Soapbox Science 2021 Online

Soapbox: Did you choose a scientific career or did the scientific career choose you?

Ramya Nair: I chose a scientific career. I always loved science! Practical classes during school were always my favorite and I also did well in those classes. Among the sciences, human biology was what interested me the most. The fascination with the things the human body was capable of and how one of the most complex living organisms could be built from a single cell – it all blew my mind. I wanted to learn more and dig deeper into the body and the diseases that plague it. That curiosity is what brought me to where I am today – doing a PhD, and contributing to the field of cancer research.

Soapbox: Do you have a few words to inspire other female or young scientists?

Ramya Nair: If you are fascinated by science and want to pursue it, don’t let anyone tell you that you do not have what it takes. All you need is your fascination.

Soapbox: What is the most exciting aspect of your research?

Ramya Nair: For me, the most exciting part would be the multidisciplinary aspect of my research. I not only work within human biology, but I also have collaborations with material scientists and biochemists, which really encourages me to broaden my horizon and think outside the box.

Soapbox: What challenges do you encounter in science?

Ramya Nair: I think the most challenging part of science is to keep going on even when things don’t work. Being a scientist means you have to deal with failed experiments which can affect your self-confidence. But what gets me through is having people to talk about it with. I am then reminded that failure is all a part of the process and there would be no breakthroughs without it.

Soapbox: What motivates you to give a talk in Soapbox Science?

Ramya Nair: I think communicating science to the general public is really an essential skill for all scientists and the global pandemic has just further underscored this importance. Soapbox Science is a great platform to really hone this skill, since it has such a wide outreach which does not just include fellow scientists. Also, being a woman in science, I feel it is my responsibility to represent my fellow scientist sisters in leaving our mark in the scientific community. I am also particularly proud that my mentor and PhD supervisor is a woman.