Readers zone: 2007-08- Experiences and Expectations

We wish all our readers a very happy new year.

2007 is over..It could have been a great year for some of us and could not have been the same for all. But we welcome 2008 with a positive outlook.

We have asked some of our BT2020 readers about their professional experiences in 2007 and expectations in 2008..

Here we go...

1)Dr.Ashok Ghosh, Professor-in-charge, A.N.College, Patna..(Webpage)

2007-Experiences:
Year 2007 was a great year and very satisfying for me. I completed my research project on arsenic contamination in ground water of Bihar.I delivered an invited lecture in the Annual Conference of Royal Society of Geographers at London.My research work was also presented at the Annual Conference of American Society of Geographers at Denver,USA.My students (Seven) were selected as volunteers at the decadal conference of Environmental Education at Ahmedabad.One of my student was awarded Nehru Fellowship to do research work on arsenic in food chain of Bihar.

2008- Expectations:
I am looking forward to year 2008 with great expectations.I am trying to get collaboration with NEERI ,Nagpur for further research in the field of Environmental Sciences.I will also try to establish a new instrumentation lab in my Institution.I plan to start writing a book on Environmental Biotechnology.

2) Ms.Nithya Chandrasekaran, M.Sc., Bio-medical Genetics ,Employee- Bharat Biotech , Hyderabad:

2007 Experiences:
2007 wasnt a bad year at all for me....being a 2007 passout and
getting a job in the very same year , i feel great....though i had
few hiccups in the starting.....had to sit simply at home for
4-5months....worrying abt the my profession and future. But the
realization has come that there is a good future for this field also
provided u be strong in application oriented thinking mind and come
out with innovative ideas...most companies expect this and dont go by
the % u score .Ofcourse there are certain circumstances which makes me
disheartening when most of the companies take students purely based on
references.

2008 Experiences:
After i have joined Bharat biotech i have learnt that there is lot to
know abt biotechnology.....what we study in colleges is just the
basics.....so 2008 would be a year of learning new things.....i am
handling a new innovative project at bharat biotech for which the
deadline is march....so would like to complete it on time....probably
i would do a correspondence course.....

3) Mr.Syed Bilal,M.Sc.,Micro-biology ,Kolkatta:

2007- Experiences:
Its been a bad year..I have been searching a good job from 2006 when I finish my PG..But where ever I go, I witness only money and influence matters.Sometime I used to think why did I take M.Sc Micro- Bio with out any good opportunity.

2008 -Expectations:
Since I am frustrated over job hunting, I plan to prepare for my PhD..I should get into a good institution and then I prefer to take any teaching position..Let me see my luck..

4)Priyanka Jain, M.Sc., Bio-informatics - Student, Varanasi- U.P.

2007-Experiences:
In terms of my profession 2007 was very enthusiastic, motivating and exploring. As I got a chance to work in a CSIR institute (Indian institute of chemical biology) at Jadavpur, Kolkata. I worked under Dr T.K. Dhar , HOD of biotechnology department at Indian institute of chemical biology. I worked in detail on protein estimation.

2008-Expectations:
In 2008, i am working on a six month project work in bioinformatics.
My topic is “Regulation of hsr omega gene in Drosophila “.I expect to explore in detail in this topic. So that I could publish a paper.

5)Mr. Nagarajan Paramasivam, M.Sc., Bioinformatics, JRF @ NCBS,Banglore.

2007-Experiences:
2007 is an important year in my profession, finished my msc n joined as a JRF in ncbs.

2008-Expectations:
Hope i will get into industry this year, will have more innovation in my professional life.


7) Mr.Manojkumar Vallaru, M.Sc., Stem cell & Regenerative medicine student - University of Sheffield, United Kingdom.



2007-Experiences: I graduated B.Tech Biotechnology at SRM University (2003-2007) in Chennai in May 2007. My main area of interest is Stem cell research and Tissue engineering. I am in this field from year 2004. I joined as a member at SSSCR and now I am on e of the active leader of the society. I designed www.stemcellbiology.blogspot.com. I joined MSc stem cell and regenerative medicine at University of Sheffield (Sept 2007), UK.

2008-Expectations:
In year 2008 there will be more development in integrated research (stem cell and tissue engineering), alternative cloning methods for embryonic stem cell research (IPS), different stem cell clinical trials for better treatment and stem cell banking.
I believe that stem cell research will revolutionise the field of medicine.

7) Ms.Divya Nandakumar, B.Tech Biotechnology Student, Anna University-Chennai:

2007-Experiences:
2007 started for me with a great bang in the form of Biotechcellence 2007, our department's annual National level technical symposium. Being in the junior year, we were entirely responsible for the event and it was a novel experience organizing and managing the occasion. The symposium turned out to be an immense success and it was totally gratifying to visibly observe our efforts bearing fruit. The year was typical otherwise, with February being the rush time for sending in applications for summer fellowships. A striking aspect of the year was the increase in number of symposium invitations our department had received

2008-Expectations:
I am currently in the final year of my Bachelors program and I have submitted applications to pursue my graduate studies abroad. I hope to pursue my PhD in the field of Neuroscience starting fall 2008.

It was nice chatting with all these readers.

and finally ,

BT2020:

2008-Expectation:
Wonder ,no women BT2020 reader want to share their picture for this article...and I Expect at the end of this year , atleast some one( lady BT2020 reader) will share their picture for the article" 2008-2009- Experiences and Expectations:...!!!