TNQ Awards recognise CCMB scientists for mentoring young researchers
HYDERABAD: Since 2016, the TNQ Inspiring Science Awards (TNQ ISA) have recognised creative and impactful research in life sciences by honouring young researchers. So far, four PhD scholars and one postdoctoral fellow from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have featured among the finalists.
The latest from CCMB to be recognised is Dr Jotin Gogoi, who authored a paper on how cells tolerate certain errors during protein synthesis and how this may have contributed to the evolution of living cells.
This year, TNQ ISA also honoured two mentors affiliated with CCMB for their role in training young researchers. Rajan Sankaranarayanan and Santosh Chauhan have each mentored four researchers whose work has been recognised by the awards.
The PhD scholars trained under Santosh Chauhan were enrolled at the BRIC-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar. The recognition of mentors highlights the importance of sustained guidance in building a strong scientific ecosystem.
Focus on fundamental biological questions
Rajan Sankaranarayanan’s research group studies how enzyme structures determine their unique properties, which are essential to life. A key area of work involves understanding how cells select the correct orientation of amino acids during protein synthesis.
Santosh Chauhan’s group investigates innate immunity, the body’s first line of defence against external pathogens. His research has contributed to a new area termed Programmed Cell Revival, which examines how cells on the verge of death activate molecular mechanisms to restore themselves.
Mentors reflect on role of young scientists
Speaking on the occasion, both scientists emphasised the contribution of young researchers in their laboratories.
“For me, mentorship is not about telling people exactly what to do. It’s about giving them space to think, ask questions, make mistakes, and slowly become confident and independent scientists. When I see someone grow in that way, it feels more rewarding than any single result or paper,” Santosh Chauhan said.
Rajan Sankaranarayanan said, “Awardees from my lab have worked on very fundamental problems in biology, rather than on fashionable topics or work with immediate application relevance. I really appreciate that the TNQ jury has recognised such fundamental work, and I hope this will encourage young scientists to continue to take up basic biological problems.”
