Mercy Rophina is a graduate of Biotechnology from PSG College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India. She is currently pursuing her final year of PhD under the supervision of Dr. Vinod Scaria at CSIR - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi. Her primary research focus revolves around the domain of ‘Genome informatics’, where she is actively involved in “Understanding the genomic landscape of blood group alleles and antigens in the Indian population”. She has been an active member of various projects that aimed at exploring and understanding the functional impact of genomic variations. Mercy has over 25 research publications in international peer-reviewed journals. She has recently been selected as a coordinator of a research topic titled Emerging Advances in Transplantation and Transfusion Medicine - Insights into Genomic Technologies in Frontiers in Genetics. Reflecting upon her current experiences she is eager to explore new frontiers of public health to make even the smallest difference in community welfare.

“Look Right, Look Left”

Karen, who recently started her PhD at the University of Leeds, reflects on her experiences adjusting to life in the UK, including the language barrier, slower pace of life, and the complexities of the PhD journey. She shares the struggles of finding her research direction, fighting gender stereotypes in academia, and the fears that come with being an international student.

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15 Years in Academia: 10 Things I’d Do Differently If Starting My PhD Again

This article reflects on the author’s 15-year academic journey, detailing the lessons learned from disorganised PhD student to effective work habits as a postdoc and assistant professor, and applying these lessons to their current role at Paperpile. Suzanne offers practical advice on academic writing, productivity, and professional development, emphasizing the importance of daily writing practice, systematic note-taking, reflection, goal setting, and the use of digital tools like reference managers. She shares these insights to help current PhD students avoid similar pitfalls and develop productive habits early in their academic careers.

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