The PRISM National Fellowship, a collaboration between Project EduAccess, the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Indian Society of Developmental Biologists (InSDB), is a 2-month immersive fully-funded research programme designed to nurture the next generation of life science researchers from underrepresented and marginalised backgrounds in India.

At its core, the PRISM National Fellowship addresses the critical need for hands-on research experience and comprehensive academic skill development at the early career stage for individuals who face systemic barriers. Accordingly, it offers a unique dual-component structure: an intensive laboratory placement coupled with a structured academic skills programme.

The Fellowship offers lab placements in leading research institutions and labs across India, while also fostering connections with experienced researchers and peers in the field. By the end of the programme, Fellows will be equipped with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary for academic and professional success in STEM fields, while also being part of a growing community of researchers committed to inclusivity and scientific excellence.

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Note: Please note that the PRISM National Fellowship is distinct from the PRISM Fellowship hosted at NCBS. Applications for the latter will be invited separately.

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FELLOWSHIP STRUCTURE​

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The PRISM National Fellowship consists of two core components: a laboratory placement that provides hands-on research experience, and an academic skills programme designed to develop essential competencies for a career in STEM.

1. Laboratory Placement: Fellows will be placed in research labs across India and have the opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors on cutting-edge scientific research projects based on their area of interest. They will gain practical experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis while contributing to real-world research problems. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage in regular lab meetings and discussions, fostering a deeper understanding of their research fields. By the end of the programme, each fellow will produce a report summarising their findings.

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As part of the PRISM National Fellowship 2026, we are offering lab placements with the following principal investigators (PIs):

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• ⁠Anup Padmanabhan, Ashoka University, Delhi: The overarching goal of the lab is to understand how cells regulate their shape as they carry out various physiological processes during developmental morphogenesis. Click here to learn more.
   

• Chaitanya Athale, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune: The lab uses computational biology, cell biology and biochemistry, and works on microtubules, and molecular motors, to study collective effects that drive cell shape and division. Click here to learn more.
   

• Richa Rikhy, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune: The lab uses different stem cell differentiation models and embryogenesis in Drosophila as systems to address questions of onset of epithelial like plasma membrane and sub-cellular organization and their role in patterning. Click here to learn more.
   

• Rohan Khadilkar, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Pune: The lab looks at how the micro-environment around stem cells changes during development and disease conditions using the drosophila model. Click here to learn more.
   

• ⁠Chinmoy Patra, Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune: The lab is interested in understanding how ECM molecules and adhesion G-protein coupled receptors) are involved in organ development, tissue homeostasis, organ function and regeneration at the cellular level, using zebrafish as model organism. Click here to learn more.
   

• Ramkumar Sambasivan, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati: The lab looks at the differentiation of the mesoderm germ layer along the head-tail body axis during gastrulation. Click here to learn more.
   

• Megha Kumar, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad: The lab looks at the molecular mechanisms regulating cell division to understand the basis of these developmental disorders using zebrafish as the model system. Click here to learn more.
   

• ⁠Dhananjay Chaturvedi, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad: Using drosophila, the lab looks at how skeletal muscles repair and maintain themselves in vivo. Click here to learn more.
   

• ⁠Vinay Bulusu, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Berhampur: The group is interested in understanding the metabolic organization and its regulation of cellular processes like growth, proliferation and differentiation. Click here to learn more.
   

• Agnik Dasgupta, Centre for High Impact Neuroscience and Translational Applications (CHINTA), Kolkata: The lab is interested in the biology of nervous system development, as seemingly unstructured clusters of neuronal cells gradually transform into a highly elaborate connectome. Click here to learn more.

2. Academic Skills Programme: In parallel with the lab placement, Fellows will participate in a structured academic skills programme that includes workshops and lectures. This programme is designed to provide the foundational skills necessary for academic and professional success in STEM fields. It will cover key topics such as scientific research & methodologies, understanding experimental design and data analysis, research ethics & integrity, academic writing & publications, graduate school preparation, writing statements of purpose, CVs and research proposal, etc.

Through these two components, the PRISM National Fellowship ensures that fellows receive both practical research training and academic skill-building opportunities, preparing them for further studies and professional careers in STEM.