CSIR-CDRI Symposium Illuminates Career Paths in Biological & Biomedical Sciences

In a collaborative effort between the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI) and the Trust for Education and Training in Cytometry (TETC), a symposium was successfully organized to explore diverse career avenues in Biological & Biomedical Sciences. The event, held at the CDRI auditorium in Lucknow, attracted participants from across India, including students, technologists, and postdoctoral scholars. The symposium provided valuable insights into career opportunities in research and development across various sectors, including corporate, government organizations, academia, communications, and business.

Dr. Rekha Gour, Co-Founder of TETC and Organizing Chairperson, highlighted the organization's vision to facilitate knowledge exchange among experts, enabling participants to understand fundamental and advanced concepts in career development. Emphasizing the transformative role of education and training in nurturing talent, Dr. Gour set the tone for the symposium, emphasizing the importance of innovative research in Biological and Clinical domains.

The first session focused on career opportunities in the private sector, featuring insights from industry experts. Dr. Michael D’Silva from Syngene International, Bangalore, and Dr. Arvinder Singh, Director of Human Diagnostics, Gurgaon, provided perspectives on scientific careers in Indian corporates. Mr. Ayush Mishra, CINO of Anervea, Pune, shared invaluable insights into Company Start-up & Entrepreneurship, inspiring attendees to explore ideation, innovation, and sustainable growth.

The second session delved into R&D career opportunities in the government sector, featuring talks by Dr. Naibedya Chattopadhyay and Dr. Saman Habib, Chief Scientists at CSIR-CDRI, and Dr. SK Varshney, outlining Funding/Grants Opportunities available with Government Organizations. Dr. Hemant Agrawal, Director of Flow Cytometry Solutions, Jaipur, shared insights on building careers in Flow Cytometry.

The symposium concluded with a dynamic panel discussion chaired by Manoj Barthwal and Rekha Gour, fostering live interaction between speakers and participants. This exchange provided aspiring professionals with an opportunity to gain deeper insights, seek advice, and build connections within the biological and biomedical sciences community.

Highlighting excellence in research, Dr. Naresh Sachdeva from PGIMER, Chandigarh, received the TETC Best Published Paper Award 2024 (Research) during the symposium. His work on TLR9 signaling activation in CD4+T cells was recognized, and he delivered a presentation discussing his findings.