Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE) Thiruvananthapuram has invited nominations for the Kerala State Young Scientist Award instituted by it, intended to honour talented young scientists in recognition of their outstanding contributions in different branches of science and technology.

Research carried out independently by young scientists are working in Kerala for the last three years in any of the 14 identified disciplines will be considered for the award.

The disciplines include: (i) Mathematical Sciences (ii) Physics (iii) Chemical Sciences (iv) Earth & Planetary Sciences (v) Engineering Sciences & Technology (vi) Materials Science (vii) Plant Sciences (viii) Animal Sciences (ix) Microbiology and Immunology (x) Cell and Biomolecular Sciences (xi) Health Sciences (xii) Agricultural Sciences & Forestry (xiii) Science Teaching and Science Education (xiv) Regional Science & Science Policy.

The number of awards to be made in each year will be limited to 14. Awards will not be shared.

Eligibility: Applicant should hold a Ph.D. with 3 years of postdoctoral experience. The applicant should have working experience in any R&D/academic institution in Kerala continuously for the last 3 years. Age should not be more than 37 years as on 31st December, 2025. Nominees with a date of birth on or after 31.12.1988 are eligible.

Nomination Procedure: Candidates may be nominated by vice-chancellors of universities in Kerala, directors of research institutes/R&D centers of industries, heads of university departments, principals of colleges with approved centres of research, fellows of the Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, India, Indian National Academy of Engineering and Indian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Nominations will be valid for 3 years or the eligibility age, whichever is earlier.

Detailed Notification is available at www.kscste.kerala.gov.in

Nominations in the prescribed format along with all supporting documents must be submitted online at www.kscste.kerala.gov.in on or before August 31, 2025.

Selection will be through review/evaluation by the subject committee (expert committee) for each area. The Subject committee may forward the nominations to another committee whenever appropriate. Candidates recommended by the screening committee after a rigorous criteria-based screening will be invited for presentation of their research work. The candidates will be informed of their selection for the award individually by mail.

Each awardee will be presented with a certificate, the Chief Minister’s Gold Medal and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/-. In addition, the recipient may be considered by the Council for a research grant of Rs.50 lakhs after due consideration of the research project with the help of an expert committee. The awardee, within 3 years of the receipt of the award, will be considered for a visit abroad for presenting the research work at a conference.

The awards will be distributed by the Chief Minister during the inaugural session of the Kerala Science Congress. The Awardees must make a presentation of the award-winning work in the Plenary Session of the Kerala Science Congress