TNQ Inspiring Science Awards
Honouring, annually, the best paper in the life sciences published by a student from India.
Entries for the TNQ Inspiring Science Awards 2026 are now open.
APPLY NOWRegistrations for TNQ ISA-2026 will close on October 20, 2025
The annual TNQ Inspiring Science Awards (TNQ ISA) are for the best paper in the life sciences, published by a student from India.
About TNQ ISA
The TNQ ISA aim to recognise and reward quality science, inspire scholarship, and encourage researchers to make their lives in basic life science research. Each year we reward creative, rigorous, and impactful life science research.
Apply NowThe inaugural winner of TNQ ISA was announced in January 2017, at The TNQ Distinguished Lectures in the Life Sciences, in Bengaluru. Dr Emilie Marcus, ex-CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Cell Press, said, “Building on the successful tradition of the lectureship in inspiring students to pursue their passion with careers in scientific research, we are creating TNQ Inspiring Science Awards in association with the lectures. The idea for this award was brought forth to us by Professor Anuranjan Anand of JNCASR, and we would like to express our thanks and appreciation to him for helping extend the impact of the lecture series in promoting young Indian scientists.”
8
Previous Winners of the TNQ
Inspiring Science Awards
2600+
Entries since 2016-2017
300+
Research institutions represented
Prize Details
Of each year’s entries, eight papers of young scientists are shortlisted by the jury. All eight finalists receive an Apple laptop, a medal, and a citation.
The winner, chosen from the finalists, receives the year’s TNQ Inspiring Science Award. This award includes a medal, a citation, and a travel fellowship to a conference of the author’s choice anywhere in the world.
Eligibility Criteria
The TNQ ISA 2026 are only for research papers published in the
Life Sciences.
These awards are open to life scientists who are registered for a
PhD, or recent PhD graduates, or postdoctoral fellows within 4
years of their postdoctoral programme.
The research paper being submitted must have been first published
online or in print between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025.
The paper should have already been accepted and published in a
peer-reviewed journal either as an accepted manuscript publication
or a corrected proof publication.
Only peer-reviewed, full-length, published research papers are
eligible for submission. Other article types such as Editorials,
Reviews, Opinions, Perspectives, etc. are not eligible. Preprints
are also not eligible.
The applicant must have been affiliated with a research
institution or university, based in India, where the research must
have been conducted.
Papers with co-authors (Indian or international) are also eligible
for consideration. However, the awards are given only to the
submitting author.
The paper must be uploaded as a PDF with the entry, supported by a
proof of publication link. Entries submitted as links to sites
that are behind paywalls or firewalls are not acceptable.
Evaluation Process
The TNQ ISA jury comprises nearly 40 eminent scientists from across the country, organised in four geographic panels to avoid conflict of interest. Every paper is evaluated by a minimum of three jury members. The top two papers from each panel are finally re-evaluated by the panel chairs, and two internationally renowned scientists who are independent of the jury process. One winner is selected from the re-evaluation process. Information about the jury is kept confidential.
TNQ Inspiring Science Awards - 2025
372 Entries | 8 Finalists
