Thank you for your interest in attending New Phytologist next generation scientists 2026.
This event is exclusively for early career researchers in plant science (including PhD students and any researcher with up to five years’ experience since gaining/defending their PhD, excluding career breaks).
Attendance will be limited to approximately 100 early career participants. Please apply for a place by 20 May 2026.
New Phytologist next generation scientists meetings bring early career researchers together with fellow early career researchers, as well as more established researchers from around the world, including New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet Editors and Advisors. Our aim is to rotate these meetings to different areas of the world. Each year we ensure that a large proportion of delegate spaces are allocated to researchers based in the region the meeting is being held in. In 2026 we will prioritise from India and surrounding countries. In September 2027 next generation scientists will be hosted in Japan.
We also stream the events live to enable early career researchers that are not able to join in person the option to join online or watch on demand after the symposium. The recorded sessions from 2025 are available to watch on demand.
Watch the careers panel from the 2025 New Phytologist next generation scientists. Hosted by Daniel Gibbs and Grace Handy, University of Birmingham.
Featuring Adesola Bello, University of Birmingham Research Strategy and Services Division, Philippa Borrill, John Innes Centre, Costas Garagounis, PCR Biosystems Ltd, Claire Litchfield, University of Birmingham Enterprise, Marjorie Lundgren, Lancaster University, Matthew Naish, University of Cambridge, Carl Ng, University College Dublin, Mariana Vale, Fed. Univ. Rio de Janeiro
More next generation scientist recordings
All successful applicants will present either a poster, or a short talk based on their submitted abstract.
Accepted attendees receive:
Free registration, including all conference meals, and social events
Attendees that are not within a commutable distance will also receive:
Three nights’ accommodation in the IISER Pune Guesthouse – most ECR delegates will be asked to share a room with a delegate of the same gender.
A small travel grant to assist with travel expenses.
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It is the best opportunity to showcase your work and to meet with various people with various scientific experts. Also, it is a great platform to take a next step in life towards post doc or industries. So, everyone should apply and join
NGS Attendee 2025
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This was by far the most inclusive and supportive meeting that I have been to. The focus on skills and careers was superb and the encouragement of ECRs throughout the whole meeting was fantastic.
NGS Attendee 2025
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It was super motivating and engaging. I felt unjudged expressing myself. I had several opportunities to discuss with peers and seniors/mentors. These opportunities were mainly created by the organizers which demolished the barrier of shyness. The scientific quality was extremely high. Keynote speakers were great examples of how to be good scientific communicators. I learned a lot!
NGS Attendee 2025
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This meeting offers an excellent opportunity to deepen scientific knowledge, gain insights on navigating research, and foster professional growth through interactions with editors and assistant editors from journals such as New Phytologist
NGS Attendee 2025
Applications are open to current PhD candidates in plant science or researchers that have completed their PhD within the last five years. For the 2026 event applicants should have completed their PhD no earlier than May 2021. Career breaks are excluded. We encourage applications from early career researchers working in industry with active relevant research interests.
Due to high demand for delegate places, delegates who have previously attended a New Phytologist next generation scientists symposium in person are not eligible to attend for a second time. Delegates must be able to attend the entire symposium and partial participation is not possible.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the Events and Promotion Manager.
To apply, applicants will need to provide the following information in the application portal
A poster abstract (this should reflect your current research interests) of no more than 200 words.
A personal statement of 200 words addressing why you want to attend the next generation scientists symposium, and how it will benefit your career development.
Your academic and professional history which should include your education details, the date that you obtained your PhD, or expect to obtain your PhD, publication history, and awards. Please also provide a CV as a PDF.
A letter of recommendation / reference (up to 500 words) from a scientist who has agreed to support your application, usually your group leader or someone who knows your work well.
Application timeline
20 May 2026 – closing date for applications
May/June 2026 - review of application
Mid July – acceptances issued – accepted delegates have three weeks to confirm if they plan to attend. Some delegates may be placed on a waiting list subject to any cancellations
21 August 2026 – deadline for all international attendees to provide passport details for Ministry of External Affairs approval.
