Nature India | Indigenus

Away from home: Biomaterial and some ‘craic’

Every Wednesday, our ‘Away from home’ blog series features one Indian postdoc working in a foreign lab recounting his/her experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences, what they miss about India, as well as some top tips for postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

This week it is Akshay Srivastava, a doctorate from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and currently a postdoc at the National University of Ireland, Galway. Akshay is living it up in Ireland bathed in good cheer and making targeted gene delivery vehicles for regeneration of the inter-vertibral disc.

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Akshay Srivastava

The biomaterial dream

I have been a student of science from school days. I got majorly interested in science/medicine while pursuing doctoral research. I started reading about medical devices and biomaterial. That propelled me into thinking in terms of developing some technology or device for the healthcare industry.

After completing a doctorate at  the Indian Institute of technology Kanpur, I was interested in working in the area of functional biomaterial with some basic biology work and I found this opportunity in Ireland after strenuous postdoc search. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at the National University of Ireland, Galway. I am trying to design a targeted non-viral gene delivery platform for inter-vertibral disc regeneration.

I am in a collaborative project between Network of excellence for Functional Biomaterial (NFB) and department of microbiology. I work on cloning, expression and purification of short-chain fragment antibodies and other proteins. I then couple these antibodies on polymeric nanoparticles and use them for targeted gene delivery for regeneration of the inter-vertibral disc.

Discipline is key

This lab has brought discipline to my work and helped me learn work and science ethics. The professional attitude towards work fulfills me and gives me a sense of independence. Additionally, my institute encourages students and staff in entrepreneurship and industrial collaborations.  This exposure will definitely help me get a footing in the field of biomedical research.

Ireland, the ‘craic’ country

The best thing about Ireland is the ‘people’ —  friendly and nice to talk to. They have a life beyond work.  I am learning a lot from them and having some “craic” (fun) in life. As they say here, “Bí an saol agaibh” (Have a nice time). Settling in Ireland was exciting. To me, the place is very safe and easy going. And living alone made me learn some cooking too.

However, my lab is in its early stage of research and development and it is still a while to go before it comes at par with other big universities and labs in the US and other European countries. But I also see that the time is not so far to achieve this equality in terms of research.

It also rains/drizzles throughout the year and that’s not such a great thing about this country.

Postdoc tips

For postdocs, my only advice is to choose a good lab with high publishing rate and high impact of work.

The three Fs of India

I mostly miss the three ‘F’s of India:  Family, Friends and Food. I will be finishing my 2 years of postdoctoral work here soon and I have started looking for independent positions back in India to carry out research. I hope I will land in some good institute/university soon, to do what my young mind wants to do.

India is  developing very well in research and technology. I wish to become a part of this change and to contribute to the country as per my expertise. There are so many institutes/universities with potential for world class research in India. Also there is a lot of funding now. I do not see any problem in working as a researcher back in India with all these available resources. Except, of course, the bureaucracy and the government’s not-so-professional attitude towards the health industry.

Akshay Srivastava gets us the first flag post in Ireland as he joins our eminent league of Indian postdocs working in foreign labs. Find him in our interactive Away from home map pictured below and updated every Wednesday. Please feel free to suggest names of postdocs from unusual places and disciplines we haven’t covered yet.

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