Bangalore, India, July 03rd, 2025: Merck, a leading science and technology company, is back with its fourth edition of the Merck Young Scientist Award 2025. Staying true to its mission of empowering the next generation of researchers, the Award continues to honour exceptional young scientists across India whose groundbreaking work is pushing the boundaries of life sciences.

Announcing the return of India’s most prestigious honour for the academic scientific community, Dhananjay Singh, Managing Director – Life Science and Head of Science and Lab Solutions, India at Merck Life Science, said, “India’s future in life sciences will be defined by the strength of its research ecosystem and the scientists driving it. At Merck, we believe scientific progress is driven by those who dare to think big and pursue transformative solutions. The Merck Young Scientist Award 2025 honours this spirit—celebrating early and mid-career scientists shaping the future of life sciences in India. Our vision—“Sparking Discovery to Elevate Humanity”—resonates deeply with India’s aspirations. As the country accelerates its journey toward becoming a global R&D powerhouse, Merck remains steadfast in its commitment to empower changemakers, support cutting-edge research, and contribute meaningfully to India’s growth story. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of changemakers.”

Nominations for the 2025 edition of the Merck Young Scientist Award will be accepted between 1 July and 15 August 2025. The award will recognise 16 outstanding young researchers from across India, selected from the fields of Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences.

This year’s edition also introduces two distinct categories, Emerging Talent, for early-career scientists (Within five years of completing their PhD) and Scientific Excellence, for mid-career researchers (With five to ten years of post-PhD experience). Eligible applicants must be affiliated with a recognised academic or research institution in India. Winners will be felicitated at a formal award ceremony scheduled for November 2025.

Each category will honour four winners and four runners-up in both Biological Sciences and Chemical Sciences. Winners in the Scientific Excellence category will receive a cash prize of INR 3,50,000 (Including travel grant of INR 1,00,000) and runners-up will be awarded INR 1,25,000 each. In the Emerging Talent category, winners will receive INR 2,50,000, and runners-up will be awarded INR 1,00,000 each.

Over the last three editions, the Merck Young Scientist Award has received widespread acclaim from the scientific community, attracting thousands of applicants from institutions across India. The program has recognised over 40 promising scientists who are driven by curiosity and whose work is contributing to human progress and societal wellbeing.