Friday, May 29, 2009

Have questions?

We welcome your questions about the Young Investigator Meeting in the Bay Area, June 11 2009, and about Indian Science on this blog. Just enter your question in the comments section of this blog, and one of our panelists or webmasters will post an answer.
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7 comments:

  1. dr rahulJune 5, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    is indian student residing in india eligible to apply young investigator meeting on june 11 in bay area???

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  2. mmpJune 5, 2009 at 4:42 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. mmpJune 5, 2009 at 4:44 PM

    Hello, Dr. Rahul.
    An Indian student who usually resides in India but finds himself/herself in the Bay Area on June 11 is welcome to attend the Young Investigator meeting on June 11 at UCSF. Just send an email to medha_pathak@hms.harvard.edu to register.

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  4. Niranjana NagarajanJune 8, 2009 at 12:03 PM

    I have a few questions about applying for academic jobs in India:

    1. How far ahead should one plan to apply?
    2. Is there any way we could see a sample grant application to DBT?
    3. Do investigators usually apply for funding before they start at a position?
    4. Are there bridging grants available in India, similar to the K99 awards from the NIH?

    Thanks for taking the time, and look forward to the meeting on Thursday.

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  5. mmpJune 9, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    Prof. K. Vijayraghvan, National Centre for Biological Sciences, says:

    Here are answers, they are not incorrect, but specifics may vary from place to place, so please use these as an indicator and not as a rule!

    1. How far ahead should one plan to apply?

    Certainly not less than a year before you want to return, IMHO! You can apply to an advertisement, say yes to a joining deadline of 3 months and land up: Sometimes things can move fast! But, when it comes to a career decision, you may want to have flexibility and call the shots rather than be dictated to by deadlines. Cast your net wide but amongst those places you seriously want to go. Make a visit about two years before your intended joining and get a feel for each place. Is there a fit? Will you be happy there? Do you see yourself growing in the place? Do you see the place as likely to nurture your talents? Go back, talk to as many people you know well, who have gone back to work in India and then apply a year in advance. Your application is, then, an informed one and the places you apply know you too.

    2. Is there any way we could see a sample grant application to DBT?

    I don’t see why not! I could dig up an old one I had written and have it up on the website. Let me see if I can track one down. I am sure to be embarassed by it so do not take it as an ideal one. DBT and DST grants are very easy to write and (touch wood) it is very straight forward for a decent proposal from a starting investigator to be funded generously. The next grant is usually judged more stringently and on track record perhaps more than on the details of the grant itself. There are several ‘task forces’ that examine proposals, from the very basic to the very applied. So, conditions differ. But, pass your grant around to mentors in your place or elsewhere who have been funded: Get their feedback!

    3. Do investigators usually apply for funding before they start at a position?

    Grants need to be forwarded by institutions. Some places will forward one after you have accepted a position, others will do so after you join. Funding flows about 9 months to a year after you submit your grant. The earlier it goes in the better.

    4. Are there bridging grants available in India, similar to the K99 awards from the NIH?

    Yes, and attractive fast- track ones for young investigators: The National Bioscience award for career development
    http://tinyurl.com/lkhhqt, and
    The Innovative Young Biotechnologist Award
    http://tinyurl.com/n44xr8

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  6. UnknownJune 10, 2009 at 12:23 PM

    This is such a great opportunity, close to my home (I am a postdoc at Mission bay UCSF) but unfortunately I won’t be able to attend this meeting since I am attending GRC at Rhode Island. Hope I get a chance in Boston

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  7. Niranjana NagarajanJune 10, 2009 at 7:29 PM

    Thank you for the answers! Looking forward to tomorrow.

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