Bharat Bhusan Patnaik is working as an Associate Professor at PG Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Odisha. In 2024, he received the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Travel Grant for his presentation at the EMBO workshop: Establishing state-of-the-art mollusc genomics held at the University of Namur, Belgium. In this article, he shares his story of a failure that turned into a successful EMBO Travel Grant.
I am a researcher at Fakir Mohan University (FMU), Odisha, with interests in the structural and functional genomics of insects and molluscs, with a special reference to their innate immunity. I have been working in this area for more than ten years. Currently, I am working on the visceral mass transcriptome of the Indian freshwater mollusc, Lamellidens marginalis, to unravel transcripts relevant for innate immunity, growth and reproduction. This species is widely cultivated for freshwater pearl production in the country.
With support from an FMU seed grant, we have developed a catalogue of genomic and genetic information for the mollusc. With the raw datasets submitted to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), we are now working on divulging orthologs and novel gene signatures in innate immune signalling cascades such as the Toll, Immune Deficiency (IMD), and Janus kinases-signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK-STAT) pathways.
The flip side of my failure
I had previously applied for the EMBO practical course in genome sequencing, assembly, and downstream analyses to be held at Valencia Polytechnic University (UPV), Valencia, Spain. However, my application was rejected. The practical course would have assisted my endeavour and future research interests in studying the genome of non-model species and setting-up a state-of-the-art mollusc genomics centre at FMU with the support from national and international collaborators. Especially with the inclination of the state of Odisha in nurturing the ‘blue economy’ and creating entrepreneurship opportunities in marine biotechnology, the mollusc genomics centre at FMU was projected to create cross-talk between academia, research, and industry.
Despite the rejection, organisers of the practical course lauded my efforts, acknowledged my application, and recommended I consider the ‘Establishing state-of-the-art mollusc genomics workshop’ to be held at the University of Namur, Belgium and supported by the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). I applied for the travel fellowship for the workshop sponsored by EMBO, and received an award of Euros 1000 to attend the workshop. This workshop was under the application radar of 122 countries globally. In contrast to the practical course, this workshop was specifically for mollusc genomics professionals and specialists who are working sustainably to address the problems related to the complex mollusc genomes. These problems range from high-quality DNA extraction to assembling genomes that are heterozygous or repeat-rich. This workshop was exactly what I was looking for!
I submitted an abstract describing my previous and current research in the mollusc genomics domain and wrote a successful application. Further, I have been an active member of the ‘European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA)’ for more than a year, and have been interacting with their experts and attending their webinars and meetings. I have also been actively involved with the ‘Korean Threatened Species’ initiative since 2015 and presently, I am a consultant for the Korea Native Animal Resources Utilization and Convergence Research Institute (KNAR) funded by the National Foundation of Korea and Ministry of Education.
During the workshop on mollusc genomics at Belgium, I discussed some challenges our team faced in data annotation. My presentation at the workshop was a perfect blend of my research for the Korean endangered molluscs and the Indian freshwater mollusc, L. marginalis. Currently, along with my colleagues, I have proposed a ‘Bio Big-Data analytics center’ at FMU in the next phase of funding support for a fool-proof sustainable research and development involving many stakeholders.
Tips for a successful application
For applying for a grant on such a focused workshop such as the one on molluscs, it is important to have scientific acumen and versatility in the specific research area with demonstrated publications and articles.
To make an EMBO travel grant successful, it is important to select the right EMBO opportunity that is inclined to your research. Other than young investigators, mid-career professionals and expert researchers in consortium projects are also eligible for many EMBO grants. In my case, I have been able to publish >25 highly acclaimed research articles in mollusc genomics in the last 10 years. This publication record would have been beneficial in achieving the travel award.
Collaborating with experts, being a member of consortia, and participating in focused studies make an application stronger for such prestigious grants.