Away from home: The two-body problem

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian scientists working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for other scientists headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

Here’s the account of a scientist couple, looking at opportunities to come back to India. Naresh Bal, a PhD from Jawarharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and a postdoc from the Ohio State University, USA is currently wanting to start an independent research group of his own. He is busy writing grants overtime given the “current grant situation in the USA”. Naresh urges the Indian government and institutions to think of schemes to recruit scientist-couples to work as a team. Read on and leave your comments — have you had a similar experience, do you know someone who has or are your bracing up for this now?

The scientist couple: Naresh Bal and Nivedita Jena

The scientist couple: Naresh Bal and Nivedita Jena

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Away from home: Why the postdoc phase is crucial

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian postdocs working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for their Indian postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

In this post, microbiologist Devendra Dusane, a doctorate from the University of Pune and a postdoc at McGill University, Canada talks about the importance of the postdoc phase, which he says, is crucial for shaping one’s goals — both in life and in research. It is “overwhelming when my wife and daughter appreciate my published research papers and celebrate with me”, he says.

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Devendra Dusane with his family

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Away from home: Hard work knows no boundaries

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian postdocs working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for their Indian postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

This week we have Arnab De, an alumnus of the Presidency College, Kolkata and a postdoc from Columbia University, USA telling us his formula of success — some intelligence, lots of hard work, communicating with colleagues and a smiling face. Arnab, whose PhD dedication to cricket star Sachin Tendulkar made him the subject of another blog piece, says “its one world” and boundaries don’t make a country, people do.

Arnab De in front of the famous Alma Mater statue at Columbia University.

Arnab De in front of the famous Alma Mater statue at Columbia University.

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Finding job satisfaction as a science communicator

Yuko Ueno planned to work in science communication…

…But a supervisor suggested that gaining first-hand research experience might make her a better communicator. Today, she sells workshops to companies, schools and universities and teaches science to Sunday-school students at a private academy in Tokyo.

Smriti Mallapaty catches up with her to learn more.

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Yuko Ueno

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Away from home: Collaboration in a global organisation

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian postdocs working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for their Indian postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

Today, we have environment scientist Ram Avtar, an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi and a postdoc from the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). He tells us about his transition from a postdoc to a research associate with the United Nations University in Tokyo, an organisation with a global outlook and ample scope to forge meaningful collaborations — not just in one’s professional life but also in the personal life.

Away from home: Industry or academia?

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian postdocs working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for their Indian postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

In our first entry from Italy, Arun Kumar, an alumnus of Bareilly College and a postdoc at Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics, Siena tells us the good and bad of being a researcher in an industrial set-up. He also gives some very practical tips for researchers looking at postdoc positions in Italy.

Arun Kumar at the Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics in Siena, Italy.

Arun Kumar at the Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics in Siena, Italy.

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Away from Home: Blending remote sensing with social sciences

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

The ‘Away from home‘ blogging series features Indian postdocs working in foreign labs recounting their experience of working there, the triumphs and challenges, the cultural differences and what they miss about India. They also offer useful tips for their Indian postdocs headed abroad. You can join in the online conversation using the #postdochat hashtag.

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Koel Roychowdhury

This week we have a young scientist from the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan at the end of her postdoc tenure. Koel Roychowdhury, an alumnus of the University of Calcutta, uses remote sensing technology to look at environmental and agricultural sustainability. Koel says the fascinating opportunity of doing science for social good is what keeps her going. Continue reading

Lost for words — the language of science communication

While English is largely regarded as the global language of science, science communication doesn’t enjoy a unifying language.

Naturejobs journalism competition winner Catherine Carnovale explores this distinction.

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Finding job satisfaction in industrial research

After finishing a PhD and postdoc studying the cellular mechanisms behind cardiovascular disease, Shikha Mishra decided not to continue in academia.

She found she could still do the work she loved at the bench by doing product development research at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

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Away from home: Where animals and reagents abound

We’re bringing you the best stories in lab mobility from Nature India

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 culture factor, tips for Indian postdocs headed abroad and what he/she misses most about India.

This week’s blog features Mainpal Rana, a PhD from the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Department of Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and currently a postdoctoral associate at the Magee-Womens Research Institute Pittsburgh affiliated to University of Pittsburgh, USA. He tells us the joys of not having to wait for reagents for experiments and the woes of not having Indian utensils in an American kitchen.

Mainpal Rana (far left) with his group members from the Magee-Womens Research Institute Pittsburgh.

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