Columns

Conversations
Education
Exploring Science
Indian Scenario
Journey of a YI
Opinion
@IndiaBioscience
PhD Cafe
Stories from Scientists
Funding
Authors

Recent Columns

Science as a community enterprise: In conversation with Mriganka Sur
Shreya Ghosh
Mriganka Sur is the Newton Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Simons Center for the Social Brain at MIT. He has also acted as the jury chair for the Infosys Prize in the field of life sciences for the past several years. IndiaBioscience recently had the opportunity to chat with him about the current status of life science research in India, some of the common challenges, and the road ahead for the community. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Posted on Jun 21, 2021 in Policy, Advice & Research
Teaching with Twitter
Andrea Phillott
Social media platforms, such as Twitter, are increasingly being used by scientists to share their ideas and findings with a global audience. Younger users, such as #undergraduate students, could benefit from engaging with these messages, in more than one ways. In this article, @AndreaPhillott, a Professor of #ConservationBiology at FLAME University, Pune, describes how her students benefitted from an assignment with Twitter.
Posted on Jun 18, 2021 in Conservation Biology, Teaching, Personal Experience & Undergraduate

Conversations Older →
- Science as a community enterprise: In conversation with Mriganka Sur
  Shreya Ghosh
  Mriganka Sur is the Newton Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Simons Center for the Social Brain at MIT. He has also acted as the jury chair for the Infosys Prize in the field of life sciences for the past several years. IndiaBioscience recently had the opportunity to chat with him about the current status of life science research in India, some of the common challenges, and the road ahead for the community. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
  Posted on Jun 21, 2021 in Policy, Advice & Research
- A computational tool that can rapidly identify and analyse coronavirus mutations
  Susheela Srinivas
  With several new COVID variants emerging in recent months, the importance of analysing and drawing insights from vast amounts of viral genome sequencing data cannot be understated. To address this need, A team of researchers at the Advanced Centre for Treatment Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Navi Mumbai, have come up with a computational tool called the Infectious Pathogen Detector (IPD).
  Posted on Mar 30, 2021 in Health & Medicine & COVID-19
Education Older →
- Teaching with Twitter
  Andrea Phillott
  Social media platforms, such as Twitter, are increasingly being used by scientists to share their ideas and findings with a global audience. Younger users, such as #undergraduate students, could benefit from engaging with these messages, in more than one ways. In this article, @AndreaPhillott, a Professor of #ConservationBiology at FLAME University, Pune, describes how her students benefitted from an assignment with Twitter.
  Posted on Jun 18, 2021 in Conservation Biology, Teaching, Personal Experience & Undergraduate
- Games and higher education in biology
  Saurabh Mahajan
  Games are not just invigorating and fun, they also keep the players focussed and motivated to learn and do better – qualities that all educators wish to inculcate in their students. In this article, Saurabh Mahajan, a biologist and educator from Atria University, describes ways in which games can be used to achieve better learning of biological concepts, with the same excitement, motivation and focus in students.
  Posted on May 24, 2021 in Teaching, Undergraduate & Education
Exploring Science Older →
- Why do we have so many different tests for COVID-19?
  Somdatta Karak
  From RT-PCR to rapid antibody kits to sewage surveillance - It is easy to become confused by the variety of different tests currently available for COVID-19. In this article, Somdatta explains the different ways in which each of these tests work, the pros and cons of each method, and the nuances involved in interpreting the results obtained from each of these tests.
  Posted on Nov 20, 2020 in Biotechnology & COVID-19
- Open Science responses during the COVID-19 pandemic
  N Rajendra Prasad
  The COVID-19 pandemic, while affecting the lives and work of scientists all over the globe, has also enabled an outpouring of generosity and innovation when it comes to rapid and open sharing of research outputs. During the International Open Access Week 2020, we examine some of the initiatives taken by various national and international organisations to improve global access to COVID-19 research.
  Posted on Oct 20, 2020 in COVID-19, Intellectual Property & Database/Resource
Indian Scenario Older →
- Call for a national strategy to make biomedical research more human-relevant
  P Surat
  Scientists are increasingly lobbying for non-animal models for biomedical research, given that subtle genetic differences between humans and animals can lead to pronounced differences in disease severity. Advanced technologies such as organs-on-chips are showing potential to make biomedical research more human-relevant. Surat reports on a recent virtual event that initiated a dialogue on the possibilities and challenges of implementing human-relevant models and frameworks in India.
  
