Nithya Kutty is an Assistant Professor at the MIT World Peace University, Pune. In this sixth article of the Journey Of Young Investigator (JOYI) 2024 series, she shares unique academic journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of setting up a research lab from scratch while balancing personal and professional responsibilities.
In recent years, securing an academic position in India’s top premier institutions increasingly requires post-doctoral experience. Many colleagues who return from abroad do multiple post-docs, then apply for various re-entry fellowships, and then eventually secure a permanent, independent position. But my story took a different path.
Campus placement and relocating to Pune
My journey in academia began with a campus placement in Sharda University during the last year of my doctoral study at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in 2019. The selection process for shortlisted candidates consisted of an interview discussing my research, future and motivation for teaching. I submitted my doctoral thesis in 2020 amidst the pandemic while expecting a baby. I then took a nine-month maternity break, during which I also grew frustrated with missing work and staying at home. In early 2021, I joined Sharda University, Noida, (where I was placed) as an Assistant Professor in the School of Agriculture Sciences. But, due to the partial lockdown, I couldn’t accomplish much during that one-year period. During this period, I also defended my doctoral thesis and was soon awarded the degree.
This was also the time when I was looking for positions closer to home in Mumbai. Soon, I received an offer for an Assistant Professor position at Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University (MIT WPU) in Pune. At that time, the School of Biology (now Department of Biosciences and Technology) was a new department with Masters and PhD programs in Biotechnology but almost no laboratories. At home, my early mornings were dedicated to preparing teaching slides, expressing milk for my baby, and helping my parents in the kitchen. Managing all these tasks while devoting time to my research ambitions was tough, even with a lot of support from my closest family.
Glimpses from Convocation 2023: One with project mentees from MSc Biotechnology (Batch 2021 – 2023) in front of World Peace Dome, Loni-Karbor. Photo Credit: Shabaz PinjariSecuring the first grant and setting up a lab
At the Department of Biosciences and Technology, we started everything from scratch; we had limited infrastructure, and the country was just coming out of COVID-19 lockdown. On a personal level, I received a lot of support from my colleagues and the head of the department. During this period, I also learned procurement processes and lab management by handling those responsibilities at the departmental level. My next steps towards initiating research were to identify how, and what to begin with.
As my doctoral study focussed on revealing biosynthesis pathways of floral volatiles using extensive metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis which required sophisticated analytical instrumentation and involved high cost it was a not an option at that time. Instead, I initiated research with Master’s project students in an entirely new domain of green chemistry, which had once discussed with my doctoral supervisor Adinpunya Mitra. We targeted the extraction of plant-specialised metabolites using natural deep eutectic solvents from waste marigold and rose flowers. The research was of low cost, feasible, and involved valorisation of waste.
Using the data from preliminary experiments, I submitted a proposal to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, under the Young Scientist and Technologist scheme. After the preliminary screening, I was called for the presentation in New Delhi and subsequently awarded the grant. This process took almost a year, and the funds were received even later, almost after 11 months. In the meantime, my second batch of master’s project students advanced the preliminary work into more significant research, leading to initial publications from the lab. After almost a year, my first PhD student joined the lab and has now registered. I collaborated with faculty members within and outside the department, which paved the way for interesting projects at Metabolites Lab.
The Department of Biosciences and Technology at MIT WPU also moved to a newly established building, which now has almost all basic and advanced facilities under one roof. I also submitted two grant proposals in collaboration with other institutions. The lab now has two PhD students, and a Project Associate funded through my DST project. We host project students and research interns for a minimum period of one to six months.
Glimpses from a dinner with NK gang (as they call themselves) in December 2023. Photo Credit: Sonal GuravReflecting on my journey so far
Over the past three years, my journey hasn’t been easy. Trained in a well-established and funded lab during my doctoral study, I didn’t fully comprehend the challenges of leading research in academia: securing funds, navigating time-consuming procurement processes, managing extensive administrative documentation, and handling initial students’ dissatisfaction about lack of facilities. Building strong relationships and maintaining open communication with my Master’s and PhD students helped me personally to get work done, manage the lab effectively, and plan feasible experiments.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of being patient and the belief that eventually things work out in the end.
Taking slow and steady steps and planning interesting research, in the beginning, might be good. Collaborations do help, but they must not become off-track from one’s interest or the objectives of the group. Sometimes, it takes a long time for fruitful collaborations to work out, often people are also bound by institutional mandates, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) take time. I feel very happy when my master’s students come back to me with a note of gratitude after their placements or internships. I do tell them it’s important to know what they are passionate about and it’s not necessarily required for everyone to aspire PhD or get into research in the life sciences domain.
At times, I bring work home with me. Recently, my three-year-old started expressing interest in doing experiments with twigs and stones when we visit the park, which never fails to bring a smile to my face. While I didn’t jump into a post-doctoral stint right after earning my PhD, I’ve come to realise that life isn’t solely about research and career ambitions. I eagerly anticipate opportunities to gain international research experience in the years ahead.
Reflecting on this journey, I’d say, it hasn’t been an easy path. But if you are passionate about academia, then just go for it! At the YIM 2024 event, I had the privilege of hearing inspiring mentors share their own paths.
From that meeting, two simple words have stuck with me: “Hang on”.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://indiabioscience.org/columns/journey-of-a-yi/musings-to-beginning-of-metabolites-lab