Research is all about passion and Shoolini provides the right atmosphere, affirms Dr. Adesh Saini

Interview by Kritika Gupta

Dr. Adesh Saini designated as the Dean, Faculty of Basic Sciences at Shoolini University. He is one of the most experienced teachers associated with the University. He deals with research and scholarships at the University. His qualification includes Post Doc, Ph.D., MSc, and B.Sc. He started his career as a professor in the year 2016 and has established 5 Center’s of Excellence at Shoolini. The eminent geneticist has published his various research papers in national journals and has also presented the same at national and international level.

In an exclusive interview with collegedunia.com, the alumnus of National Institute of Health (post-doc) and University of Delhi (Ph.D.) shares his views on the education sector in India and on various other topics.  

Academic affair with Shoolini University and other institutions 

I am with the University since August 2011. I completed M.Sc. Zoology from Kurukshetra University and then I cleared the NET JRF exam after which I joined IGIB in Delhi for research. Subsequently, I completed my PhD. from the University of Delhi and after that, I joined NIH for Post Doctorate. I was there for five years during which I also worked with John Hawkins Medical School. Then, I joined Shoolini University as an assistant professor in Biotechnology. 

Dr. Adesh feels more comfortable working with Shoolini 

I think it is pretty much the same, but the kind of work which I do here revolves around genetics and therefore I feel much more comfortable here. I also get funding from the Government of India and hence I have four projects currently with me. 

Opportunities for Shoolinians to operate on the global stage in terms of research 

Shoolini is located in the Himalayan region, which is the biggest benefit we have. We can use the Himalayas as a resource. There are many challenges Himalayas are facing right now starting from socio-economic and health-related issues. In a way I would say, the Himalayas give you topics of research.

For example, the cancer Biologists have the material and the plants that cure cancer here. Shoolini has another advantage that it is an institution where cross thinking takes place. The different schools work together which is a great thing. 

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Challenges faced in conducting research 

There are certain challenges and issues that researchers come across while holding research. The most important aspect for any institution is to have the right faculty which I think, Shoolini has it all. We have excellent faculty from diverse fields. Coming back to the issues dealing with research, the biggest challenge is funding. Irrespective of any size of the lab, the issue is that if your lab does not have the funds, you will lag. Government of India is very fair and generous in giving proper funding to every situation based on their research capabilities.

Innovation is the other major challenge in research. You cannot work on the topic or question that has already been chosen by somebody else. Also, labs are run by funding as well as great students. Developing research ethics in a student is very important as well.

Dr. Adesh tips to an aspiring research student 

For a researcher, based on their interest and training, he/ she needs to develop a set of questionnaire. Then eventually find out what actually one can work on. Show the first step by asking the right questions and then design the correct experiment for answering the question and then also looking at how the world is answering the question. And at last, the conclusion you draw from your research is very important as well. 

Types of researches

There are different kinds of research. One is the descriptive science where you observe things different phenomenon and try to describe them. Then there is research to discover in which you come forward with some inductive idea. Similarly, some researches are hypothetically driven. Also, there are other kinds of researches which engineers do where they try to solve the real world problems. In Shoolini, all these four kinds of research are doing really great. 

Experiences that students get during their academic career 

As a career, research is passion driven. I want to quote one of my Post Doc superior's lines that - resources are already, and unless and until you are driven with passion, it will become more complicated. So, my advice to every student is that he/ she should be passion-driven and once you enter this field, then the sky's the limit.

Failing is also an essential part of research as to when you fail; you also develop as a researcher. Research is not merely early experimenting - rather it is solving the problems of humankind.