Desi Academia Podcast

In this episode, we discuss Vatsal’s final year in his PhD program, as he grounds himself in his research to transform his results into a camera-ready manuscript, and a 200-odd page dissertation. We talk about the Pandemic and its impact on his dissertation timeline, his support system, his defense, his next steps and That Feeling When It’s Over! Recommendations: PCSK7: A nov

Join us on a thought-provoking journey as we explore the intersection of academia and politics with our guests from Jawaharlal Nehru University. From the Mandal Commission to the Mandir movement, we delve into some pivotal moments that shaped India's socio-political landscape. With our guests, we engage in a discourse on the "politics of the moral" and the emergence o

Join us for Episode 2 of this season as we delve into the unique experiences of being Queer and Desi in academia with Meghana and Harsha. Tune in as we try to explore the intersections of identity, culture, and academia. Recommendations: Megh The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality, and Humanity in Modern India Shailaja Paik https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=34163 https:/

In this episode, we discuss Harsha's academic journey in veterinary pathogen research and what led to his Ph.D. studies. We also discuss how our research intersects with Drug discovery and simultaneously go over some of the basics of this process. Recommendations Megh Business Standard, Jan 27th “Debt, drinking, and decisions” The Vulgarity of Caste: Dalits, Sexuality

In this episode of DAP, we discuss Ajay's academic journey and what came after it. We delve into many anecdotes and certain inevitable intricacies of academia like mandated fees, stipends, thesis writing, and tenure-track applications that shape the academic landscape. Recommendations: Megh: Bumble dating survey trends: https://mashable.com/article/bumble-top-dating-trend

In this episode, we begin with a rant about the faculty hiring process and the futility of re-entry fellowships in India. We then move on to discussing citation farms and the gamification of h-indices. Citation and publication farms links: https://retractionwatch.com/2024/01/23/exclusive-mayo-florida-profs-among-authors-of-article-tied-to-indian-paper-mill/ https://retractionwat

We discuss what failure means in the context of academic research: how we learn when our research goes in unexpected directions, publishing negative results, dealing with imposter syndrome and peer reviewers, and learning from our mistakes. Recommendations Tech Won't Save Us Podcast https://techwontsave.us/episode/189_elon_musk_unmasked_origins_of_an_oligarch_part_1 The

Megh and Aditya discuss Aditya's experiences travelling internationally for conferences as an Indian PhD student. Travel fund options for Indian academics: https://www.serc-dst.org/application_for_travel_support.html https://dbtctep.gov.in https://www.ictp.it/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/desi-academic-podcast/message

In this episode of DAP, we delve into the world of Academic Conferences. Why do we attend them, and what are the differences between International and Local conferences? We also examine the influence of the pandemic on academic travel, including the challenges faced by graduate students such as seeking funding, accommodation, and networking, all while experiencing the excitement of

In this episode of DAP, the gang gets together to talk about the recent achievements of India's renowned space agency, ISRO, and its groundbreaking Chandrayaan mission. We discuss why these achievements are often regarded as commendable amidst the flurry of headlines and what this hype truly signifies. Is it a genuine love for science, or does it sometimes border on jingoism? Are w