Syngene & RICH Launch 3rd Edition of STEM Scholarship & Mentorship Program for Women

By: WE Staff | Friday, 11 July 2025

• The third class of Syngene International Ltd.'s renowned  STEM scholarship and mentorship program for women has begun
• The project is in cooperation with the Biocon Foundation and the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH)
• The program's goal is to empower and support women who want to work in STEM fields

The third cohort of Syngene International Ltd.'s premier scholarship, mentorship, and industry orientation program for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) was introduced in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH) and Biocon Foundation.

The program bridges the learning-acquire gap by offering financial support, one-on-one mentorship, and hands-on lab training, with a focus on enabling women from tier two and tier three institutions. More than 50 women have so far been able to pursue careers in STEM.

This year, 40 students were chosen through a competitive evaluation process that prioritized students from underprivileged backgrounds and took into account their socioeconomic status, research potential and academic accomplishments.

Project-based internships with top biotech and pharmaceutical companies and prestigious research institutes like CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR–CCMB) mark the program's conclusion. Technical seminars and field trips will also benefit the participants by giving them professional contacts and skills.

The majority of women in India's small towns are still unable to fulfill their aspirations in STEM due to a lack of mentorship, poverty, and limited exposure. By providing targeted guidance and practical learning opportunities, the Syngene–RICH program directly addresses these problems.

Pramuch Goel, Syngene's Head of Corporate Affairs, stated, "This initiative is an investment for India's scientific future. By promoting talent from under-resourced institutions, we are building a more inclusive and competent research ecosystem."

The initiative was inaugurated in the presence of distinguished guests, such as Dr. Parvinder Maini (Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India), Dr. Shailja Donempudi (CSIR),Rashmi Pimpale (CEO, RICH), and Dr. Anupama Shetty (Mission Director, Biocon Foundation).

Earlier cohort participants have attributed the program with altering their career aspirations. "I had never entered a real lab before this program," explained Revathi Karamalla, an alumna of the second cohort. "Now I'm sure about starting a career in science." Abhirami K, in the current cohort, explained, "I never dreamed of such a thing, living in a small village. Working in a pharma company and being guided by scientists is a dream come true".