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"I saw biology and science as a long term project of life, which can yield only one thing which both of us will do anything for— new perspectives!"

"The artwork depicts the interaction of me as an individual with the laboratory where I did my PhD as symbolic entities. The lab includes the people, the atmosphere, the legacy of knowledge it has acquired, resources and the 'personality' of the lab as a whole."

"Nature is all around us, and drawing inspiration from it—not just through understanding it, but also looking to it — as a reminder to forgive yourself and others— will help you stay grounded."

"In your journey, what you will realise is that the past is as complex as the present, so we need all the help we can have- from the physical sciences, humanities and social sciences, to get a complete understanding of our collective past."

"It is said that childhood experiences shape our interests. The hills, trees, insects, beautiful flowers, fallen leaves, the round yellow mushrooms which made me sick, everything found a place in me."

"And the best part is that, you'll find yourself trying to understand the subject of biology, using the lens of a social science researcher. You will learn how the researcher's identity matters, how the questions you seek and the way you answer them are linked to who you are, how the researchers' backgrounds dictate the dynamics of a laboratory space, how facts get established over time and so on."

"If you've noticed, I always use the word "researcher" instead of "scientist." This is because you have been misinterpreting these terms since you were young. I want to clarify that a researcher can work in any field of knowledge, but a scientist is a type of researcher who studies science."

"This boho art reflects various aspects of who I am, highlighting the multiple roles I play as an individual. In my personal life, I wear many hats—daughter, sister, wife, mother—all while being an everyday individual, a good citizen, and a professional scientist."

"What truly matters in any journey, whether it is one in science or not. It is the ignition within you… the curiosity and the passion…. As you learn, you’ll understand how far you have traveled, which is way less than the distance ahead to be covered. Patience and humility are key to reaching the destination."

"But one thing I would wish for you to know is that science is so much more than what you are seeing and learning in the textbooks."