Reflecting on her journey in biotechnology, Ruchika Srivastavacame to realise that the lessons she learnt extend far beyond the realm of science. They shape how we work, why we work, and how we connect with others, gradually becoming a way of life.

IndiaBioscience spoke with Anjana Badrinarayanan, winner of the Infosys Prize 2025 in life sciences, about her scientific journey and research. In response to questions posed by IndiaBioscience, she reflected on the meaning of the award, her work on genome maintenance and DNA repair, the role of live-cell imaging in understanding dynamic cellular processes, and the responsibilities that come with scientific recognition.

Mayurika Lahiri, Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, reflects on her long association with the Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) in this conversation with us. She attended the inaugural edition in 2009 after returning from her postdoctoral fellowship in the US, participated again as a YIM alumnus in 2019, and will return as a mentor at YIM 2026.

Molecular geneticist Pallavi Kshetrapal, Associate Professor at BRIC-THSTI, traces her scientific journey from curiosity-driven beginnings to mentoring and leadership. Reflecting on the inaugural Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) 2009, she highlights how mentorship, collaboration, and authentic science shaped her career and continue to strengthen India’s research ecosystem.

When Neha Jain walked into her first Young Investigators’ Meeting (YIM) in 2017 as a postdoctoral researcher from the United States, she didn’t know what to expect. “As a postdoc, you usually don’t get to see the other side, or meet directors, or meet mentors”, she recalls. To her surprise, leaders from institutions reached out even before YIM, and those conversations soon turned into real opportunities. Within a year, she landed her first faculty position at Ahmedabad University. A year later, she moved to the Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, where she is now an Associate Professor. Looking back, she calls YIM 2017 ‘a huge milestone’ that shaped her career in India.