Tuesday, 02 December 2025
Dr Bipin Pandey from the University of Nottingham has been selected as one of the 2025 European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigators, a distinction awarded to exceptional young group leaders in the life sciences across Europe and beyond.
The EMBO Young Investigator Programme supports researchers within the first four years of establishing their independent laboratories. The programme provides financial support, mentoring, and access to a vibrant international network of leading scientists.
Dr Pandey from the School of Biosciences is part of a new cohort of 28 young investigators, who will be active members of the EMBO Young Investigator Programme for the next four years. His research focuses on understanding how plant roots sense and adapt to physical stresses in the soil environment, with the goal of improving crop resilience and resource efficiency.
“I am deeply honoured to be selected as an EMBO Young Investigator,” said Dr Pandey.
This recognition not only supports our fundamental research but also strengthens our collaborations across Europe. It will help us translate our discoveries on root growth and soil adaptation into strategies for improving crop performance in challenging environments.
The award reflects Nottingham’s growing international reputation for excellence in plant and environmental sciences.
The new EMBO Young Investigators benefit from a variety of networking opportunities for them and their lab members. They become part of a vibrant network of more than 800 current and former EMBO Young Investigators, Installation Grantees and Global Investigators. Further benefits include training and mentoring opportunities, as well as access to core facilities at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. Young investigators also receive a financial award of 15,000 euros. They can apply for additional grants of up to 10,000 euros per year and gain support for networking activities, such as joint group meetings or travelling to conferences.
EMBO is delighted to welcome the new young investigators. Their outstanding achievements demonstrate the excellence and ambition that will drive progress in the life sciences. We are pleased to support these young group leaders as they take the next steps in their careers, and we look forward to their discoveries and contributions to our community.
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More information is available from Dr Bipin Pandey on Bipin.Pandey@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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