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Resilience and Representation in Research
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Recent Columns

Curiosity-driven scientist: My journey in bridging material and biology
Pranav Tiwari
In this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, Pranav Tiwari traces his journey from early curiosity about quantum science to leading interdisciplinary nanobiotechnology research. Navigating systemic barriers, global training, and personal setbacks, his path reflects resilience, scientific ownership, and a commitment to bridging materials science with biology to address real-world health challenges.
Posted on Mar 27, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
Quantum dots in India’s cancer research landscape: Tiny particles, big possibilities
Nida Farooq
Quantum dots—tiny, glowing nanoparticles, are reshaping India’s cancer research landscape. From fruit waste–derived diagnostics to targeted nanotherapies, researchers across the country are harnessing these tools to reveal disease earlier, improve precision, and reimagine accessible, innovative cancer care.
Posted on Mar 20, 2026 in Health & Medicine & Science

Conversations Older →
- Resilience and representation in research: In conversation with Anjali Karande
  Gayathri Sreedharan
  When Anjali Karande reflects on her career in science, what surprises her most is not how far she has come, but how unhurried the journey has felt. Nearly five decades in academia — spanning continents, institutions, and generations of students — unrolled without what she calls “rushing behind awards or accolades”. Instead, her compass was directed towards values that mattered to her deeply: contentment in teaching, joy in discussing science, and the belief that this satisfaction is essential to do good science.
  Posted on Mar 09, 2026 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
- Resilience and representation in research: In conversation with Vidhya Venugopal
  Gayathri Sreedharan
  For many scientists, career trajectories are imagined as a steady progression of predictable milestones, with clearly demarcated roles. Vidhya Venugopal’s journey, however, unfolds differently. From early academic detours to leadership roles in global health research, Vidhya’s story shows us what it means to build a meaningful research career while navigating structural constraints, caregiving responsibilities, and persistent gendered perceptions in academia.
  Posted on Feb 23, 2026 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
Education Older →
- Gamified teaching tools: Bhojtal lake
  Ananya Mukherjee, Arvind Kumar Sewda & Anu Kumari
  As per the fourth goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2023, providing quality education for all by 2030 is key to achieving equitable education. This becomes especially relevant after a global pandemic, during which 94% of the world’s student population was affected due to institutional closures. Teachers such as myself (Ananya) had to find emergency ways of handling the pandemic by trying different remote learning strategies. This had a disproportionate effect on students from marginalised communities in low- and middle-income countries.
  Posted on Nov 28, 2025 in Health & Medicine, Policy & Interdisciplinarity
- A feeling for biological sciences: Stories of early career biologists (Part 2)
  Aswathy Raveendran
  Building on her reflections on project Biotales, in this second part, Aswathy Raveendran delves into the creative journeys of early career biologists. Through workshops enabling artistic expression, participants shared deeply personal narratives that explore the emotional, intellectual, and ethical dimensions of doing science—offering educators and readers a window into the lived experience of life science research.
  Posted on Aug 22, 2025 in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education & Education
Exploring Science Older →
- From curvature to creation: What π really measures
  Sabahat Fida
  Long before mathematics became a technical discipline, numbers were contemplated as a key to understanding the universe. From fractals to living patterns, constants like π reveal how nature unfolds through lawful constraint. More than measurement, π links straightness and curvature—quietly shaping form, rhythm, and biological order across scales.
  Posted on Mar 14, 2026 in Other & Science
- Molecular traffic jam: Redefining the thumb rules of biochemistry
  Sneha Banerjee
  Inside living cells, molecules move through extreme crowding, far from the ideal conditions of lab buffers. This dense, constrained environment reshapes protein folding, interactions, and drug behaviour. By mimicking this “molecular traffic jam”, researchers are redefining biochemical rules and developing more realistic models to improve drug discovery, delivery, and therapeutic precision.
  Posted on Dec 15, 2025 in Science Communication
Indian Scenario Older →
- Quantum dots in India’s cancer research landscape: Tiny particles, big possibilities
  Nida Farooq
  Quantum dots—tiny, glowing nanoparticles, are reshaping India’s cancer research landscape. From fruit waste–derived diagnostics to targeted nanotherapies, researchers across the country are harnessing these tools to reveal disease earlier, improve precision, and reimagine accessible, innovative cancer care.
