2021
June 9th
IC3i Interviews Visual

IC3i Alumni Interview: Deepanjan Ghosh

Discover the IC3i Alumni’s professional paths in our series of interviews

Photo Deepanjan Ghosh
Deepanjan Ghosh

Deep, can you tell us briefly about your PhD at Institut Curie?

I did a four-year PhD at unit UMR9186/U1196 in Orsay. My PhD supervisor was Sophie Bombard and the unit director at the beginning was Dr. Marie Paule Teulade-Fichou and finally Dr. Mahuteau-Betzer. My thesis was entitled “Deciphering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the radiosensitizing activity of metal complexes: Towards the development of drug candidates for improving chemoradiotherapy for cancer treatment”.

 

You were part of the first batch of the IC3i Cofund program but before coming to Paris, what were you doing?

Well, if we put it in perspective, I did what we call a traditional “educative” path from undergrad until Master. First, I did a biotechnology undergrad in India, then I moved to the UK for a Master in biomedicine were I took courses in drug discovery, neurology and genetic engineering. I knew after that I wanted to do a PhD but I was not able to find someplace where my interests were fulfilled, saying: research interests, covering tuition fees or covering living expenses until I saw this opportunity.

 

How did it happen?

Before applying to the PhD project, I was working in a laboratory that also worked in some particular DNA structures called G4, and the project I applied was kind on the same research trend. Moreover, to be honest, I knew Institut Curie before coming…but I never expected to actually live in France. It was not part of my initial goal, I was planning to move to an English-speaking country…but the project convinced me.

 

So…if we organize it…you would say “project, the Institute and France” in that order?

Yes definitely, the idea of moving to Paris is a plus.

 

Doing a PhD has many advantages but sometimes things are not always as expected…can you tell us how you handled or managed this "carousel" of ideas & thoughts when it happened?

Honestly, I do not regret by a second the idea of doing my PhD or my PhD experience even if I had ups and downs. Because I learnt a lot from it, not only about my research topic, I think that going in depth from a problem to try to solve it is a good life lesson to learn. Not only in your career, I mean…if you have a problem, try to understand it, not just look at it superficially. So yes, I would say that’s the biggest thing I have learned from it…along with patience of course. And regarding the ups and downs…I absolutely believe that people should be convinced to do a PhD because they want to, not because they have nothing else to do after their Master. I mean, it’s a long-term commitment, as long as the longest undergraduate degree, it is not an easy job…it takes a lot of your time and yourself, needs engagement. I feel because I wanted to do the PhD before starting, I am quite happy with what I have done. So, maybe my advice is, if you are sure you want to go to industry or in science communication, don’t go straight to a PhD. Maybe it is more advisable to do it after your Master*. My friends were also a good support. To be honest, most of my friends are in the research/academia environment so we are kind of sharing similar stories which I find helpful. I would say that Institut Curie chooses good people…friendly, compatible, easy going.

*Editor’s Note: in some countries, it is possible to do a thesis without having a Master degree.

 

You got your degree…and what are you doing now?

I wanted to move from academia and I was looking for jobs in pharmaceutical companies or biotech start-ups and I just joined one. I am quite happy, I felt that it was the right time to leave academia and eventually I got what I wanted. It’s an originally Curie start-up that works in the microfluidics area and I joined them as a molecular biologist.

 

Was it hard to accept the idea to change from academia to a non-academic environment?

Yes, it was because for the longest time you’re in a stream: you do your schooling, you move to a higher education system, you do undergrad, master and PhD. The natural idea is to go for a postdoc and a professor position to continue with the flow. Leaving the idea of what you were “taught” to do was kind of difficult…but you need clarity of thoughts to know what you really want. I think it is super normal to have a change of thoughts. Just because you had an original idea doesn’t mean you can’t change it…if I didn’t see myself in the long term in academia, why waste my time in something I didn’t want anymore?

 

Was it hard for you to integrate outside academia? Also considering that you’re not a native French speaker?

Interesting question, I assumed that it would be like that…but luckily not. Everybody speaks English in the startup plus I am learning French so that linguistic gap doesn’t exist.

 

Final question, would you like to say something to future PhD students? Regarding the PhD, the program…

(He smiles) To be honest, and regarding the program, the fact that we had to do other things beside our PhD was helpful because we got to really improve our softs skills and for someone who wants the academia-industry transition that is super important. There, they care also, about how you fit, how you can communicate with people, how you express your individual ideas about certain things, which is developed not only if you do your PhD but also with the complementary tasks we need to do for the program.

 

Photo and interview by Jaime Franco Pinto