Dr. Sonal Bakshi is an Assistant Professor of the Institute of Science Nirma University, Ahmedabad. She has worked in the field of cancer biology with expertise in cytogenetics of leukemia, in vitro assays of genotoxicity, and genetics of human diseases. She did MSc in Microbiology from MS University of Baroda, and completed PhD on cytogenetics of neoplasia from Gujarat University. She joined the Institute of Science in 2010 for academic research in Genetics and Cancer. She is currently teaching courses like Cell Biology, Human Genetics, and Cancer Biology. She had established automation in chromosome studies of leukemia, started FISH, m-FISH, and BAC-FISH for the first time which has now become a routine test. With PhD guideship from Nirma University in 2010, three PhD projects are completed on genetic determinants of idiopathic mental retardation, parental and meiotic origin of Down syndrome, and genotoxicity of nanoparticles with funding support from Nirma University, GSBTM and GUJCOST, Govt. of Gujarat. The Ministry of AYUSH has funded the project which is in collaboration with the Institute of Pharmacy. Her collaboration with the Institute of Technology is in the areas of automation in image analysis for cytogenetics, and the biological effect of exposure to cell phone radiation. Apart from teaching and research, she is involved in various activities of the institute and university like Alumni Association, Institute coordinator of University and Alumni Newsletters, worked for DSIR recognition as SIRO for university, coordinator for Students Placement, Student Section, Library council, and Social Extension activity etc.

Institute of Science Nirma University

When you came to the Institute of Science Nirma University, what was your vision and how are you trying to achieve the same?

“To help students update in the field apart from test book knowledge”

I got an opportunity to switch to full time academics after spending more than 2 decades in cancer research. It helps me to share with the younger generation what one gets to learn during the journey of a research career. Based on my experience, I got a chance to start two new courses such as Human Genetics, and Cancer Biology. The Human Genetics course includes majorly applied aspect and helps students remain updated in the field apart from the textbook knowledge. Another course called Cancer Biology covers basics and translational aspects of cancer, a disease that is still a challenge for us.

Being an academician at the Institute of Science Nirma University Campus, How do you try to bring in a practical approach towards subjects and make it industry oriented?

“Provide industrial visits, summer internships and laboratory sessions for pupils”

Students get summer internships, industrial visits, hosting national or international conferences, and expert lectures by practicing scientists. These activities give valuable exposure to our M.Sc. students to help them to be industry ready. In addition to laboratory sessions, in-house dissertations during the last two semesters give students an experience similar to a mini Ph.D. They can plan, perform, and interpret results of scientific experiments under the guidance of faculty and Ph.D. scholar’s mentorship. This exposure helps them in further progression in research, academics, and industry.

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it gets updated to make it befitting for the students?

“Update recent trends in science, seminars and invited talks for students”

Frequent feedback from various stakeholders including alumni, researchers, and students is collected. Faculty members update the course contents with the approval of our Joint Board of Studies. It includes scientists of national repute. Some of the recent updates in science are shared and discussed through seminars or invited talks.

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Do you have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to real-world challenges?

“Not only scientific events but also socially useful activities like Blood donation camps etc. and cultural fest, sports and literary activities are carried out for students on campus”

Apart from the intensive training during dissertation, students are encouraged to participate in scientific meetings and scientific writing etc. Renowned scientists visit ISNU to address the students on occasions like Foundation day, many of them are also members of research progress monitoring committees. Activities like Blood donation camps, rural education, helping those in need by various ways are a part of our academic journey. It makes students socially responsible citizens. Social Extension activities are encouraged and facilitated by the university. Yoga, sports, cultural, art, and literary activities are carried out regularly in addition to celebrating Science day, Teacher’s day, etc. Students contribute to publication of a student magazine annually. The ISNU alumni remain connected through various dedicated social media platforms of our institute. They are invited to address students for career guidance and share their professional experience to the current students. Dedicated Placement cell provides career guidance, and brings many opportunities in the form of campus interviews. It helps honing their skills by arranging group discussions, mock interviews, bio-data writing etc.

What do you see as the Institute of Science, Nirma University’s greatest strengths and how it can be enhanced?

“Faculty members, students and courses are our greatest strengths”

The institute has a unique strength of having all the faculty members, active researchers guiding Ph.D. projects with state and national grants for their research. Our faculty members have national and international collaborations and linkages. It has facilitated many students to take up higher studies in institutes of repute. This gives biological science students very good exposure and training that make them employable in the field of academics, industry, and research. Most of B.Sc. students enroll in M.Sc. aiming for an industry job, however, two years of training motivates them to take up academics or research careers. Many M.Sc. students have published or presented their dissertation work under the guidance of faculty mentors.

What are the challenges you faced to uplift the quality of education in your Domain?

“To study certain aspects of biology among students is the greatest challenge”

The biology students are majorly away from mathematics studies after their 10th standard. It is challenging to study certain aspects of biology. Our proposed integrated B.Sc.-M.Sc program will be addressing this aspect by including Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics in initial years.

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What valuable advice would you like to give the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead in the Science Department?

“Remain updated in your field of science, and contribute to the society”

B.Sc. students from various disciplines of biological sciences enroll in M.Sc. programs at ISNU. They need not have any concern about which branch, like Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Agricultural biology, Chemistry, will have better scope. We give training to make them ready to contribute to any biology field equally. Students are encouraged and facilitated to succeed in national qualifying exams like NET, GATE, ICMR - JRF, etc. It gives them a better standing at academics and research career.