  Posted on Mar 20, 2026 in Health & Medicine & Science
- A new way in: Stimulating neurons without touching them
  Alok Ajakkala
  Researchers in Mohali have developed a non-invasive way to stimulate neurons using a biocompatible semiconductor. By modulating calcium signalling without electrodes or magnets, this approach could open new paths for treating neurodegenerative disorders and for building biocomputing systems.
  Posted on Mar 13, 2026 in Neuroscience & Science
Journey of a YI Older →
- Curiosity-driven scientist: My journey in bridging material and biology
  Pranav Tiwari
  In this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, Pranav Tiwari traces his journey from early curiosity about quantum science to leading interdisciplinary nanobiotechnology research. Navigating systemic barriers, global training, and personal setbacks, his path reflects resilience, scientific ownership, and a commitment to bridging materials science with biology to address real-world health challenges.
  Posted on Mar 27, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
- A Scientist’s unlikely path
  Sarita Puri
  Sarita Puri is a DST Inspire faculty fellow in the biology department, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER Pune). For this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, she narrates how she became a scientist by an unconventional path and is still finding her niche in Indian Academia.
  Posted on Feb 27, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
Opinion Older →
- Peto’s paradox: What makes whales nearly immune to cancer
  Faiza Uzma
  Why don’t giant animals get more cancer? Despite having vastly more cells, whales and elephants rarely develop cancer. This phenomenon, known as Peto’s paradox, reveals how evolution has equipped large, long-lived animals with powerful DNA repair, tumour suppression, and immune mechanisms, offering surprising insights for human cancer research.
  Posted on Jan 12, 2026 in Evolutionary Biology & Ecology
- Spotlight on life science research: Open access highlights from Taylor & Francis
  Taylor & Francis India
  Open Access (OA) publishing continues to expand the visibility and impact of life science and biomedical research emerging from India. By enabling immediate and unrestricted access to scientific findings, OA articles are helping accelerate knowledge exchange globally and support wider societal application of research. This column highlights selected OA studies published by Taylor & Francis journals over the past few years, across plant biology, microbiology, environmental science, nanotechnology, and allied fields. Each featured article offers insights into scientific challenges with direct relevance to India and beyond.
  Posted on Dec 26, 2025 in Agriculture, Biochemistry, Health & Medicine, Research, Open Access & Publishing
@IndiaBioscience Older →
- From the Young Investigators’ Meeting 2025: What do Institutional Representatives say about hiring?
  Aishwarya Segu
  At the 17th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2025) in Agra, IndiaBioscience asked representatives from different institutions and universities across India questions about faculty hiring. Let’s take a look at their responses.
  Posted on Apr 25, 2025 in Other, Leadership, Networking, Career Development, Advice & Young Investigators
- YIM 2025: Let’s hear from the organisers
  Yousuf Khan
  The 17th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) is coming to Agra, Uttar Pradesh, from 3 to 7 March 2025, in partnership with Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (SNIoE). We interacted with the YIM 2025 organisers – Karishma S Kaushik, IndiaBioscience; Karthick Balasubramanian, Agharkar Research Institute, Pune; Rohini Garg and Anil Kumar Challa from the Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence, Greater Noida – to catch a glimpse of what goes into organising yet another power-packed edition of YIM.
  Posted on Feb 14, 2025 in Networking, YIM, Networking and Collaboration & Events
PhD Cafe Older →
- 13 reasons why you should do a PhD
  Swagatama Mukherjee
  I always knew the “P” in PhD stood for “Philosophy,” but I couldn’t help but wonder—how does a degree in biology, for instance, translate to a ‘Doctor of philosophy’? Now, as I near the end of this journey and look back on the path I’ve travelled, I’m struck by how fitting that “Philosophy” part really is.
  Posted on Jun 09, 2025 in Women in Science & Personal Experience
- Attending a conference as a PhD researcher? Simple tips to make the most out of the experience
  Karishma Kaushik
  In this PhD café article, Karishma S Kaushik, IndiaBioscience, recounts her transformative experience at an American Society for Microbiology (ASM) conference during her PhD, highlighting mentorship, networking, and professional growth. She emphasises the conference's value beyond scientific input, offering tips for maximising benefits, including attending diverse sessions, and following up post the event.
