My name is Shreyasi Sarkar, I’m a PhD candidate in Biochemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland and my project title is: Missing pieces to the diet-microbiota-health puzzle.
Q: How did you get to your current position?
A: Always wanting to be associated with science and finding answers to how the human body works, I started off with obtaining my Bachelors in Chemistry and Masters in Medicinal Chemistry from University of Pune, India. To aid myself in finding more depth into my main research question, I obtained a scholarship and decided to pursue my current PhD degree in Biochemistry at MUN.
Q: What, or who, inspired you to get a career in science?
A: My father, a medical doctor, has always played a very influential role in my life which drew me closer to science.
In addition, as I mentioned in my previous answer, with my life-long prevailing question: how the human body works, and also with the zeal to find answers into the mysteries that make life possible, I decided to take up a career in science.
Q: What is the most fascinating aspect of your research/work?
A: My research aims to find the links that connect our diet with our intestinal and our brain/mental health. Diet is the primary component to maintaining good health. In addition, all diseases begin in the gut (Hippocrates) and as mental health is taking a major toll in the current era. Thus, finding the links that connect them and those that can be modulated to set a mutually understanding tone between them, with an aim to cure intestinal and mental health disorders, is what is fascinating about my research.
Q: What are you most proud of and/or what have you learned from doing research- especially during the pandemic?
A: I am very proud of how I developed very important skills of managing time and keeping myself organised and engaged during the pandemic. Even though I did have to start working (after obtaining special permission to have lab access) during the pandemic, it taught me how important it is to finish everything on time and not procrastinate. It is also very important to organise everything as things can get very convoluted during a stressful time like this.