We do expect to have a significant waiting list of people who want to attend. Please only accept the invitation to attend if you can attend for the whole event. If your circumstances change and you can no longer attend, please let us know as soon as possible so that your place can be given to someone on the waiting list.
How are NGS applicants selected?
Applications are initially reviewed based on the strength and novelty of the abstract submitted. Abstracts are reviewed by New Phytologist and Plants, People, Planet board members and the local organising committee. Reviewers will not see the name or institution of the applicant and applications will be judged solely on the science presented in the abstract.
The top abstracts will then be further reviewed by the local organising committee, who will take into account the personal statement and strength of the reference provided.
Tips on how to write your abstract from a New Phytologist Editor
State clearly within the first couple of sentences the question or hypothesis that is under investigation.
In three or four sentences, explain the key findings from the work.
Try to avoid very long and convoluted titles but try to keep the title accurate.
Please remember to mention the species that was used for the experiments. For example, Arabidopsis scientists often forget to mention that they are using Arabidopsis.
End the abstract with two or three sentences that explain the new things that have been discovered, or are being discovered, by the work.
If your experiments are at a relatively early stage, consider using phrases such as “We are investigating…”, rather than “We want to investigate…”.
Don’t include literature citations.
It can be helpful to frame your abstract in a way that avoids yes/no outcomes. For example, “We wanted to discover the extent to which plants are green” is better than “We wanted to discover whether plants are green.” Biology rarely gives yes/no answers.
How should I select which section my work relates to?
You should review the description of the sections of New Phytologist and chose the section that best fits your work.
Travel Grants
Delegates selected to attend New Phytologist next generation scientists will receive a small travel grant to assist with their attendance. The travel grant will be paid directly by bank transfer after the event to the delegate's nominated account. Travel grants are based on your location.
India-based, less than 500 km from Pune – 4000 R
India-based, more than 500 km from Pune – 7500 R
Indian subcontinent – £100
Rest of the world – £125
We expect that most international delegates will seek travel funding from their University/Institution, or have access to alternative funding.
How to apply for additional travel funding.
We appreciate that some delegates may have limited funding. The New Phytologist Foundation has limited additional funds for delegates where travel costs exceed the travel grants, and where additional funding sources are unavailable. Additional travel grants are generally in the range of £100 – £500.
Before applying to attend, we encourage you to discuss with your department/institution the support they could provide should you be accepted to attend the symposium. If this highlights that your institution is unlikely to be able to provide support for you to attend and you do not have alternative funding, you can highlight in your application that you need to request additional support. This travel support is limited and will be prioritised to delegates with the most financial need, and who have been highly rated during the application process. We may not be able to meet all requests for increases in travel grants.
When applying, you can indicate whether you would need to request additional funding to be able to attend. Asking for additional funding will not impact your selection, but please note that you may not be awarded additional funding, or you may not be awarded the full amount that you have requested. You will be told the level of funding (if any) you would receive with the outcome of your application, and you then have three weeks to confirm if you can attend.
Claiming a travel grant or travel contribution
When a travel grant, sometimes referred to as a travel contribution, has been awarded, the payment of the travel grant will not be issued until after the event.
The New Phytologist Foundation will have set a specific amount for the travel grant. No receipts are required to claim the travel grant. This allows the travel grant recipient to arrange their travel to best suit their needs.
Where possible, we encourage travel grant recipients to combine their travel to the event with other activities to make better use of the carbon footprint of attending the meeting.
The payment of a travel grant can be to the recipient's institution, or to their personal bank account, and will be made by a bank transfer. Travel grant recipients will receive a link to a secure form to provide their bank details to arrange the payment of the travel grant. Institutions may send an invoice for the amount of the travel grant to the New Phytologist Foundation. Please contact np-finance@lancaster.ac.uk with any questions about invoices.
