Breaking the age barrier: 25 years later
“I returned to academia after a gap of 25 years. Having earned my Bachelor’s in Zoology in the 90s, I spent nearly 2 decades working in banking, a practical choice over pursuing higher studies at the time. 25 years later, I first decided to pursue a Master’s to update my knowledge. Although I cleared the entrance exam of School of Science NMIMS University easily, the interviewers were skeptical of giving me a chance and were at a loss for questions. But I believe looking at my dedication to academia, they considered otherwise. I would forever be obliged to them for giving me this opportunity.
Rejoining academic life with peers barely a year older than my daughter felt odd at first, but I gradually built friendships. During my first year, my husband underwent a bypass surgery, making it difficult to balance my personal life and newfound academic commitments. At times, I had to study and complete assignments at the hospital while supporting my children with their education. I also struggled to grasp and link emerging concepts in biology, compared to my peers.
But the research exposure which I received at Prof. Abhijit Majumder’s laboratory in IIT Bombay during my Master’s dissertation was pivotal. I got the opportunity to present my work at NIT Silchar and won the best oral presenter award which boosted my confidence and solidified my decision to pursue a PhD. I enrolled in 2019 at Ramnaraian Ruia Autonomous College, but my journey was delayed by COVID for almost 1.5 years. I was fortunate to have found a supportive PhD guide, Dr. Kanchan Chitnis, who showed great faith in me as her first PhD student. With her background in biochemistry and my interest in mechanobiology from my MSc thesis, we found a collaborative partner in Prof. Majumder, from IIT Bombay who became my co-guide.
Working in line with the rules and regulations of 2 different institutes and bridging 2 different concepts from 2 different supervisors into a single proposal proved challenging. The lockdown, however, provided me the cushion to refine and sharpen my knowledge and helped me in writing the proposal which eventually received funding from DST. I owe much to my husband and children’s unwavering support throughout this period. Their encouragement helped me take the leap back into academics.
Reflecting on my journey thus far, I believe local colleges deserve the same access to journals as national institutes. The current system, where students have to pay for journal access, creates inequity. Moreover, the rigorous and often frustrating process of securing a PhD today contrasts sharply with the simpler path 25 years ago. Funding is another significant hurdle; every scholar deserves a basic stipend for their PhD without the pressure of securing their own funds.
For those considering to follow a similar academic path, I advise having clear ideas and a deep commitment to your field. Practice reading research papers thoroughly to get concepts clear rather than depending on summaries from generative AI. This approach won’t help you make meaningful contributions in the long run.”
-Ranjita Save, PhD in Life Sciences, Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College – Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Interviewed by Aniruddha Mukherjee and written by Payel Das
