The Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) is India’s first stem cell research institute and is funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India is inviting applications for Summer Research fellowships as per the details below.
The inStem Summer Research Fellowships program places students with faculty members at inStem for 10-week long summer research internships. The program provides an intensive research experience for students preparing to pursue their PhD in Life Sciences. Students will participate in individualized projects in a research lab at inStem which will enhance their experimental skills and prepares them to articulate a research problem and design experiments to tackle novel questions. The program will provide students an immersive experience of an academic research environment which will allow them to envisage the rigor and discipline required for a PhD degree. This is the first year of the fellowship program and we are excited to open our doors to students from across the country, striving for diversity and inclusivity. Students selected under this program will have the opportunity to work under the following verticals:
Stem cell biology: Cutting edge research in human pluripotent stem cells that tackle areas ranging from tissue development, congenital disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
Tissue engineering: Development and maintenance of organ structures and how tissues regenerate in response to an injury.
Chemical biology: Research ranging from RNA biology to the metabolic underpinnings of cell fate decisions.
About inStem:
The Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) is India’s first stem cell research institute. We are funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. inStem has a dynamic group of faculty members addressing a gamut of questions at the cutting edge of stem cells and regenerative medicine. Research at inStem ranges from studies on fundamental biological processes to translational research with clinical impact. Researchers at inStem use a wide range of models including embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, yeast, flies, flatworms and mice to study different aspects of stem cell biology and regeneration. inStem is located within the vibrant Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSC) campus which also houses the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) and the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society (TIGS).
Program duration:
May 13-July 19 (10 weeks). It is a mandatory 10 week program and the students have to adhere to this timeline
Who is eligible?
Students who are currently enrolled in the B.Sc., M.Sc., B. Tech., M. Tech degree programs in India are eligible to apply. Students who have completed their degree program prior to the start of the internship are not eligible to apply. Although students with Life Sciences background are the primary target of this program, we encourage students in diverse disciplines like chemistry, physics and mathematics to apply.
Multiple criteria based on the overall academic performance, research interest, research fit in instem, space and availability, reference letters and suitability of the candidate will be considered.
Fellowship: selected students will also receive a competitive stipend
Program details
Orientation: Fellows will be given an overview of inStem and the campus
Laboratory research: Fellows will be placed with inStem faculty and will work in their laboratories on a defined project.
Short courses: Students will be provided an opportunity to participate in short courses or workshops on campus, in several areas (programming and statistics, or science communication, or poster making and presentation, etc):
Lecture series: Students will get to hear talks from eminent scientists on campus and from researchers at other Institutes in Bengaluru about their research.
Final presentations: Fellows will present their work as short research talks to the campus.
Completion certificate: An internship certificate will be presented to all the fellows upon completion of the program.
Timeline:-
February 25, 2024: Online applications open
March 25, 2024: Application deadline. Application screening
April 15, 2024: Decision communicated to successful applicants
May 13, 2024: Program start and orientation
July 19, 2024: Final poster presentation, Program ends