If paying for their travel in advance will cause the attendee to experience a significant financial burden, or if the delegate will have difficulty in receiving a bank transfer from the UK, please contact the Events and Promotions Manager to discuss alternative options.
If the delegate is unable to attend the event, generally the travel grant will not be paid. Delegates are encouraged to take out travel insurance to cover them should they be unable to attend. Any request for a travel grant to be paid following non-attendance will need to be approved by the Executive Editor. We will request confirmation of travel expenses with receipts in these circumstances, as well as proof that the travel costs could not be refunded.
Eligibility criteria, and terms and conditions
Applications are open to current PhD candidates in plant science or researchers that have completed their PhD within the last five years. For the 2026 event applicants should have completed their PhD no earlier than May 2021. Career breaks are excluded. We encourage applications from early career researchers working in industry with active relevant research interests.
Due to high demand for delegate places, delegates who have previously attended a New Phytologist next generation scientists symposium in person are not eligible to attend for a second time. Delegates must be able to attend the entire symposium and partial participation is not possible.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the Events and Promotion Manager.
Code of conduct
By accepting a place at the symposium, you agree to abide by the The New Phytologist Foundation code of conduct, and follow all guidelines of the hosting institution, IISER Pune.
The New Phytologist Foundation celebrates diversity, and we expect participants in our meetings to be respectful, considerate and supportive of each other, to offer constructive critiques and embrace the variety of opinions on offer. New Phytologist Foundation events are an opportunity to share, develop and broaden our viewpoints within a safe and inclusive setting.
The New Phytologist Foundation has established a set of core principles that outline the standards expected of individuals involved in the Foundation’s activities, including symposia and workshops. We strive to treat all individuals with respect and promote a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
Expected behaviour
We respect the rights of all individuals to dignity, privacy and confidentiality and delegates must treat everyone with respect.
We ask delegates to respect their fellow participants and ensure they undertake good practices for intercultural collaborations. Several tips for intercultural communication can be found at Commisceo Global and CHRYSOS.
We ask that delegates remain mindful of their surroundings and respect the surroundings of their fellow delegates.
Do not share, copy, or reuse any materials presented by speakers unless this is expressly permitted.
All delegates must ensure they respect the staff, rules and protocols of the meeting venue, accommodation, and online platform. This also includes protocols linked to COVID-19.
We will not tolerate behaviours that involve discrimination of individuals or groups on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. Sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, or harassment in any form will not be tolerated.
Any delegates that do not meet the expected respectful behaviour may be immediately removed from the online or physical meeting.
If you have any concerns or suggestions, please speak to the Events and Promotions Manager, Christine Phillips or the Executive Editor, Sarah Lennon. Alternatively, you can email np-events@lancaster.ac.uk.
Cancellation policy
If an accepted delegate is no longer able to attend, they should inform the Events and Promotion Manager immediately. NGS delegate places are non-transferable. We expect to have a long waiting list of people interested in attending, who will be contacted should any places become available.
If the delegate is unable to attend the event, generally the travel grant will not be paid. Delegates are encouraged to take out travel insurance to cover them should they be unable to attend. Any request for a travel grant to be paid following non-attendance will need to be approved by the Executive Editor. We will request confirmation of travel expenses with receipts in these circumstances, as well as proof that the travel costs could not be refunded.
Should circumstances beyond our control force the cancellation of the symposium, The New Phytologist Foundation is unable to accept liability for any additional costs incurred, including travel costs, and delegates are strongly encouraged to take out appropriate travel insurance to cover them in the event of cancellation.
Applications are open to current PhD candidates in plant science or researchers that have completed their PhD within the last five years. For the 2026 event applicants should have completed their PhD no earlier than May 2021. Career breaks are excluded. We encourage applications from early career researchers working in industry with active relevant research interests.
Due to high demand for delegate places, delegates who have previously attended a New Phytologist next generation scientists symposium in person are not eligible to attend for a second time. Delegates must be able to attend the entire symposium and partial participation is not possible.
