Mentoring young researchers for a strong science ecosystem

Since 2016, TNQ Inspiring Science Awards (TNQ ISA) has been celebrating creative and impactful research in life sciences by rewarding the young researchers involved in the work. 4 PhD students and a postdoctoral fellow from CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have been in this list of finalists so far. The latest one this year was Dr. Jotin Gogoi who authored a paper on how cells tolerate some mistakes in making proteins and how this might have helped in the evolution of living cells. 

This year, TNQ ISA has also recognized two mentors, both affiliated to CCMB, for their exceptional mentoring of young researchers. Dr. Rajan Sankaranarayanan and Dr Santosh Chauhan have trained four researchers each whose work haS been recognized by TNQ ISA. The concerned PhD students trained under Dr Chauhan were enrolled in BRIC-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar. 

Dr. Sankaranarayanan’s research group focuses on understanding how structures of enzymes dictate their unique properties, which are also essential to life. Dr Chauhan’s research group looks into cell’s first line of defense against outside invaders, called innate immunity. On the occasion of receiving the award, both the senior scientists of CCMB reflected on the important role young researchers play in their groups through not only doing experiments but their creativity and energy.