Maanasa Ravikumar
Nationality:
India
Faculty and Department:
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery
Year of Study:
4
Undergraduate University:
University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
Why did you choose to do graduate education at NUS? If you received offers from other universities, why did you pick NUS?
NUS offered an attractive option to be placed at A*STAR, and to be involved in industry-facing research. As a biomedical science undergraduate, I found this very appealing and wanted to pursue this unique opportunity to do my PhD in cutting-edge stem cell research with a translational focus. Moreover, the collaborative spirit between NUS and A*STAR promised to help me build a strong professional network in Singapore, which was an important consideration since I was moving to a new country as an international student.
What impact do you hope to have with your research?
I hope to contribute to the booming cell therapy landscape in Singapore by improving our knowledge on the function of mesenchymal stem cells and their suitability for clinical application. I also aim to uncover previously unknown roles of a carbohydrate called heparan sulphate in mesenchymal stem cell function, bringing to light new knowledge in the fields of glycobiology and stem cell biology. Moreover, I also aim to increase the visibility of women in STEM through my research experience, and challenge gender stereotypes in science and research.
Briefly share a highlight from your graduate school journey.
Working as a part of the Annual Biomedical Scientific Congress executive committee has been incredibly fulfilling. Organizing an annual conference by the students, for the students, has allowed me to strengthen numerous soft skills such as collaboration, teamwork and time management, while giving me the opportunity to get to know my fellow students better and make new friends too. The ABSC experience has facilitated me to broaden my knowledge and understanding of the different projects my colleagues, across various departments, work on and has also enabled me to build a strong network for the future.
Share a challenge you faced in graduate school and how you overcame it.
I faced a big challenge during my first year when I joined a lab and started working on a project, which I realized after a few months was not what I expected, and did not cater to my scientific interests as it initially seemed to. Since I did not have lab rotations, it was difficult to predict right from the get-go whether the project aligned exactly with my interests, and it was even more tough to accept that the alternative was to move to a new lab and start from scratch. But, I quickly realized that 4 years is a LONG time, and I should work on something that I am passionate about and can do justice to. 4 years later, I am happy to say that I’m glad I took the necessary steps to make things right for myself and chose a new project and lab that was better suited for me…one of the best decisions I ever made!
What message would you like to give to students interested in graduate studies in NUS?
Always compliment your research work with extracurricular activities, hobbies and non-academic passion projects on the side. At the end of the day, this long 4 year journey is not only about your scientific development, but also your holistic growth as a well-rounded, confident individual with interesting life experiences!