Professional dynamics

““Eliminate all other factors, and the one that remains must be true”- Sherlock Holmes.

Like this statement, I have been very clear headed since childhood about what to do and what not to. I was convinced very early on that I did not want to take up mathematics, physics or chemistry for higher studies. Although I hated biology initially, I got some amazing teachers during my school days which ignited my love for the subject. After schooling, I had two options: either pursue medical or do graduation in botany or microbiology.

During those days, microbiology was a very upcoming subject with a promising future. I decided to go with that, not just for Bachelor’s but eventually for Master’s as well. When I look back, this was the most pivotal decision in my life that decided my future. Our Master’s coursework and training are geared to prepare us for academia, hence, continuing to receive a PhD was no brainer for me.

I had initially decided that I would go abroad for further studies. I was the first person in my family to venture into these foreign territories. I soon realized that GRE and TOEFL alone weren’t enough to ensure my admission in foreign institutions. I also needed to have some research experiences that would boost my resume. In those times, finding a supervisor who would train me and help me get the required experience to apply abroad was like…