The prestigious Merck Young Scientist Award is back for its third edition, celebrating the spirit of scientific exploration and innovation in India. Hosted by Merck, a leading science and technology company, the award shines a light on the commendable research work carried out by young scientists across the country.
The award criteria require the applicants to be associated with a research institute and have less than a decade of post-Ph.D. research experience. The winners will be chosen based on their contributions to three distinct fields – Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Sustainability Research, a newly added category emphasizing the importance of environmental consciousness in contemporary research.
The Merck Young Scientist Award is not merely an acknowledgement of academic achievement. It also showcases the impact that these scientific explorations have on human progress. Mr Dhananjay Singh, Head of Science and Lab Solutions, Merck Life Science, highlighted this aspect in his comments on the new sustainability category, expressing hope that it would underline the role of sustainability in scientific research.
The award process, which began on June 26, 2023, will culminate in a ceremony on November 24, 2023, announcing the ten winners. Two scientists will be awarded in the fields of biological and chemical sciences, with one award for the sustainability research category. Five runners-up will also be recognized. The winners will be rewarded with a cash prize of INR 350,000 while the runners-up will receive INR 100,000.
With over 2000 registrations from nearly 1000 institutes across India in the past, the Merck Young Scientist Award has seen impressive participation and engagement. The last two editions alone have recognized 25 young scientists for their contributions. The award ceremony in 2023 promises to be an event of grandeur, underscoring the importance of science and research in the progress of humanity.
