Our ‘Away from home’ blogging series features one Indian postdoc working in a foreign lab every Wednesday. The posts recount the experience of these postdocs — the triumphs and challenges of lab life, the cultural differences, what they miss about India — and, most importantly, offer some useful tips for postdocs headed abroad.

The series has had an excellent response from the scientific and research community worldwide. For our regular readers, and those who are just joining us now, we provide a summary of the month’s entries, including an interactive  map pinpointing the labs these postdocs are based. All these interesting entries and summaries can be found under the ‘Away from home’ category of the Indigenus blog.

We will continue to update the map each Wednesday and hope that you will join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag. 

Work culture matters

In February’s first post, we heard from Shankar Das, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. Shankar narrates the culture shock he dealt with after he landed in the US from Bose Institute in Kolkata, India. Despite the initial glitch, he suggests that every researcher must get international exposure and come back with some essential take-homes. Shankar was our second postdoc from Boston, part of the thriving community of Indian postdocs in the East coast of the US.

Industrial research

In the first ever blog from the industry, Shubhra Chaudhuri told us why industry is a great place to do research and some “serious science”. Shubhra, who did a masters from the University of Delhi, India is currently a postdoc in the toxicology division of The Dow Chemical Company, Michigan, USA.

Making energy storage devices

February’s last postdoc blogger was Gaind P. Pandey, a Ph.D from University of Delhi, India currently at the Center for Autonomous Solar Power (CASP), State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, New York, USA. The new work culture was something he found difficult to fit into. Besides, he narrates his unique experience with some news-making natural disasters. Pandey stumbled into science ‘accidentally’ and finds himself making high energy storage devices now.

Our Away from home interactive map, pictured below and updated every Wednesday, is dotting up with interesting Indian postdoc experiences. Stay tuned as we add more from around the world. Please feel free to suggest names of postdocs from unusual countries and disciplines we haven’t covered yet.

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’s postdoc is Gaind P. Pandey, a Ph.D from University of Delhi, India currently at the Center for Autonomous Solar Power (CASP), State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, New York, USA. Besides the new work culture he tried to fit himself into, he tells us about his experience with some news-making natural disasters.

Gaind P. Pandey in his lab at the State University of New York (SUNY).

Science, accidentally

I can’t exactly say that I was interested in science alone since I was equally interested in literature and journalism and wanted to be a columnist. You could say I am in science accidentally.

Making energy storage devices now

I was a postdoc research associate in the department of Physics & Astrophysics at the University of Delhi. I was also associated in the same group during my Ph. D. program and I worked in DU (University of Delhi) for more than four years.

I was offered a postdoc opportunity to initiate the work on energy storage device (supercapacitor) at the Center for Autonomous Solar Power (CASP), State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, New York, USA.

At CASP, I am working for the development of high energy density solid-state supercapacitors. The final goal is the integration of these supercapacitors with solar cells to create autonomous powers sources.

The Center aims at developing its own technology, which can then be licensed to local firms. So the Center is focusing on commercialisation of research/technology to transfer from lab to the industry. The work culture is great and we have ample freedom to apply our own ideas. People here are very enthusiastic and perfect on their assigned work.

New work, new culture, tough transition

The transition from my institute in India to Binghamton was not very smooth. Since my first job was to set up laboratory facilities for energy storage work, the first few weeks were not really good for me. I was also trying to adjust to the new work culture.

People here are highly professional. So it’s very hard to get help for a personal problem – no one has that much time or inclination.

Stressful natural disasters

I can’t forget the September 2011 flood in Binghamton and Hurricane Sandy of October 2012. They were really sad natural disasters. Sandy and its aftermath were a very stressful time for most people in this region though my city was not affected. I watched the efficient disaster management system very closely.

My tips

Good publication from Ph. D. work is very important. Try to publish papers in good journals. Good graduate training is equally important. Make plans for your future research and keep an eye on positions opening in your area of interest. Here, January and August are the time for hiring postdoc.

Learn driving before coming here and try to get a driving license as early as possible.

