Working in a zoo reveals the unseen science behind animal welfare. From reading behaviour and understanding visitor responses to designing enrichment and naturalistic enclosures, good zoo management is about preserving choice and wellbeing. For biologist Shweta Mukundan, observing animals has transformed how she understands captivity, conservation, and care.
Posted on in Ecology, Conservation Biology & Wildlife Biology
India's landmark PreVenTB trial shows that developing an effective TB vaccine is more complex than expected. Although both vaccine candidates proved safe, only limited protection was observed. The study highlights why nutrition, living conditions, and stronger public health systems must remain central to India's TB elimination strategy.
Posted on in Microbiology & Science
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education, Education
What if a gene behaves the same in a mouse and a human, but leads to entirely different outcomes? At BRIC-inStem, Bhavana Muralidharan is uncovering how unique regulatory networks shape the human brain, challenging long-held assumptions in biology while advancing our understanding of neurodevelopment, mental health, and precision medicine.
What if the future of gut health has been quietly fermenting in Indian kitchens for generations? From a century-old idli batter starter to the hidden "dark microbiome," scientists are uncovering how traditional fermented foods may hold the key to restoring microbial diversity and developing gut health solutions uniquely suited to Indian populations.
Posted on in Microbiology & Science
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants awardees Pratibha Gaur and Rishikesh Shukla reflect on their Science for All outreach project in Moradabad, sharing how accessible, hands-on activities helped engage specially-abled children, challenge myths and superstitions, and reveal why inclusive science communication begins with listening, adapting, and ensuring every child can ask, "Why?"
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education & Education
Can art change the way we understand ADHD? Anuradha Sharma and her team share how the IndiaBioscience Outreach Grants helped bring together neuroscience, art therapy, education, and bilingual science communication to create supportive spaces for children, parents, and teachers, encouraging empathy, awareness, and a more compassionate understanding of ADHD.
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education & Education
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education, Education
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education, Education
Posted on in Other, Education, Training, Personal Experience, Outreach, School Education
Posted on in Education, Science Communication, Teaching, School Education, Education
Working in a zoo reveals the unseen science behind animal welfare. From reading behaviour and understanding visitor responses to designing enrichment and naturalistic enclosures, good zoo management is about preserving choice and wellbeing. For biologist Shweta Mukundan, observing animals has transformed how she understands captivity, conservation, and care.
Posted on in Ecology, Conservation Biology & Wildlife Biology
Does our internal clock dictate our ability to fight infection? While we sleep, our body undergoes a massive physiological shift governed by the circadian rhythm. Recent research in chrono-immunology suggests that our immune system is not a constant shield but a rhythmic force that fluctuates between day and night. Understanding these peaks and troughs, driven by molecular clocks and hormonal shifts, offers a roadmap for timing vaccines and treatments more effectively.
Posted on in Neuroscience & Science
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Genetics, Science, Research, Interdisciplinarity
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Nanotechnology, Science, Policy
India's landmark PreVenTB trial shows that developing an effective TB vaccine is more complex than expected. Although both vaccine candidates proved safe, only limited protection was observed. The study highlights why nutrition, living conditions, and stronger public health systems must remain central to India's TB elimination strategy.
Posted on in Microbiology & Science
This article redefines survival beyond biological persistence, examining it through ecological and sociological lenses. Drawing on case studies from India, the authors highlight how power, inequality, and environmental injustice shape survival. It argues for a just, regenerative, and inclusive understanding of survival that prioritises dignity, equity, and long-term ecological sustainability.
From preparing culture media as an undergraduate to leading research on antimicrobial resistance, in this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, Nidhi Gupta reflects on a scientific journey shaped by curiosity, resilience, mentorship, and personal loss. Now a Scientist at TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, she explores how persistence, in both microbes and people, can drive discovery, growth, and purpose.
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
In this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, Ambuja Navalkar, DST-INSPIRE Faculty at the National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune, reflects on her journey from a curiosity-driven child to an independent researcher studying protein disorder and cancer. She shares lessons on interdisciplinary science, mentorship, and navigating uncertainty in academia.
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience, Young Investigators
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience, Young Investigators
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience, Young Investigators
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience, Young Investigators
Posted on in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience, Young Investigators
Women’s pain is shaped by biology, cultural beliefs, and healthcare systems that have been historically dismissive. A personal discussion of how women feel pain differently, face longer diagnostic delays, and receive poorer care—and why believing women in pain is itself a clinical imperative.
The traditional patent model relies on high sales volumes to recoup costs, a mechanism that directly contradicts the global need to conserve our last-resort antibiotics. This article by Umeshkumar explores the “stewardship paradox” and argues for delinkage models to align innovation with public health and sustainable antimicrobial use.
Breakout sessions at the Young Investigators’ Meeting 2026 revealed that building a lab goes beyond science; it is also about defining one’s identity, nurturing people, and sustaining momentum amid constraints. Accompanied by visual notes, this piece is a collation of insights on the role of culture, collaboration, and persistence in shaping resilient research ecosystems and crafting meaningful scientific careers in life sciences.
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 in Other, Leadership, Networking, Career Development, Advice & Young Investigators
Posted on in Networking, YIM, Networking and Collaboration, Events
Posted on in Other, Science, Leadership, Career Development, YIM, Young Investigators
Posted on in Science Communication, Personal Experience, YIM, Networking and Collaboration
Posted on in Science Communication, Personal Experience, YIM, Networking and Collaboration
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.
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 in Career Development, Personal Experience & Networking and Collaboration
Posted on in Personal Experience, Advice, Science communication
Posted on in Personal Experience, Outreach, Science communication
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 in Biophysics, Other, Science, Career Development & Personal Experience
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 in Science, Women in Science & Personal Experience
Posted on in Other, Science Communication, Women in Science, Career Development, Ethics
Posted on in Neuroscience, Other, Science, Career Development, Personal Experience
Posted on in Neuroscience, Science, Outreach, Science communication
Posted on in Microbiology, Other, Science Communication, Women in Science, Personal Experience
Posted on in Other, Networking, Funding, Personal Experience
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.
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 in Career Development, Funding, Young Investigators
Viruses are far more than agents of disease. Tracing their discovery, extraordinary diversity, and mysterious evolutionary origins, this article explores how viruses challenge our understanding of life itself. From ancient giant viruses to the debate over a possible fourth domain of life, it reveals why these microscopic entities remain one of biology's greatest enigmas.
Viruses are far more than agents of disease. Tracing their discovery, extraordinary diversity, and mysterious evolutionary origins, this article explores how viruses challenge our understanding of life itself. From ancient giant viruses to the debate over a possible fourth domain of life, it reveals why these microscopic entities remain one of biology's greatest enigmas.
Posted on in Health & Medicine, Science, Personal Experience
From biochemistry to shaping innovation ecosystems, this Resilience and Representation in Research article traces Shreya Malik’s journey across industry, research, and policy spaces. Now Program Head – Life Sciences at Wadhwani Innovation Network, Wadhwani Foundation, she reflects on mentorship, allyship, and alternative careers in building more inclusive scientific ecosystems.
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
In this piece, moderator Sanchari Banerjee (Sai Life Sciences, Hyderabad) reflects on the panel “Balancing the Equation: Motherhood, Career Shifts, and Success in STEMM”, hosted by IndiaBioscience on 25 November 2025. The discussion highlights mentorship, work–life integration, and systemic change needed to support women navigating careers in STEMM.
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience, Advice
Posted on in Science, Training, Career Development, Policy, Undergraduate
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.
