I am a physician, scientist, clinical microbiologist, educator, science communicator and leader.
I am also a mother, wife, saree-aficionado, coffee lover, hockey fan and (arm-chair) geopolitics follower.
After my MBBS and MD in India, I opted for a non-clinical career path, choosing to train as a scientist. I completed my PhD from a Biophysics group at a US university.
Along the way, I met and married my husband and became a mother.
I returned to India looking to plough my education and expertise back into my country. On my return, I ran an independent research group at a state university, which focused on studying microbial communities and novel ways to tackle antibiotic resistance. I also co-founded ‘Talk To A Scientist’, India’s only webinar-based science platform for young minds.
A few years later, I transitioned from an academic career to a leadership role - leading a national program that facilitates the life science ecosystem in India.
Several interesting, exhilarating and humbling experiences later - some of which include a last-minute decision to study medicine to featuring on the cover of a UNESCO book on women in science, and others such as being a newly-married woman struggling to find my professional feet in a foreign country, recognising the harsh realities of a ‘dream’ job, and contributing to India’s recent science policy draft - I found myself writing THE REAL DEAL to inform and inspire girl scientists.
More about my work: https://www.karishmakaushiklab.com
About Talk To A Scientist: https://www.talktoascientistindia.com
