Resilience and Representation in Research

What does it take for women to build and sustain careers in science?

Stories of women who have navigated academia, industry, and research institutions are not hard to find. The Resilience and Representation in Research series was not conceived to add to the pile, but to create a space where achievements are celebrated, and struggles are acknowledged in equal measure. As Vineeta Bal writes in her Epilogue to this booklet, “very commonly, achievements are talked about, and the dark side is pushed back, the one that hurts!” She calls for more inclusive and equitable research ecosystems that enable women to thrive.

Over the past year, the series brought to the fore the lived experiences of women researchers across India, their leadership, mentorship, collaborations, and scientific discoveries, alongside the caregiving responsibilities and social expectations that shape their journeys.

Building on a dialogue among women researchers held at IIT Bombay in 2025, the articles also examined the systems — across sectors — that have shaped these careers.

The e-booklet opens with a Foreword by Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India, who reminds us that it is time to celebrate not only achievements but also “the journeys behind them, the resilience, determination, and courage that define each path.”

You can read the book here.

Click here to download this compendium.

This booklet has been developed as part of the POWERBio–IndiaBioscience partnership initiative on gender equity and leadership in life sciences.

The interviews in the series were conducted by members of the IndiaBioscience team, with articles written by Moumita Mazumdar, Siuli Mitra, and Sreshtha Mondal, and Gayathri Sreedharan from Sree Padmavathi Venkateswara Foundation.

Editorial oversight and coordination for the website article series were led by Moumita Mazumdar and Siuli Mitra.

The booklet has been proofread by Siuli Mitra and designed by Moumita Mazumdar.

The booklet also includes contributions, reflections, and support from members of the POWERBio network and researchers working towards more inclusive scientific ecosystems in India.

A glimpse of the foreword by Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India

"For centuries, women have shaped the world in countless ways, across disciplines as varied as chemistry and astrophysics, martial arts and contemporary dance, economics and international diplomacy. While some of these contributions have been documented and celebrated, many others have been overlooked, misinterpreted, or quietly absorbed into the fabric of unpaid and unacknowledged labour. Too often, they have remained unseen due to deep-rooted systemic biases.

It is both necessary and timely that we make a conscious effort to bring these voices to the forefront. We must celebrate not only achievements, but also the journeys behind them, the resilience, determination, and courage that define each path. Equally important is the need to highlight the lived experiences of women whose successes are not easily given, but hard-earned through persistence and strength. Their stories do more than inspire; they remind us of the profound impact one individual can have on society as a whole.

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