Some Insights from my Academic Journey
RAHUL
Dear little scientist,
Photo by Guzel Maksutova on Unsplash
How have you been? Life goes on but we have to pause sometimes to ask after one another’s wellbeing. That is what friends are meant for. Also, a good friend shares both his good and bad experiences so that the other person doesn’t have to go through it. As we grow older, year by year we not only accumulate wrinkles and gray hairs but also many lessons from life. We learn from our mistakes and become wise.
For example, when radium was first discovered, its luminous green colour inspired people to add it into beauty products and jewellery. It wasn’t until much later that we realised that radium’s harmful effects outweighed its visual benefits. Do listen to the TedEd video “History’s deadliest colours” by J. V. Maranto. What I want to emphasise is that there are mistakes one can avoid by sharing our experiences.
Therefore, I feel it is necessary for me to pinpoint various challenges and roadblocks I came across during my scientific journey. I have probably been like you only during my childhood, enthusiastic, curious, and having lots of questions in my mind. But after I entered academia, I had to go through many challenges. The first thing I came across was peer pressure and competition. Our academic system is designed like that. Either you have to cope with it or you have to go abroad! Going abroad is not feasible for all.
Therefore, sustaining your passion, while at the same time navigating difficult norms is a challenge that can be overcome if one has supportive friends. Fruitful discussions with friends can also lead to synthesis of new ideas. Make it a habit to read and spend time in libraries as everything won’t be taught in the class. Ask questions to your teachers without thinking if it may sound silly and don’t believe everything that is taught to you! You must engage in inquiry yourself by reading and observing the natural world around you as much as possible.
Image credits to History's deadliest colors by TEDEd
Apart from that, when you are aspiring for a Ph.D., choose your lab wisely. High impact publications are what we run behind but we should also be aware of how these high impact publications are published. Try to find the subject which genuinely interests you irrespective of the stature of your guide. My experience has been that most young PIs are more liberal and student friendly than their older counterparts. I have worked with both types of PIs. Young PIs, because they have to progress career-wise, are often more willing to work on publications with students. In this process, there is lots of learning. But these things will come later in your life and we will have a separate discussion on that.
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You should be a keen observer and always be ready to learn. Patience is also important as some discoveries take time. Learning in itself is a time-consuming process. Darwin wasn't a PhD holder. He was inquisitive and could connect the dots."
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Last but not the least, it is not necessary to have a PhD to become a good scientist.
You should always be open to collaborating and acknowledging others for their genuine contributions. For instance, both Darwin and Wallace worked independently on the same theory of evolution for years. But they both agreed for their works to be jointly presented at the Linnean Society of London after they came to know about their similar research interests. This is part and parcel of the scientific world.
We must learn from the life stories of great scientists. It is my genuine suggestion that you must read such biographies to better understand how science and the scientific world works. It will inspire you as well and will shape your research interests.
There is so much to write. We will keep in touch.
Yours,
Rahul bhaiya
About Rahul
Dr. Rahul Kumar works as Assistant Professor of Zoology at Sheodeni Sao College, Kaler which is a constituent unit of Magadh University, Bodh Gaya. He is a trained molecular biologist with special interest in ecology and evolution. During his Ph.D., he worked on the biology of mimicry using ant-mimicking spiders as model, recorded more than 150 mimic-model pairs from Chhotanagpur Plateau and also developed a nanotechnology-based quick insect species detection method. Along with teaching, he researches different aspects of arthropod behaviour (including mimicry), experimental evolution using flour beetles, chemical ecology of sessile hemipterans, arthropod diversity of Magadh region and survival strategies of different insects at his small "Evolution Lab" far from the noise of the cities. He is also associate editor of Indian Entomologist, a popular magazine published by Entomological Society of India. He is a published poet, avid storyteller and loves sketching in his free time.
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