRIC-NCCS), and Hyderabad (CSIR-CCMB). The sessions will bring prospective applicants together with current PMECRG grantees and experienced researchers for discussion, feedback and peer learning.
Participants can bring their research questions and discuss proposal rationale, novelty and feasibility, get feedback on how they are framing their ideas, and connect with potential peers and mentors. You do not need to have a complete proposal. Come with an initial research idea or question.
IndiaBioscience’s Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshop at IIT Jodhpur brought students and early-career researchers together to look beyond conventional academic career pathways. The workshop covered the changing science-career landscape, self-reflection on skills, interests, and values, and practical ways to navigate opportunities, including deconstructing job advertisements, using the Problem-Action-Result (PAR) approach, preparing CVs and résumés, crafting elevator pitches, and preparing for interviews. Participants also interacted with mentors from academic, entrepreneurship, biotechnology and research management backgrounds. Feedback from the workshop pointed to greater awareness of career options, with participants particularly valuing informational interviews and the PAR framework.
Participants engage in interactive discussions, group activities, and reflection exercises during the Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshop at IIT Jodhpur, facilitated by Siuli Mitra and Moumita Mazumdar from IndiaBioscience.
Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences
The Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshop, jointly organised by IndiaBioscience and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS), took students through a structured look at science careers, self-awareness and career planning. Held on 23 September 2026, the workshop covered transferable skills, understanding job opportunities, applications, CVs and résumés, interviews and networking. It also included a panel with mentors from academia, research, industry and entrepreneurship. Participants said the interactive format helped them gain greater clarity about their career options. Their feedback also highlighted continued demand for practical guidance on CVs, internships, jobs, networking and interviews.
Participants engage in interactive discussions, group activities, and reflection exercises during the Crafting Your Career (CYC) workshop at RUAS, facilitated by Siuli Mitra and Moumita Mazumdar from IndiaBioscience.
In collaboration with EMBO, we organised the online course Fundamentals of Communication: Pitches, Posters and Presentations from 7–11 September. Led by communication trainer Laura Moro-Martín, the course helped early-career researchers strengthen their skills in communicating science through effective pitches, posters and presentations. The programme included practical exercises and feedback, giving participants an opportunity to refine their communication skills and present their research more clearly and effectively.
The next webinar with EMBO on 3 November 2026 at 14:30 IST will be about its Fellowship Programmes, with Karin Dumstrei from EMBO and Ankita Kapoor from the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics as panelists. The session will introduce participants to the programme’s Postdoctoral Fellowships and Scientific Exchange Grants, which support international collaborations, new research directions and training opportunities. Participants will learn about the benefits offered by the programme, why and how to apply, what makes a competitive application, and how applications are evaluated and considered for funding. Register here.
The selection for EMBO Global Activities and Leadershipsculptor GmbH’s “Starting Your Own Lab” course is now closed and we congratulate the early career group leaders selected for the. The online course will take place over three half days and is focused on the transition to independent lab leadership, with sessions on team building, hiring, delegation, negotiation, resource and time management, and collaborations. The course will give the participants practical tools and perspectives for establishing and leading their own research groups. The course will be co-taught by Petra Pandur,Diana Baumann and CJ Fitzsimons; the course will leave participants with practical tools and perspectives for establishing and leading their own research groups.
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.
Grants:
TNQ Inspiring Science Awards 2027
The TNQ Inspiring Science Awards (TNQ ISA) recognise creative, rigorous and impactful life-science research conducted by PhD scholars and postdoctoral researchers in India. The 2027 awards are open to PhD scholars, recent PhD graduates and postdoctoral fellows within four years of their postdoctoral programme, for eligible peer-reviewed research papers in the life sciences first published between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026. Applicants must be the first or co-first author and must have conducted the research at an institution or university based in India.
India BioImaging Train-the-Trainer Course in Light Microscopy
India BioImaging (IBI), in collaboration with Global BioImaging, Canada BioImaging and Light Microscopy Australia, is organising its first national Train-the-Trainer Course in Light Microscopy from 18-22 January 2027 at IIT Hyderabad. The five-day programme will bring together microscopy trainers, imaging scientists, technical professionals and future imaging facility leaders across India, with training in light microscopy, image analysis, facility management, scientific consultation, mentorship and leadership.
Only 30 places are available. The course is intended for professionals actively involved in microscopy training, facility operations and user support.
Applications are open for the Ramanujan Fellowship, which supports Indian and Indian-origin scientists and engineers working abroad to pursue independent research in India. The fellowship supports outstanding researchers below the age of 40 with an excellent track record, enabling them to join scientific institutions and universities across the country while establishing their research programmes.
Application deadline: 31 December 2026 More details here.
Have a story or opportunity to share with the community?
If you have a story to share, an article to contribute, or an idea for a collaborative event, write to us at hello[at]indiabioscience[dot]org.