  Posted on Nov 27, 2023 in Career Development, Personal Experience & Networking and Collaboration
Stories from Scientists Older →
- From PhD to Postdoc: My path to the Humboldt Research Fellowship
  Stephy Jose
  Stephy Jose, a postdoctoral researcher at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, studied hydrodynamics and fluctuations in models of active particle motion during her PhD. In this article, she shares her journey of securing the prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship and navigating the challenges of transitioning from PhD to postdoc.
  Posted on Mar 07, 2025 in Biophysics, Other, Science, Career Development & Personal Experience
- 10 Women, 10 Questions: Anindita Bhadra
  Sindhu M & Mohit Nikalje
  Anindita Bhadra, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Science, Education, and Research (IISER) Kolkata, leads a lab focused on the behavioural ecology of dogs. In this ‘10 Women, 10 Questions’ interview, Bhadra discusses her career transitions—from shifting between different model systems to navigating from PhD to faculty member.
  Posted on Jan 03, 2025 in Science, Women in Science & Personal Experience
Funding Older →
- The National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 – the ‘what’ and the ‘how’?
  Joel P. Joseph
  The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) Bill 2023 in India aims to enhance research funding in universities and colleges, yet concerns persist regarding its autonomy and operational effectiveness. In this article from our current conversation series, Joel P. Joseph discusses the 'what' and 'how' of the NRF bill.
  Posted on Nov 06, 2023 in Policy, Funding & Ethics
- HFSP: Helping researchers make bold career moves
  Ankita Rathore, Anjana Badrinarayanan & Garima Rani
  In this article, part of community voices for our international grants awareness program (iGAP), Anjana and Garima share how the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) played an instrumental role in helping them make bold career moves and transform their research careers.
  Posted on May 15, 2023 in Career Development, Funding & Advice
SciTales by CCMB Older →
- Waking the warrior within: Fighting cancer with immunity
  Priyadarshini Singh
  Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. According to global cancer statistics 2022, nearly 20 million new cases were reported with the disease and almost 10 million lost their lives to it. These numbers are predicted to rise to 35 million by 2050. But why is cancer so fatal? The answer lies within the tiniest functional members of our body: cells.
  Posted on Mar 12, 2026 in Health & Medicine, Science & Personal Experience
- A sneak-peak into the mysteries of the biodiverse Western Ghats
  Maya Manivannan
  A June evening in a small town in Kerala’s Palakkad district. There’s not much to entice visitors – a single gym, perhaps two lodges, a juice and milkshake parlour. Yet, a fair share of tourists stops by for a night or two each year, laden with rucksacks, cameras and binoculars. The reason becomes clear if you take a short walk to the outskirts of town. Here, behind the acres of fields spread out in the fading daylight, a blue-green wall rises up to meet the clouds.
  Posted on Feb 05, 2026 in Health & Medicine, Science & Personal Experience
Resilience and Representation in Research Older →
- Resilience and representation in research: In conversation with Anjali Karande
  Gayathri Sreedharan
  When Anjali Karande reflects on her career in science, what surprises her most is not how far she has come, but how unhurried the journey has felt. Nearly five decades in academia — spanning continents, institutions, and generations of students — unrolled without what she calls “rushing behind awards or accolades”. Instead, her compass was directed towards values that mattered to her deeply: contentment in teaching, joy in discussing science, and the belief that this satisfaction is essential to do good science.
  Posted on Mar 09, 2026 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
- Resilience and representation in research: In conversation with Vidhya Venugopal
  Gayathri Sreedharan
  For many scientists, career trajectories are imagined as a steady progression of predictable milestones, with clearly demarcated roles. Vidhya Venugopal’s journey, however, unfolds differently. From early academic detours to leadership roles in global health research, Vidhya’s story shows us what it means to build a meaningful research career while navigating structural constraints, caregiving responsibilities, and persistent gendered perceptions in academia.
  Posted on Feb 23, 2026 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
Featured Authors
- Anil Kumar Challa
- Asim Auti
- Moumita Mazumdar
  IndiaBioscience
- Sreshtha Mondal
  IndiaBioscience
  - Resilience and representation in research: In conversation with Keithellakpam Sanatombi
    Posted on Jan 30 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
- Urvashi Bhattacharyya
  Urvashi (Raheja) Bhattacharyya is a Senior Research Analyst with StudyMode with a Ph.D in Neuroscience from NCBS, Bangalore. She loves writing about education and health care and has been associated with IndiaBioscience since 2015.