On this occasion, we have the great pleasure of speaking with Sidhant, an excellent RBP-ReguNet researcher who is currently completing his PhD at the Institut Curie in Paris under the supervision of Prof. Stephan Vagner.
Question: Could you share a bit about your academic and professional journey?
Answer: I am a biomedical scientist by training. I did my B.Sc. in biomedical sciences from University of Delhi, India and M.Sc. Biomedical Sciences from Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. After which I worked for about 3 and a half years in the USA and France as a research engineer and assistant research scientist in labs in Baylor college of medicine and New York University!
Q: What inspired you to join this MSCA-DN initiative?
A: I have always been interested in RNA binding proteins and their role in cell system regulation. RBP-ReguNET fit my research interest the most. Additionally, being a professional who has had a lot of mobility in their career and understands the importance and benefits of exchanging scientific information with people from diverse backgrounds, MSCA-DN’s structure was the best fit for my requirements to pursue a successful career as a scientist
Q: What specific areas of research or training are you concentrating on in this project?
A: I am focussing on the RNA binding proteins present in the signaling pathways in the cancer. Specifically, my lab and I are interested in the MAPK kinase pathway proteins and their RNA binding properties and how those activities regulate the signaling dynamics (i.e by Liquid Liquid Phase separation) or (if any) non canonical functions of these proteins. Since MAPK proteins are highly mutated in various cancers understanding their regulation through RNA binding would help finding alternative therapeutic targets.
Q: In what ways do you feel this project will benefit your career progression?
A: I have always been interested in understanding cell’s normal functioning and how it goes haywire upon stress or in disease. My projects elegantly combine the two to study the regulation and mechanisms of disease progression in MAPK pathway. I am thrilled to learn about the fundamental mechanisms in cell signaling and also RNA biology techniques which were previously not familiar to me. Additionally, I am learning soft skills like project design, grant writing, and scientific thinking with my professor, that indeed will also be crucial in my career as an academic in the future.
Q: What are some of the most fulfilling experiences you’ve had in your research so far?
A: So far, the ability to think on the feet, solving tedious research problems and understanding critical concepts have been intellectually rewarding and stimulating. Learning to design a project myself has been an important skill that I would be using for rest of my professional career. Besides due to the collaborative nature of MSCA-DN, the consortium meeting and exchanging information and attending courses with my colleagues has also been socially extremely rewarding.
Q: Can you describe any challenges you have faced during your time in the project and how you overcame them?
A: I have time and again faced challenges while working, I guess that’s just how research is. But the major challenge lately was when my project was going in another direction than expected. After repeating and confirming that this is indeed the case, discussing with my supervisor and planning a detour to that direction to answer my question really helped me overcome that challenge
Q: Which skills or knowledge do you hope to gain by the conclusion of this fellowship?
A: I would like to learn more and more about RNA biology and RNA binding proteins in fundamental molecular biology and thereafter their effect on disease progression. Learning the omics techniques and analyses of those would definitely be something that I haven’t achieved yet, but I would love to gain by the end of my fellowship. Besides soft skills of communication, scientific collaboration, and presenting my data at major conferences would be additional aims that I would want to achieve.
Q: How do you envision your research impacting the broader community or field?
A: As mentioned, MAPK pathway protein RNA binding is not known, let alone their regulation into Liquid Liquid Phase separation by these RNAs, therefore, this would be novel not only to understand the signaling pathway regulation but also to provide new therapeutic approaches in cancers where MAPK signaling is overactivated.
Q: Could you share a memorable milestone or achievement from your work on this project?
A: So far in the two years I have been working as a fellow, getting those initial preliminary results where your supervisor and you both realize that there is a potential of a project in there was a memorable moment for me. That first feeling of performing an experiment and getting a result that has not been shown in the community yet was thrilling. Hopefully many more to come.
Q: What advice would you give to future fellows or researchers starting in this area?
A: Choose the project and the lab and not the country/city that appeals to you. 😊
Q: Let’s get a bit more personal. Where is home for you? With these mobility grants, do you find yourself missing family, friends, or familiar surroundings?
A: I was born and lived most of my life in Delhi, India. But now I ‘ve been away from it for 7 years. I’ve made friends along the way and many of them have become like family to me. Of course, missing home is an integral part of being. But building a nest away from your family and calling it your home is also quite an experience and so far, it has been fruitful.
Q: How about your new location? What do you enjoy most or find challenging?
A: Paris has been exactly like I had envisioned. There’s beauty everywhere; from mundane coffee by the terrace to visiting louvre on a weekend. I now live in the suburbs where life is calmer, and I think I prefer it that way.
Q: Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of your research?
A: In whatever free time I get, I usually like to read; recently I have been fascinated with space and history, so I am reading and watching everything about history and space. Besides that, I am taking language classes and also teaching myself guitar.
Q: Could you share a fun fact about yourself that might surprise people?
A: I appear extroverted at almost any event but I am extremely introverted who learnt that being introverted is seen as negative by people so I just pretend to be extroverted at social gatherings and it works!
Q: What book, movie, or music album has had a significant impact on you recently?
A: As mentioned I have been reading about history, and recently I have been watching documentaries about second wave feminism in America in 1960s-1970s, It really taught me about struggles of women of my mother’s age and how they overcame them. Additionally, I am also a major fan of Dr. Judith Butler’s writings, particularly, who’s afraid of gender where she talks about how gender is a social construct and how one must start seeing and breaking through the binaries that affect every individual at every level in society. And lastly, I am also a big fan of indie/alternative music and the artists like Ethel Cain, Phoebe Bridgers, and chappell roan have been my recent idols in the way they write and express themselves.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A: I have never been to Central asia, so that would be something I would want to do. Or maybe even the international space station (Technically its still not space!!)
Q: What do you appreciate most about the city or country you’re currently living in?
A: The food, the culture and arts, and of course the regard for human rights like healthcare and proper working conditions.
Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life, and why?
A: My mother. I’ve always seen with the diligence and tenacity she has raised us and invested all of her being into me and my sibling’s upbringing, all while managing the house and work altogether. Even now in the older age she engages with me in meaningful debate and is not afraid to change her mindset when challenged with new ideologies.
Q: How do you balance your work and personal life?
A: This is one thing that I wish I was better at. I often tend to get overconsume at once with something that I am doing but now I have found my balance. It’s not fixed working hours but I try to go on a few days (or long weekend) vacation every other month to refresh my mind and to start fresh. Rest during difficult days afterwork hangouts with colleagues also is great way to cope with stress.
Q: During this fellowship, what’s something you’ve learned about yourself?
A: I am good at juggling different projects at once but I really need to learn how to be consistent in each of them and not just my most favourite ones