Hi everyone! I’m Urmimala, a third year Ph.D. candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program. To me science has always been about figuring out the unknown through experimentation. It has been interesting how my discernment of science and what it means to me has evolved through the years. From marveling at the crude color changes on mixing liquids, (did this a lot as a kid with pretty much all the house-hold items I could lay my hands on; it’s a wonder that my parents’ house is still standing!) to understanding the molecular intricacies of how life’s genetic materials are made, this journey has been a fascinating one. The feeling of awe is always incremental in my aesthetical appreciation of the nature. After completing my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Biophysics and Molecular Biology’, respectively, from University of Calcutta, I joined Dr. Smita Patel’s lab here at Rutgers for my Ph.D. dissertation. My background in Chemistry has given me the tools and perspective to use chemical methods to probe biological phenomenon. I am currently studying the mechanisms of transcription initiation in the yeast and human mitochondrial systems. My research focuses on how the mitochondrial transcription factors aid the RNA polymerase to initiate transcription of mitochondrial DNA, thus adding complex layers of regulation to gene expression in the mitochondria. Growing up in Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, I have a natural inclination for the Arts. I have been trained in various forms of Indian music and my ears are always open to new, interesting music from all over the globe. When I am not busy pipetting, running gels or fiddling with the fluorimeter, I am reading, listening to music or cooking at home. My other interests are science writing and science advocacy. I am interested in mentoring young scientists and this blog is a great way to do that. I hope my blogs keep you at pace with the latest trends in biomedical research and I am looking forward to hearing from you in the form of suggestions, questions or just a ‘Hey there’!
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