First Indian researcher nominated to European investigator programme

Researcher Minhajuddin Sirajuddin from the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bengaluru has become the first scientist from India to join the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigator Programme network, a statement said on Saturday.

"Minhajuddin Sirajuddin from Bengaluru is the first young life scientist to be nominated for the EMBO Young Investigator Programme," EMBO said in a statement.

At a launch event in February 2016, European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), EMBO and India's Department of Biotechnology signed a cooperation agreement, under which India became an EMBC Associate Member State.

"Nearly one year on, the partnership is picking up momentum, with Indian scientists benefiting from the full range of EMBO programmes in order to forge international collaborations and jointly explore new ideas," the statement said.

EMBO recently announced the selection of 25 young researchers as EMBO Young Investigators.

The new Young Investigators represent 11 different countries, including India for the first time.

The programme provides support for researchers under forty years of age who have set up their first laboratories in the past four years.

During their three-year tenure, EMBO Young Investigators receive a range of benefits, including an award of 15,000 euros and the opportunity to apply for additional funds to support the establishment of their first independent laboratories.

--IANS

sgh/vgu/bg