Miss Delhi shopping and food

I am missing my family, friends and Indian festivals. I also miss Delhi a lot for food, shopping and many more. I’d definitely want to come back to India and continue my research in the same area. It would be nice if we can create a work culture like they have in this country.

Stay tuned as we add more Indian postdocs from around the world every Wednesday to our interactive Away from home map pictured below. Please feel free to suggest names of postdocs from unusual places and disciplines we haven’t covered yet.

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.

In our first blog from a postdoc working in industrial research, Shubhra Chaudhuri tells us why industry is a great place to do research and some “serious science”. Shubhra, who did a masters from the University of Delhi, India is currently a postdoc in the toxicology division of The Dow Chemical Company, Michigan, USA.

Shubhra Chaudhuri in her lab in Michigan.

Drenched in science

I grew up in a very academic/science oriented family. My father was a mechanical engineer and my mother is a professor of chemistry. Most of my extended family is into science and just to complete the science loop, I am also married to a scientist! So I guess it was not a very conscious decision; I loved science as such growing up, whereas a fascination for the wonderful discoveries in medicine was the real motivation for becoming a researcher along this avenue. I still remember my mother taking me to a symposium where Prof. Deisenhofer, a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry was holding a seminar. How special did I feel to be able to see a Nobel Laureate in person!

Science and industry

After a Masters degree from the University of Delhi in India, I did a Ph.D. in Toxicology at the University of Arkansas in Medical Sciences. During my graduate school, I started developing an active interest towards application-oriented research. My goal was to work in industrial R&D. Dow Chemical has one of the best toxicology laboratories in the chemical industry, with excellent scientists. Industrial postdocs are fewer and harder to come by and I am happy to have get an opportunity here.

I work as a postdoc in the biotransformation/toxicokinetics  group in the toxicology division of The Dow Chemical Company. I currently work to insure products are researched in a responsible and effective manner. More specifically, my focus is to develop and use approaches that enhance the company’s ability to make safety assessment decisions about new products, and their eventual commercial viability.

The science is really good and there is a lot of focus on getting external publications (this is a rarity in industry and not many companies do this).The technical leaders are excellent scientists and are great mentors for the younger scientists.  Safety and ethics are of the utmost importance here; it is as important as the science itself. The work environment is also very congenial and friendly and my colleagues are great people.

Smooth switch

Back, in India we grew up learning to speak English with a British accent and it just takes a bit to get used to the accent here. Once you get over that, this is a great country to be in with lots of opportunities if you are willing to work hard.

Industry is a great place to do research as well. Some people have a wrong notion that only academia is associated with “serious science.” This is not true at all. Here, in industry it is not only enough to do good science and publish papers, scientists here also shoulder the additional responsibility for the decisions they make, since these  are going to affect people worldwide who will use our products.

My tip for postdocs: publish or perish

That is always the mantra. Look at labs that publish consistently and have good funding sources. The “Reporter” database is a good website to find information on NIH sponsored academic funding in the U.S. It is a public domain and is accessible to all. It is also good to choose a mentor who is somewhat experienced in his/her career, since as a postdoc you are trying to make career decisions and someone experienced will be able to guide you better than someone who is a junior faculty. Networking is extremely important and being proactive always helps.

One more important thing regarding choosing a post doc lab is that, it is worthwhile to do something that is different from your graduate research expertise but will complement your existing skill sets. This is an opportunity to develop yourself as a more complete scientist, so make full use of that. Whereas, pursuing research in the same area may have the advantage of a quicker turnover in terms of productivity and publications, it is worthwhile to try and do something a little different, because in the long run, that will help you develop yourself as a better independent researcher.

Durga puja festivities tug at heartstrings

I miss my family the most, especially during the festivals. The street food and pandal hopping during the Durga Pujas are the other things that I really miss. I am at a relatively early stage in my career and haven’t really had much opportunity to think about getting back to India.

