I completed my high school and undergraduate in India and joined the National University of Singapore to pursue my graduate studies. After graduating with a PhD degree, I began working as a postdoctoral fellow at a premier Science and Technology Research Institute in Singapore. I interned at 2 different labs during the undergrad studies that helped me hone my research skills.

I was interested in science and research since I was a teen. I had great mentors during my high school and undergrad that helped me realise my potential as a researcher and hence, I chose a career in science.

My most days are spent designing and performing experiments, analysing results and planning future work. Once a month, I have to participate in the lab meetings with my boss and discuss the progress of the project so far. I also have to present my research to a wider audience within my research institute and publish articles in scientific journals. Twice a year, I apply for research grants that help me further my research projects.

Postdoctoral (Postdoc) fellow is a stepping stone towards becoming an independent scientist. The postdoc is done after you graduate with a PhD degree. Since it is a research-oriented position, one must be passionate about research and science in general. Firstly, one must identify the scientific area one is interested in and take subjects or online courses to strengthen the core concepts. I am interested in biological sciences, so I took modules that helped in my research. If you want to pursue a career in research, then you should do internships while in University to get a feel of the area. It will also help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and work towards it. After that, you have to pursue a PhD degree in your area of interest where you will work on one research topic and gain experience. One skill that will always be useful is computer programming. Proficiency in R or Python programming languages will be quite useful in biological research. Regarding soft skills, you should have an inquisitive, questioning mind to identify scientific problems and develop strategies to solve them. You will regularly encounter setbacks in your research, and so you must develop mental resilience and strength to handle them. Finally, a passion for science and love for your work is a must to excel in the area of research.

Most fellows will do 2-3 fellowships before applying for scientist positions at research institutes or universities. Singapore is one of the best places for research in Asia, and so you have ample opportunities to pursue postdoc. PhD graduates from Singapore are highly sought out in other countries as well, so you get a chance to work abroad as well.

Depending on where you pursue postdoctoral fellowship, you can get a chance to independently manage projects, hire and work with research assistants and mentor students. You can learn managerial skills, budgeting skills, teaching skills, time management. If your project involves collaborators, then you get to learn to talk to other researchers about your project, negotiation and marketing skills and at times conflict resolution skills which are highly sought out in the industry.