Next Gen Scientists Foundation offers interns an incredible chance to pursue their passion for life science by conducting a project of their choice at their preferred laboratories. We conducted exclusive interviews with our interns and gathered insights into their unique experiences. Read below to know more about Shaurya’s journey!
“Thrilling internship, shaping long-term research plans, expanding cancer knowledge—NGS Program offers unique freedom for students’ scientific pursuits.”
~Shaurya Goyal
Q. What do you study and where?
Shaurya: I am pursuing an Integrated M.Sc. in Economics at IIT Kharagpur.
Q.Who was your PI and what was your host institute?
Shaurya: Prof. Mohit Kumar Jolly at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore served as my Principal Investigator.
Q. What was your Internship project work?
Shaurya: My internship involved gene network construction, simulation, and computational analysis. I simulated the effect of ELF3 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer, using differential equations and machine learning. I also explored phenotype plasticity in yeast infection and glioblastoma, conducting literature surveys, simulations, and creating research proposals.
Q.How did you enjoy working on the Internship Project?
Shaurya: I thoroughly enjoyed the internship, finding it fascinating to make computational predictions about disease behavior and see them confirmed by experiments. It expanded my knowledge in cancer research and shaped my long-term research plans. Leading two projects was especially exciting.
Q. How was your experience attending the NGS Internship Program?
Shaurya: The NGS Internship Program was thrilling. Working on cancer dynamics from an interdisciplinary perspective was enriching. The supportive lab environment and approachable PI made it an amazing learning experience.
Q. How was the city you moved in? Did you face issues?
Shaurya: Bangalore is fantastic for its weather, people, and energy (except the traffic). I had some housing issues initially, but the supportive lab members helped resolve them.
Q. Would you recommend your fellow students to apply to NGS Internship Program?
Shaurya: Yes, definitely. The NGS Internship Program offers unique freedom, allowing students to bring their own funding to a lab of their choice. This opportunity is invaluable for pursuing interests without financial constraints.
Q. Any other comments/observations/suggestions you would like to share?
Shaurya: It might be beneficial to address the lack of awareness about the program by encouraging current and past awardees to share their experiences. Additionally, considering the unique selection criteria based on research proposals and CVs, rather than solely relying on academic records or recommendation letters, is very unique in India and highly appreciated as those play a very important part in the scientific community world wide.