If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the Events and Promotion Manager.
Letters of recommendation are generally provided by your PhD Supervisor, your PI or Group Leader. We also will accept letters of recommendation from other scientists that are familiar with your work and your research interests.
Letters can be included with your application, or they can be sent to np-events@lancaster.ac.uk by the application closing date.
Each meeting is organised by a local organising committee, which includes early career researchers. The meeting will include keynote talks from leading plant scientists, as well as selected talks from the early career researchers in attendance.
Additional highlights include panel discussions and workshops on topics of interest to early career researchers. These topics will be selected by the local organising committee. Previous meetings have featured topics including career paths, navigating grant applications and publishing ethics. In your application you can suggest topics/issues that you face as an early career researcher.
In addition to early career attendees, a number of Mentors will be invited from the plant science community. These will include Editors and Advisors of New Phytologist and other journals. Mentors will be available throughout the meeting, providing valuable networking opportunities, and formal and informal advice.
The most important part of the meeting is all the early career researchers in attendance. The event is designed to be supportive and inclusive for all attendees, and we hope that you will make contacts that will last a lifetime.
Accepted applicants will receive free registration, which will include:
Access to all sessions, including breakout workshops
All meals as per the schedule (including breakfast, lunch, dinner and break refreshments)
Applicants that are not within a commutable distance will also receive:
Three nights’ accommodation in the IISER Pune Guesthouse– most ECR delegates will be asked to share a room with a delegate of the same gender.
A small travel grant to assist with travel expenses.
Travel grants are based on your location.
India-based, less than 500 km from Pune – 4000 R
India-based, more than 500 km from Pune – 7500 R
Indian subcontinent – £100
Rest of the world – £125
We appreciate that some delegates may have limited funding. The New Phytologist Foundation has limited additional funds for delegates where travel costs exceed the travel grants, and where additional funding sources are unavailable. Additional travel grants are generally in the range of £100 – £500.
Before applying to attend, we encourage you to discuss with your department/institution the support they could provide should you be accepted to attend the symposium. If this highlights that your institution is unlikely to be able to provide support for you to attend and you do not have alternative funding, you can highlight in your application that you need to request additional support. This travel support is limited and will be prioritised to delegates with the most financial need, and who have been highly rated during the application process. We may not be able to meet all requests for increases in travel grants.
When applying, you can indicate whether you would need to request additional funding to be able to attend. Asking for additional funding will not impact your selection, but please note that you may not be awarded additional funding, or you may not be awarded the full amount that you have requested. You will be told the level of funding (if any) you would receive with the outcome of your application, and you then have three weeks to confirm if you can attend.
Claiming a travel grant or travel contribution
When a travel grant, sometimes referred to as a travel contribution, has been awarded, the payment of the travel grant will not be issued until after the event.
The New Phytologist Foundation will have set a specific amount for the travel grant. No receipts are required to claim the travel grant. This allows the travel grant recipient to arrange their travel to best suit their needs.
Where possible, we encourage travel grant recipients to combine their travel to the event with other activities to make better use of the carbon footprint of attending the meeting.
The payment of a travel grant can be to the recipient's institution, or to their personal bank account, and will be made by a bank transfer. Travel grant recipients will receive a link to a secure form to provide their bank details to arrange the payment of the travel grant. Institutions may send an invoice for the amount of the travel grant to the New Phytologist Foundation. Please contact np-finance@lancaster.ac.uk with any questions about invoices.
If paying for their travel in advance will cause the attendee to experience a significant financial burden, or if the delegate will have difficulty in receiving a bank transfer from the UK, please contact the Events and Promotions Manager to discuss alternative options.
If the delegate is unable to attend the event, generally the travel grant will not be paid. Delegates are encouraged to take out travel insurance to cover them should they be unable to attend. Any request for a travel grant to be paid following non-attendance will need to be approved by the Executive Editor. We will request confirmation of travel expenses with receipts in these circumstances, as well as proof that the travel costs could not be refunded.