Shubhra Chaudhuri is our first postdoc from the industrial research stream. Stay tuned as we add more Indian postdocs from around the world every Wednesday to the interactive Away from home map pictured below. Please feel free to suggest names of postdocs from unusual places and disciplines we haven’t covered yet.

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.

In today’s blog, we hear from Shankar Das, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA. Shankar narrates the culture shock he dealt with after he landed in the US from Bose Institute in Kolkata, India. Despite the initial glitch, he suggests that every researcher must get international exposure and come back with some essential take-homes.

Shankar Das in his lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Boston.

Discovery is science

The very excitement of discovery geared me towards science. I was very inquisitive since childhood and always wanted to know more. This hunger was the primary reason I became interested in science. I am also indebted to my parents for giving me access to popular science books during my school days.

Genetics of yeast

I studied at the Bose Institute in Kolkata, India where I got introduced to yeast genetics and characterised some interesting novel features of a multifaceted protein. I made up my mind to work in a related area of research. I did apply to a couple of places but did not hear from most. Finally I got two offers around the same time and I joined a DNA replication lab that I had committed to earlier.

Enigma of replication timing

As a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, I got interested in the study of replication timing in yeast. Replication is a process in which the genome gets duplicated and this has to be completed in a defined period of time even though replication initiation is pretty heterogenous across genome creating random gaps. Currently I am investigating the factor(s) responsible for deciding origin efficiency in yeast.

Freedom, funds, variety, surplus

The best thing in my lab is the freedom to work and the funding situation. Things get done very efficiently and there are less bureaucratic hassles that affect research. The administration helps in smooth functioning of research activities. Most things get done online. People are very honest, law abiding and technology friendly. It’s amazing to see the technology and heavy machines they use and how fast and efficiently they get projects done.  The variety and surplus of everything at the supermarkets amazes me.  Also, they know how to enjoy their weekends to the fullest

The culture shock

Coming from erstwhile Calcutta, it was a culture shock for me. I took time to adjust to western culture. Everything seemed quite different and to me the “opposite of what we had learned” – left hand driving, Fahrenheit and Pounds instead of Celsius and Kilogram, electrical switches that would turn on when pushed up (which is “turn off” in India).

It was definitely an emotional ordeal leaving my country and family behind. However, I was lucky in getting friends who were ready to help me. They became like relatives.

Get international exposure, by all means

After completion of doctoral studies, research fellows should strive to get some experience abroad. Later they can decide if they want to continue or go back to India. You have five years on a J1 exchange visitor visa to decide, after which you have to get converted to H1B if you plan to stay further. If you have 212e (2 years home country residency requirement) in your US visa you have to get the waiver to convert your J1 to H1B. You will have ample time to decide if you want to stay here or move back to India. All depends upon your priorities and opportunities.

Street food, where art thou?

Being a foodie, I miss road side eateries. I miss our campus tea stall where we used to gather in the open to share our views. I miss the relaxed environment back home. The healthcare and insurance system here is not the best. Life is very hectic and winters harsh. Parking is a big problem since everyone owns vehicles. Childcare is very expensive.

I miss my friends and relatives back in India, the active social life, the cultural activities, festivals and hospitality.

Coming back home

I would definitely come back home soon. The whole idea of the exchange visitor programme is to gain skills and bring them back home. Plus I have all my relatives back in India.

I want to develop my own research programme, have my own lab and my students. I am now trying to get as much experience as possible, learn new technology that I can bring back with me.

However, I wish we had a better work culture and stricter law and order enforcement back home. Government funding for scientific research should be increased. The administration should sync with regular functioning of research activities. People should complete their jobs online with less use of paper. We have to develop and use technology extensively and develop industry that will create proper infrastructure. I’m sure things are improving. I am also definite I can bring back the work culture and research experience back to my country.

Shankar Das is our second postdoc from Boston signifying the thriving community of Indian postdocs in the East coast of the US. Stay tuned as we add more Indian postdocs from around the world every Wednesday to the interactive Away from home map pictured below. Please feel free to suggest names of postdocs from unusual places we haven’t covered yet.