I was born in Udupi in Karnataka and brought up in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) where my father runs a South Indian restaurant. After completing M.S. (Pharm.) in Medicinal Chemistry from the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in 2013, I decided to undertake a PhD research project. While looking for PhD positions, I came across an advertisement showcasing a funded research project with excellent potential at the UK-based University of Lincoln. What really attracted me was an excellent interdisciplinary research project with a full funding in the form of University of Lincoln studentship. Also, being the first PhD student in organic chemistry, the prospect of setting up a lab from scratch excited me.
The competition for a fully-funded PhD position in the U.K. is immense and might demand some patience, especially for an International student. The journey towards the fellowship starting with the application till winning the award was rigorous including an intensive two-hour Skype interview testing my technical knowledge as well as the determination to undertake a three-year research project. Winning the award is one of my best achievements till date.
My shift to Lincoln was easy. Thanks to the university’s Indian students Facebook group, I found an accommodation very near to the university. The university’s international office introduced me to an Indian student who provided me with all necessary information required to settle in Lincoln, making things a lot easier.
My PhD research project is in the area of Synthetic Organic Chemistry. It deals with synthesizing new chemical molecules by mixing two or more chemicals as well as establishing new routes to synthesize them.
Co-curricular activitiesI am also a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the university’s college of science where I am involved in setting up new experiments for the undergraduate practical courses as well as assisting the lecturer in conducting the practicals. It gives me an opportunity to interact with students and help them understand the science behind experiments. I have observed that classrooms in the U.K. tend to consist of smaller groups which make the teaching more personalised, compared to Indian institutes where the class strength is too high. Also, the practical courses are regularly updated and new experiments introduced so as to match the new research developments in the real world. The teaching process involves intense brainstorming, which is an absolute delight for a science buff like me. I work six hours a week as a teaching assistant, so I put in an extra hour every day for my research work. That way, I have been able to balance the two very well.
Most of my time is spent in the laboratories doing research, but even in my leisure time I cannot remember having a dull moment. I participate in various events including carnivals, food festivals and so on. The Great Minds lecture series has been an excellent initiative, where I had the opportunity to witness eminent scholars and personalities, including the late scientist Dr. Carl Djerassi (the inventor of the contraceptive pill), delivering inspirational talks.
I am a part of the university’s Hindu Society and some sports societies. I organised Holi for the first time in Lincoln in 2014, which got a great response from everyone and resulted in an even bigger event in 2015 with people from the city joining in as well. The event also included a food night, where we had pani-puri eating contest which was made even more interesting by increasing the spice level of the water! It was great to see an English lady win the contest among all the seasoned Asians. The Chaplaincy has been a very supportive figure for international students, helping them connect through various activities and events including the Lincolnshire Fire Services, 50th anniversary celebrations, which had Diversity as its theme. We put together an International Fashion Show with students from India, Pakistan, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Turkey, Nigeria and a few other countries, coming together and displaying the strength of diversity in Lincoln.
Life in LincolnLincoln is a quiet city, unlike big cities like London and Manchester. It has its own beauty, with the elegance of the Lincoln Cathedral in the background. I like the peacefulness of Lincoln, as it proves to be soothing for the mind after a hard day of work. I often take out time to visit nature parks and gardens. Lincoln is host to various events such as the Christmas Market, Vintage Fair, Farmers Market, The Red Arrows, Chili Festival and Steampunk Festival among others that add a zing to everyday life.
My ambition is to become an accomplished scientist, working in the areas of chemical biology and drug discovery. After finishing my doctoral studies, I plan to take up a position as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in a leading research group working in the field of chemical biology.
The writer is pursuing a PhD from University of Lincoln, U.K., and is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) at the university’s College of Science.
