Columns

• Building science brick by brick: A lab and a life growing together

  

  In this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 article, Harshiny Muthukumar reflects on building a research lab from scratch while navigating motherhood and early-career challenges. Her journey highlights how science grows through patience, mentorship, and resilience—reminding us that meaningful research is often built slowly, step by step, brick by brick.

  Posted on Jun 05, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators

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• Are lipids just the boundaries of cells? Fat chance!

  

  From the earliest cell membranes to whale echolocation and plant waterproofing, lipids have quietly shaped the evolution of life. This article explores how these versatile molecules enabled containment, communication, adaptation, and survival across diverse organisms, revealing an often-overlooked chemical history that runs alongside the evolution of life itself.
  

  Posted on Jun 04, 2026 in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology & Research

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• The failure of global IP regimes in addressing the AMR stewardship paradox

  

  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.
  

  Posted on Jun 01, 2026 in Other & Science

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• The “two-body problem” in Indian innovation: A train ride reflection

  

  In this reflection, Manoj Saxena revisits conversations sparked during YIM 2026 and a train journey afterwards to examine India’s evolving innovation ecosystem. From team science and biomanufacturing ambitions to fragmented execution, funding gaps, and barriers faced by returning scientists, the piece explores the tension between collective aspiration and structural reality.
  

  Posted on May 29, 2026 in Leadership, Training & Networking

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• Cultivating a research ecosystem: A journey of mentorship and innovation

  

  From teaching classrooms to building a hands-on research culture, Tahsin Bennur from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Information Technology & Biotechnology, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, shares her journey of mentoring students into independent thinkers. Set within a teaching-focused institution, this Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 piece highlights how inquiry, persistence, and “learning by doing” can transform both students and the practice of science itself.
  

  Posted on May 25, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators

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• Balancing Motherhood in STEMM

  

  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 May 22, 2026 in Other, Women in Science, Personal Experience & Advice

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• The accidental plant scientist

  

  This article is part of the Journey of a Young Investigator (JOYI) 2026 series, highlighting Amrita Saxena’s journey shaped by curiosity, mentorship, and unexpected turns. Now an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied and Health Sciences, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, she studies plant stress biology to understand crop resilience while mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scientists.
  

  Posted on May 18, 2026 in Other, Science, Networking, Personal Experience & Young Investigators

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