This month, we bring you conversations and stories that look at how science is conducted, communicated, evaluated, and translated to bring about meaningful change. From ANRF’s emerging framework for assessing research impact to the experiences of researchers taking science beyond the laboratory, these pieces explore the many ways science connects with society.
At the centre of our calendar is the 19th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2027), which will once again bring together young investigators, postdoctoral fellows, senior scientists, institutional leaders, funders and mentors for networking and mentorship to shape early-career leadership in life sciences in India. The meeting will take place in Mohali from 22–26 February 2027, with applications open until 30 September 2026. YIM 2027 will feature mentorship, networking, career development, funding opportunities and conversations around building independent research careers in India.
Our science communication section takes us from the microscopic world of viruses and the mysteries of their evolutionary origins to the long-term effects of medicines, and the potential of traditional fermented foods for gut health. We also hear from IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant awardees Pratibha Gaur and Rishikesh Shukla, who reflect on their Science for All project and what it takes to make science communication truly inclusive.
We are also focusing on skills and career development this month. Our upcoming workshop, Writing, Reading and Auditing a CV, co-organised with the Research Integrity Office of NCBS-TIFR, is designed for PhD students to develop clearer, more purposeful CVs while learning to use AI critically and responsibly. Registration for the workshop closes on 17 September 2026. The EMBO | IndiaBioscience “Starting Your Own Lab” course, announced last month for junior group leaders, has an extended deadline and will remain open until 14 September 2026. The course will provide practical tools to navigate the transition to independent lab leadership.
We hope this month’s newsletter offers new perspectives, useful resources, and opportunities to engage with the people and ideas shaping science in India. Happy reading!
We have announced the Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) 2027. This is the 19th edition of YIM, and is being held in Mohali, Punjab. YIM Mohali is being locally hosted and co-organised with IISER Mohali and BRIC-NABI, Mohali. YIM continues to serve as a unique platform for early-career life scientists (young faculty members and postdoctoral fellows) in India and from overseas to connect with peers, mentors, and leaders in the scientific community.
If you are eligible, don’t miss this opportunity; apply by 30 September 2026!
IndiaBioscience hosted “What is Impact? A Conversation with ANRF” on 2 September 2026, featuring Aparna Gupta, Principal Expert at the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF). The session explored what “impact” means in research and discussed ANRF’s emerging framework for evaluating the impact of research, development and innovation funding in India, including the markers and pathways that could shape research assessment across career stages and institution types. The conversation also provided an opportunity for researchers and research professionals across the life sciences to engage with the framework, ask questions, and discuss its potential implications for research funding and assessment practices.
What if a gene behaves the same in a mouse and a human, but leads to entirely different outcomes? At BRIC-inStem, Bhavana Muralidharan is uncovering how unique regulatory networks shape the human brain, challenging long-held assumptions in biology while advancing our understanding of neurodevelopment, mental health, and precision medicine. The article was written by Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra and Bhawna Dahiya, PhD Scholars, both working with Bhavana at BRIC-inStem, Bengaluru.
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, revealing why these microscopic entities remain one of biology's greatest enigmas. The article is authored by Haripriya Parthasarathy, who is currently working as a Project Scientist at AIC-CCMB after completing her PhD at CSIR-CCMB.
AI-generated illustration created with DALL·E 2 (OpenAI), 2023, based on a prompt depicting a brightly coloured molecular virus structure in a watercolour style.
Uncovering our own Galápagos explores how India's biodiversity hotspots, particularly the Western Ghats, serve as natural laboratories for studying evolution, much like the Galápagos Islands did for Darwin. Through the work of evolutionary biologists, the story highlights how unique species, geographic isolation, and ecological diversity help scientists understand how life adapts, diversifies, and evolves over time. The article demonstrates that remarkable insights into evolution are not confined to distant islands but can be discovered within India's own rich landscapes.
Same pill, opposite stories: The timing of Prozac treatment shapes the developing brain
A recent study from TIFR, Mumbai, shows the timing of Prozac treatment during early life can have lasting and contrasting effects on nerve-cell architecture and emotional behaviour in male rats, highlighting that the timing of drug administration can matter as much as the drug itself. The article is written by Vir Gahrotra, a research intern at the Vaidya Lab, TIFR, and a Grade 12 student passionate about science communication, microscopy, art and writing.
