Close to 100 women from various science organisations across India met at an event in 2025 to deliberate on issues of inclusivity, representation and the success of women scientists in academia. IndiaBioscience facilitated the event, after which we spoke with a few founding members of PowerBio, a collective that initiated the discussions leading up to the main event at IIT Bombay. Through a series of articles, we will share conversations with these members to better understand the collective and the important dialogues it is fostering.
Indrani Talukdar, Associate Professor at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science — Pilani, Goa, has held fast to science and mentorship, despite being challenged at almost every step. Driven by a resolve to create space for the next generation of scientists, Indrani’s work in science spans across borders, inspiring her to tackle systemic obstacles and the challenges of being a single parent. She is also a member of the PowerBio collective and our next interviewee in this series.
Returning to India, unprepared but determined
After a Master’s Degree in Biochemistry from Calcutta University, Indrani pursued a PhD at West Virginia University. Two postdoctoral fellowships followed one at the University of California, San Diego, and then at Sanford Burnham Research Institute, where her research interests included studying RNA biology, stem cell biogenesis, and metabolic syndromes.
Indrani returned to India in 2012 under unusual circumstances in her personal life, moving back with a very young child and no job. This was sudden, and the transition was not easy. Despite having an excellent academic record, she struggled for nearly a year to find a position.
“I had no professional network in India. I didn’t do my PhD here, and it really matters to know people and make connections. The system here is close-knit.”
She finally secured a faculty position in 2013. But the following ten years were anything but smooth.
Managing challenging work environments
As a single parent and early-career female faculty member, she found herself facing situations that emanated from personal biases of her colleagues. This impacted the time she could give her work and the attention that her child needed at a young age. The lack of professional support was compounded with undue attention to her personal life. Colleagues would ask very intrusive personal questions related to her marital status and her mental health, and few would understand the importance of being sensitive or empathetic.
“I struggled to take 8 am classes and attend meetings and workshops that ran late into the evening, clashing with my responsibilities as a single parent. Despite having access to a daycare, its limited hours often meant my child was left unattended. There were instances where I returned to find my child standing outside alone. I had to write to the administration explaining my limitations. Even though some solution was given, for example, switching the class timings in the next semester, I was accused of seeking special favours, and hardly any empathy was shown.”
Professional struggles and isolation
Despite being awarded an early-career research grant, she soon discovered that implementing it would be nearly impossible due to limited infrastructure and support. With only one student for the first six years, research output remained low, further impacting her evaluations.
“I wish I had a mentor. Someone to say, don’t take up a complex project without sophisticated infrastructure to support the work. Write something feasible first.”
Indrani’s first student, also a mother, faced challenges that mirrored her own, including maternity leave and family relocation. This greatly affected the productivity of her lab (along with everything else), and reflected in the performance review.
“My promotion was judged by metrics, not by context. It took me 10 years to be promoted.”
These cumulative stresses led her into depression for which she eventually sought therapy and began taking medication to recover.
Surviving and thriving
I don’t want my story to be about pity. I want it to be about survival. I stayed. I didn’t leave science. I built something with the help of science.”
Come 2017, and things started turning around. Among a few female colleagues on her campus, Indrani found a support group. She became popular among students as a teacher, and started to build meaningful collaborations for her research — both gave her a boost.
Indrani leads a research lab with multiple students and projects. Though modest in scale, it is a space she built from scratch and she feels supportive environments for young scholars, especially women, have a significant role to play.
“I love mentoring students. For undergrads, I relate to them like my own teenage child. For PhD students, I provide clear boundaries while remaining open. I tell them, I won’t poke into your life, but I’m here if you need me.”
Indrani’s institute has also made significant progress. She believes the younger generation struggling under a similar situation would get much more support today. The administration’s outlook has evolved over time, but there is a long way to go.
Why PowerBio matters
“We see a drop in the number of women as we go up the ladder. The reason isn’t lack of merit. It’s systemic. And it’s time we talk about it.”
Indrani sees PowerBio as a critical platform for women in science as it will provide for women a safe space to share their challenges, talk about strategies that work, and support each other. It also helps identify blind spots for policymaking and institutional culture.
“My journey is part of the broader struggle of 50% of the population (i.e., women). If institutions ignore that, how can they ever understand the struggles of smaller marginalised groups?”
Towards change
PowerBio isn’t just about storytelling. It’s about shaping narratives and policies.
You’re told you started at the same time as everyone else, so your finish line should be the same. But our paths are not the same. Until that’s acknowledged, equity remains a myth.”
Indrani hopes that speaking up inspires others, demonstrating that science has enabled her to live with dignity and independence.
I survived. I stayed. And I built a space for myself and others. That’s the story I want to tell.”
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