What inspired you towards a career in science?
I have had a passion for science since my childhood. With a curious mind, I was fascinated by things around me and how they work. Life would not exist without chemistry, and it intrigued me how chemistry plays a pivotal role in our daily lives.
What did you study and where?
I opted for chemistry as my major subject during my undergraduate studies. Subsequently, my interest grew more in organic chemistry, and I obtained a Master’s degree with an organic chemistry specialization in Ravenshaw College, one of the oldest colleges of Odisha. Subsequently, I completed my PhD in organic synthesis at IIT Kanpur, one of the premier Institutes of India. Later, I went to Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany, for my postdoctoral research, as I was awarded the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship. Then, I spent a year at ESPCI Paris as a postdoc. After gaining experience in the multi-step synthesis of natural products and drug-like molecules, I was awarded the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, where I conducted intensive research in chemical biology of nucleic acids. In this period, I developed a keen interest in nucleic acid research and aimed for a career in academia.
What was the topic of the first thesis you wrote?
My PhD thesis at IIT Kanpur, was on using norbornyl alphadiketones as building blocks in organic synthesis for constructing biologically important molecules by new synthetic methodologies.
Why did you choose that topic?
Organic chemistry has found enormous applications in daily life. The creation of new molecules captured my interest to pursue my doctoral studies in organic chemistry.
Which role do you have right now and what are you investigating?
I am currently a Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), in Kolkata. I have been involved in research and teaching. My research group has been involved in interdisciplinary research by integrating organic chemistry with biology to develop new dimensions in medicinal chemistry. The research in my lab mainly focuses on new therapeutic tools for cancer and the construction of new biomolecular systems.
What are the most enjoyable and the less enjoyable aspects of your daily routine?
The time I spend in the lab with my students is most enjoyable. I also feel very happy when we get some new and interesting research outcomes. The less enjoyable fact is to have the same routine every day, which seems monotonous.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt during your career so far?
In a short period of time, if one can earn productive results, that is much more fruitful than longer periods of times. I believe in the 3Ds, i.e., discipline, dedication and determination as a route to success.
What was the most challenging moment of your career, and how did you go through it?
The challenging part of my career was to establish my independent research program and set up a chemical biology laboratory. It has been a memorable journey filled with a lot of curiosity and wonder and the joy of achievement.
If you could travel in time, is there a career decision you would like to change and why?
I am contented with the career that I have pursued in my life and that I am having.
Do you have any regrets career-wise?
I have neither any regret nor any wish to change.
Who are your role models?
My role models are my parents, teachers and my doctoral and postdoctoral supervisors.
Do you have a mentor? How did they inspire you?
My ‘parents’ in the chemistry tree are my mentors. They are my doctoral supervisor Professor Faiz Ahmed Khan at IIT Kanpur, and postdoctoral supervisors- Professor Hans-Ulrich Reissig at F. U. Berlin, Germany, Professor Janine Cossy at ESPCI Paris and Professor Shankar Balasubramanian at the University of Cambridge.
What did the mentor(s) teach you?
They have inspired me to be honest and truthful in my work and inculcated scientific ethics.
Which advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Keep going without looking back at how far you have travelled.
What is your advice for young students who are unsure/undecided about their careers?
I would advise them to take small yet steady steps every day to reach their goals, just like drops of water overcome all obstacles.
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