Due to limited accommodation availability, delegates are not able to bring a guest with them. Should you have a specific need/requirement to have someone accompany you, please discuss this with the Events and Promotions Manager should you be selected to attend.
In 2026 we are using the Oxford Abstracts submission portal to collect applications.
If you have not previously used Oxford Abstracts, you will need to sign up for an account with an email address.
Oxford Abstracts provides a guide to making a submission.
Once you have logged into your Oxford Abstract account, you will be able to start your application.
Please note that the system may use the term “author” instead of applicant.
There are three pages of the application form:
Page 1 Your details, including your abstract, and personal statement and academic history
Page 2: Details of your reference.
Page 3 Planning and demographic information. This will be used for reporting, and planning by The New Phytologist Foundation staff.
Please ensure you complete all mandatory fields. Incomplete applications may be rejected. Once you submit your application you can amend it up to the deadline of 20 May 2026.
If you want to save your application and continue working on it later, please ensure that you click “next page” or “submit”. You may be notified of incomplete fields, but this will save your progress, and you can return later to complete the form.
Oxford Abstracts provides further guidance for submitters: Support - Oxford Abstracts Knowledge Base
Visa information
Many international attendees will require a visa to enter India.
Further details on Indian visas are available at: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/
Country specific guidance is available at: https://boi.gov.in/boi/country-specific-guidelines
Attendees will generally apply for a conference e-visa. This requires that all international participants’ details are sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for approval. Due to this, all international delegates must confirm their attendance and complete the registration process including providing their passport details directly to IISER Pune no later than Monday 21 August 2026.
Once approval is received by the Ministry of External Affairs the relevant approval documents will be shared with international delegates, along with instructions on how to complete their application for an e-visa. Please be aware that the MEA approval document will include the passport details of all international participants.
In addition to the MEA approval document, The New Phytologist Foundation will provide a visa invitation letter on behalf of the symposium organisers.
Delegates are responsible for applying for their own visa, and for paying any relevant fees.
Health and vaccination requirements for entry to India
All delegates should ensure they have travel insurance that would cover them in the case of illness. Please check if you are eligible under your university or institution travel insurance policy.
Delegates arriving from outside of India should ensure they have the relevant required vaccinations for travel to India.
You are encouraged to check public health travel websites for further details, such as Travelhealthpro (https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/105/india#Vaccine_Recommendations).
Please take particularly note of the Yellow Fever vaccination certificate requirements if you have recently travelled from an area considered to be Notified Yellow Fever Endemic Countries.
Further details are available at: https://boi.gov.in/boi/country-specific-guidelines
Travel information
Further information on traveling to IISER Pune will be provided in due course
Local Organising Committee
Anjan Banerjee, IISER Pune, India (Chair)
Annapurna Devi Allu, IISER Tirupati, India
Deepak Barua, IISER Pune, India
Amey Bhide, IISER Pune, India
Kankan Datta, IISER Pune, India
Ravi Devani, IISER Mohali, India
Vinita Gowda, IISER Bhopal, India
Drishti Kataria, IISER Pune, India
Ishfaq Khan, IISER Pune, India
Ashish Nerlekar, IISER Pune, India
Sagar Pandit, IISER Pune, India
Surbhi Phulia, IISER Pune, India
Kalika Prasad, IISER Pune, India
Sonal Talekar, IISER Pune, India
Arati Vasav, IISER Pune India
New Phytologist next generation scientists advisory board
Keith Lindsey, Chair of the New Phytologist Foundation, Durham University, UK
Simon Hiscock, Plants, People, Planet Editor-in-Chief, Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, UK
Marjorie Lundgren, Plants, People, Planet Editor, Lancaster University, UK
Maarja Öpik, New Phytologist Editor-in-Chief, University of Tartu, Estonia
Mark D. Rausher, New Phytologist Editor, Duke University, USA