Merck recently announced winners of the first Merck Young Scientist award in India. The award recognises contributions of young Indian scientists in innovative research. It was instituted to encourage young scientists to pursue their research aspirations. 

Dr. Siddhesh Kamat (Assistant Professor in Biology at IISER Pune) has received this year’s Merck Young Scientist Award. This award recognises excellence in research among scientists with less than 10 years of post-PhD experience and considers applications from all research/academic institutions across India. The accolade is comprised of a cash prize and a travel award. Dr. Kamat is among six researchers selected for the award this year. 

Dr. Siddhesh Kamat’s lab studies lipid signaling and metabolism in nervous and immune system using chemical probes in conjunction with advanced mass spectrometry based metabolomics and proteomics techniques.

The company received over 1,600 registrations and 575 applications were scrutinised by an eminent jury constituted by distinguished scientists and academicians of the country.