  Posted on May 10, 2021 in Health & Medicine, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Policy & Events
- Impostor syndrome - not just a feeling
  Divya Vishwanath
  Many successful academics continue to be plagued by feelings of “not belonging” or “not being good enough”. Some even hold an implicit belief that they have defrauded everyone around them into believing in their capability. In this next article in our mental health series, Divya delves into the “impostor syndrome” and some possible solutions for this pervasive mental health challenge.
  Posted on Apr 29, 2021 in Advice & Mental Health
Journey of a YI Older →
- Roots before wings: Setting up a laboratory as a new investigator
  Himanshu Shekhar
  Himanshu Shekhar is an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar. He was one of the Young Investigators selected to attend YIM 2020 in Mahabalipuram. In this invited article, he talks about the importance of learning and applying strategic management skills when a researcher is first setting up their independent lab.
  Posted on Feb 03, 2021 in Personal Experience, Advice & Young Investigators
- The circle of trust and mentoring in a YI’s journey
  Sudhir Ranganath
  Sudhir Ranganath is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Siddaganga Institute of Technology (SIT). He is one of the Young Investigators selected to attend YIM 2020 in Mahabalipuram. In this invited article, he talks about the role his mentors, collaborators, and scientific network have played in facilitating the process of setting up his lab.
  Posted on Feb 11, 2020 in Career Development, Young Investigators & Mentorship
Opinion Older →
- Six things to keep in mind when submitting your first manuscript
  Sneha Kulkarni
  Navigating the world of publications can be difficult for a new researcher, especially in the absence of formal training in scientific writing. In this article, Sneha Kulkarni, Editor-in-Chief, Editage Insights, discusses a few pointers to keep in mind while preparing your first research manuscript.
  Posted on May 29, 2021 in Career Development & Advice
- COVID-19 has exacerbated India’s hidden mental health pandemic
  Subhra Sarkar
  Among COVID-19’s many effects on society, one of the most insidious is the way it has affected global mental health, giving rise to new challenges and aggravating pre-existing issues. In this article, Subhra Sarkar, who is currently pursuing a PhD in psychiatric nursing, discusses the ways in which the pandemic has affected the mental health of a large segment of the Indian population.
  Posted on Apr 27, 2021 in COVID-19 & Mental Health
@IndiaBioscience Older →
- YIM 2021: Zooming forward
  Yashika Kapoor
  Earlier this year, IndiaBioscience organised the first virtual Young Investigators' Meeting (YIM), owing to the pandemic. The event’s resounding success bespoke the enterprising strides IndiaBioscience undertook to continue providing a unique opportunity for young investigators and postdoctoral fellows from across the globe. They networked with mentors and experts to explore navigating the setting up of an independent research group in India. Here is a report on the highlights of the online event.
  Posted on Jun 07, 2021 in YIM, Young Investigators & Events
- YIM 2021 - A word from the organisers
  Shreya Ghosh
  The 13th Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM 2021) is going to be held in a virtual format from 17-19 March, 2021. We asked the organisers of YIM2020 (Imroze Khan, Ashoka University, Sonipat; Karishma Kaushik, Institute of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University; Vasudharani Devanathan, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati; Shantala Hari Dass and Smita Jain, IndiaBioscience) a few questions about the upcoming meeting. Here is what they had to say.
  Posted on Mar 17, 2021 in YIM, Young Investigators & Events
PhD Cafe Older →
- An Introvert’s Guide to Networking
  Vanshika Singh
  Vanshika Singh is a PhD student at the National Centre for Brain Research (NBRC), Manesar. In this next article in our PhD Cafe series, she writes about why networking can be challenging for an introverted graduate student and the strategies that one can employ to derive the benefits of networking while remaining true to their personality.
  Posted on Oct 04, 2019 in Networking and Collaboration
- Do’s and Don’ts for a healthy student-advisor relationship
  Parul Anup
  Parul Anup recently completed her PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai. In this next article in our PhD Cafe series, she talks about the expectations that graduate students and Principal Investigators (PIs) have from each other, and how keeping these in mind can help in building a healthy mentor-mentee relationship.
  Posted on Sep 26, 2019 in Advice & Mentorship
Stories from Scientists Older →
- Researchers post-lockdown: Finding the silver lining in a dark cloud
  Karla P. Mercado-Shekhar
  Previously in this series, we have asked scientists from different backgrounds, disciplines and career stages to reflect upon their life in lockdown and how it has influenced how they approach doing science. In this article, Karla P. Mercado-Shekhar, Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar writes about the process of adjusting to the new normal, and some positive changes in the way we communicate and collaborate that may have resulted from this experience.
  Posted on Feb 19, 2021 in COVID-19 & Personal Experience
- Researchers in Lockdown: Breaking boundaries, building bridges
  Mayuri Rege
  In this series, we ask scientists from different backgrounds, disciplines and career stages to reflect upon their life in lockdown and how it has influenced how they approach doing science. In this article, Mayuri Rege from Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai, writes about how the lockdown has transformed scientific networking, especially for those for whom international travel was always a barrier. This article was first published on COVID Gyan.
  Posted on Sep 05, 2020 in COVID-19, Career Development & Networking and Collaboration
Funding Older →
- Research support and career enhancement in hematology
  Shalini Roy Choudhury
  The American Society of Hematology (ASH) Global Research Award is a career-development award open to early-career scientists and doctors working globally in the field of hematology. It supports their research careers during transitioning from training to independent leadership roles in hematology. The deadline for this year’s application is 31 August 2021.
  Posted on Jun 14, 2021 in Career Development, Funding & Young Investigators
- 10 pointers for the last mile of the EMBO-YIP application
  Arun Shukla & Shantala Hari Dass
  The Young Investigator Programme (YIP), offered by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO), is open to young investigators in the life sciences who have started their independent research groups within the last 4 years. YIP facilitates and supports the career advancement of these early-career scientists via opportunities to network and collaborate. Arun K. Shukla, Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) and an EMBO YI shares his 10 pointers for the last mile of the application process
  Posted on Mar 10, 2021 in Career Development, Funding & Young Investigators
Featured Authors
- Anil Kumar Challa
- Asim Auti
  - Talk, blend and perform: tackling the Lab courses
    Posted on Jul 17, 2017 in Environmental Sciences, Teaching
  - Talk, blend and perform: my adventures in the classroom to engage students
    Posted on Jul 10, 2017
- 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.