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This understanding brings far more relevance of on patients’ samples. Regular discussion on
cancer cell survival strategies into repurposing research work and for most elegant design as
it for regeneration. Although our initial journey well as trouble-shooting of experiments is where I
on research communications has been slow, come in. Students are nominated for participation
our steady acquisition of major novel insights, in field related conferences and for exposure to
when available on public domain, will hopefully high-end mechanobiological toolboxes, which can
transform the way we conceptualize, address and very well bring the best out of a sincere student.
formulate potential cures for chronic diseases. Therefore, give yourself a chance to discover
whether you would like to work in a field at the
My student - mentor connect threshold of uniqueness with potential to provide
out of the box solutions to our current therapeutic
I joined RGCB as a faculty and DBT management of chronic neuro-vascular diseases.
Ramalingaswami Fellow in 2012. Currently, my lab Don’t give up from going inter-disciplinary due to
has three PhD students and one research fellow. the fear of falling; there is no failure for one who
We are funded by grants from DBT and ICMR. sincerely starts a journey to uncover the truths.
The lab has major force application tools such as
various types of cell stretchers, shear, hydrostatic
and osmotic pressure generating systems etc.
Being in an interdisciplinary field, we collaborate
with scientists from diverse expertise to perform
experiments and solve problems.
Priya R
Upon transition from mentee to mentor, I learned Senior Manager
maximally from my students. The students
who joined me surprisingly had common initial A most pleasant face in the RGCB Director’s more coveted position in the central government.
apprehensions on the interdisciplinary nature of office belongs to Priya. On the rolls of RGCB One, she was in awe with her new job and secondly,
research questions. Also, amusingly, my initial since 1997, Priya calls it her first home, which is as an ardent, Sri Padmanabha Swamy disciple and
high energy and enthusiasm was misconstrued as a common emotion shared by many RGCBians. Agraharam resident, did not have the heart to move
being pushy, which now of course the very same After completing graduation in Botany from All away from where her soul resides. Fate would later
students and I laugh about. Further, creating a Saints College, she applied for the Staff Selection return her to being a central government employee.
space for young dynamic individuals where they Commission Examination to enter government
can share their ideas and making them believe service, a tradition followed by her parents and rest At RGCB, Priya takes care of all the correspondence
that anything is possible was a very slow process of the family. She qualified the examination to join of the Institute with the Department of
but an incredible one that comes with the package the Armed Forces Headquarters in the Ministry Biotechnology, other central and state government
of being enthusiastic and work -oriented. of Defense. It was at this time that she noticed establishments, ensuring prompt and appropriate
a newspaper vacancy announcement calling for replies. This includes various parliament questions.

My suggestion to serious enthusiast is that stenographer position at RGCB. She walked into Priya ensures that needed papers and agenda are
come and have a chat with me, lets discover the rented RGCB building in Jagathy on a hartal ready for all important meetings of RGCB, including
with our mutual discussion whether we are a fit day to attend a very practical interview conducted the Scientific Advisory Council (SAC), Finance
as a research team or not. Our research is not by late, Dr MR Das, the founder director of RGCB. Committee, Governing Council and General Body
trapped in formulas and equations but is free for On April 11, 1997, Priya joined as one of the first Meetings. She has been instrumental in preparing
pursuit based on observations and validations Secretary to the then Director. She gives two the agenda papers from the very first to the latest
reasons for choosing a job at RGCB over a much one of all these meetings. She feels blessed that