In Your Expedition…
By: Hritika Chaturvedi
Tags: STEM, Neuroscience, Youth, Research, Interview

Kritika Grover shares her insights regarding the perseverance and ambition that are necessary for success in any field, particularly in the context of her newfound interests in neurological research and advocacy.

Photo by Kritika Grover

Where are you from, what do you study, where are you currently based?

I am from India, the land which has witnessed great surgeons like

Sushruta and Charka, who are inspirations for the generation of today even

after centuries and yes, I am currently based in India.

Why neuroscience?

Neuroscience is as infinitude as the universe. It is the science that deals with the

universe inside us, made up of billions of cells, which are peculiar in all senses. This intrigues me to study neurosciene even more. Don’t you think it

would be interesting to find out the centre of conscious or to build a brain

through epigenesis?

What first sparked your curiosity about neuroscience, and how did your interest inspire what you are currently doing?

Well, my journey of deciding my future career and majors was no less than a

roller coaster ride, and I always wanted to pursue my career in a field that

was endlessly fascinating and had a lot that could be explored. This is

exactly what drove me toward neuroscience. My interest in neuroscience

developed gradually throughout my high school years by reading stuff, attending

conferences, and working with like-minded people.

What sort of experience do you carry in your field of interest?

I am neither the know-it-all of neuroscience nor a big researcher who has some big achievements, but I am working towards my goal by completing small scale

projects, one of which focused on biohacking with special emphasis on the human sleep cycle. I have also been working with International Youth Neuroscience Organization as the Indian NCN Officer. Additionally, Simply Neuroscience, a 501(c), has given me the opportunity to work with them in putting together their Pre-Synaptic Project (a project that focuses on creating content for the underprivileged youth).

What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

I want to become an accomplished neurosurgeon and researcher. I

also wish to work with United Nations in the field of healthcare one day.

Do you find that your age hinders you in any way toward advancing in the field of STEM?

I assume that if I was asked this question 2–3 years ago, my answer would

have been a definite yes! However, now lots and lots of opportunities are coming

up for the people of our age group, but I still think that these opportunities are

more accessible to youth from the developed countries. Learners from

the developing countries still remain underrepresented. Nevertheless, improvement is there!

Do you think that there is more of an expectation from young scientists? A greater need to establish yourself?

Yes, but this because of the fact that we have more resources than the

previous generations. Nowadays, knowledge is just one click away, you can

access any book or any resource in just a few seconds. Research

opportunities come handy provided you have the right connections as well

as the required calibre. Despite all of these benefits and encouragement, higher expectations from young scientists bring an inevitable sense of anxiety to them that could be taxing in terms of both mental and physical health. So, here is where adults come into picture. Teachers and parents should train young buds on how to be resilient and have healthy competition with their peers to prevent burnout.

Have you encountered any obstacles throughout your time in this field?

Kind of! You will meet people in this field who are super supportive. However, there are people who are always ready to pull you down. This is

actually true with every field and career, but neuroscience is very

complex, and that is the reason why some people instead of taking the sane

route, take the other one that sometimes leads you to challenge your own

credibility. Neuroscience takes a lot of devotion so you have to prioritize things; this requires good management skills. This is what we often forget in the

race of improving our scientific skills and academic literacy.

Do you think that young scientists receive the credit that they are due?

Yes, they do if they have done something worth appreciating.

What is your take on interdisciplinary science, neuroscience in particular?

I fanatically love this concept! It is important for me to apply my previously

acquired knowledge and skills in other areas. It is lovely to learn how microgravity and zero gravity affect our brain differently and how various schools of thought shape the brain. This integration helps us understand deeper concepts of life and science.

Are you open to or keen on approaching neuroscience via an interdisciplinary lens?

I recently learned about synesthesia, which is a neurological condition in

which a person has a very unusual response to particular stimuli. For

example the people with this disorder might hear colours or sing art. You might have also heard that children with dyslexia often express their emotions in the form of art. So, evidently neuroscience and all types of art forms are intertwined, and the more we see neuroscience through an interdisciplinary lens, the more the human race will benefit from it.

What advice would you give to other young scientists who plan on entering or seek to establish themselves in STEM?

I might not be the right person to advise others on this, but from the little I know, I

can say that this field requires patience. You are not going to see the

results the very next day you start working. So, have patience and be

perseverant, because that is what will help you in this expedition!

Interviewed by Hritika Chaturvedi