The image was generated by the author using Gemini Nano Banana Pro on 29 April 2026. The image is a representative image.
What if the future of gut health has been quietly fermenting in Indian kitchens for generations? This article explores how traditional fermented foods, from century-old idli batter starters to the hidden “dark microbiome,” could help restore microbial diversity and inspire gut health solutions tailored to Indian populations. The article is written by Arshiyah Baba, a science enthusiast from Jammu & Kashmir, who is passionate about biology, neuroscience, science communication, and writing.
Traditional Indian fermented foods may hold unique microbes that support gut health. As urban diets and processed foods reduce microbial diversity, scientists are studying these living food traditions to preserve India's native microbiome and develop gut health solutions tailored to Indian populations. Graphic by Moumita Mazumdar.
IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants awardees Pratibha Gaur and Rishikesh Shukla reflect on their Science for All outreach project in Moradabad, where hands-on activities helped engage specially-abled children, challenge myths and superstitions, and highlight the importance of inclusive science communication. The project is supported by the 6th IndiaBioscience Outreach Grant. The authors are researchers and educators with expertise in immunology, microbiology, biotechnology, and science outreach, committed to promoting scientific awareness, inclusive education, and curiosity through community-based initiatives.
Inclusive science outreach begins with accessibility, empathy, and the belief that every child deserves to ask, "Why?". Graphic by Moumita Mazumdar.
We are hosting a CV writing workshop with the Research Integrity Office of NCBS-TIFR. This two-hour online workshop is designed for PhD students navigating career opportunities within and beyond academia. The workshop will bring together AI literacy, CV writing, research integrity, and career development, helping participants structure and tailor CVs for academic, industry, and hybrid pathways while using AI critically, responsibly, and ethically. Through interactive modules, a live AI-assisted CV audit and a hands-on session, participants will learn to identify issues such as fabricated claims, factual errors, generic or biased language, loss of individual voice and privacy concerns, and apply practical tools to improve their own CVs.
The workshop will be held on 21 September 2026, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon IST, online via Zoom, with a participation fee of ₹500. Registration closes on 17 September 2026. Confirmed participants will receive the Zoom link and joining details by 18 September 2026.
IndiaBioscience is pleased to bring the EMBO | IndiaBioscience “Starting Your Own Lab” course to junior group leaders, jointly organised with EMBO Global Activities and Leadershipsculptor GmbH. The course will offer 18 early-career PIs an interactive and practical opportunity to navigate the transition from the bench to independent lab leadership, covering team building, hiring, resource management, delegation, negotiation, time management, and collaborations. Led by Petra Pandur and David Lescheid, the three-half-day online course will be held from 28 - 30 October 2026. Applications are open until 14 September 2026, with selected participants to be notified by 28 September.
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Registrations are now open for the International Bio-Responsibility Conference 2027, to be held 3–5 February 2027 at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. This conference, organised by the Bio-Responsibility Initiative at the Centre for Society and Policy, IISc, aims to strengthen safe, secure and responsible life science research and innovation, with a particular focus on India and the Global South. It will bring together scientists, policymakers, public health professionals, biosafety and biosecurity practitioners, ethicists, industry leaders, and early-career researchers from around the world to explore practical solutions to emerging biological risks. The discussions are arranged across thematic areas, involving AI, One Health, synthetic biology, gene editing, bioethics and biogovernance.
The 11th International Cell & Gene Therapy Conference (CGTCON 2026) will bring together students, research scholars, postdoctoral fellows, scientists, clinicians, academicians, industry professionals and regulatory experts to explore the latest advances in cell and gene therapies. The conference will focus on translational challenges from bench to bedside, emerging developments, and future directions in developing therapies for currently incurable diseases. The event will be held on 9-10 October 2026 in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, with registrations open until 8 October 2026.
The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, has announced the BioCARe (Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orientation) Programme for Women Researchers 2026–27, aimed at enhancing the participation and career development of women researchers in biotechnology and allied areas. The programme offers research support for projects of up to three years and is open to eligible unemployed Indian women researchers aged up to 55years, with applications invited under two categories based on qualifications. The last date to apply is 23 September 2026, through the Common Fellowship Portal of the Ministry of Science & Technology.
Applications are open for the Ramanujan Fellowship, a prestigious opportunity for 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.
