Understanding the basic mechanism involved in genes activation can help us answer broader scientific questions regarding human health.

Manisha Jalan, our next pathbreaker, applies her expertise in Molecular biology to bring out the essence of research findings in simpler words that are easily understandable by the general public

Manisha talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about her Post Doctoral work on a rare type of leukemia called, “Acute lymphoblastic leukemia”.

For students, the significance of research is all about expanding the existing body of scientific knowledge which results in a long-term benefit to society.

Manisha, Your background?

I grew up in a middle-class family in Asansol, West Bengal, in a close-knit joint family. Hence my childhood was very pleasant surrounded by my grandparents, parents, uncle and aunt, my siblings, and cousins.

As a child, I enjoyed storytelling. One would find me curled up reading different stories or actually making up stories and sharing with my cousins and siblings. At school I was drawn to biology (oh no, not the animal nomenclature!). The idea that a whole living being comes from a single cell fascinated me. Isn’t it cool!

I also enjoyed sketching, and I remember trying to make biological diagrams more visual and easier to understand. At that time, I didn’t realize it, but that was probably my first exposure to simplifying complex ideas.

What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?

I completed my Bachelor’s in Biotechnology from Manipal Academy of Higher Education, followed by a Master’s from Amrita School of Biotechnology.

Then, I pursued my PhD at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi, where I trained as a molecular biology researcher. I later moved to Ottawa for my postdoctoral work, where I worked on leukemia.

At each stage, I wasn’t just collecting degrees. I was gradually learning how to ask better scientific questions and how to approach complex problems.

How did you end up in such an offbeat, unconventional and unique career?

My biggest influences were my biology teacher and my mom.

During my school days, my mother would read books on scientific discoveries to me. I was certain I wanted to be a scientist. And to add to that, no one could explain why we should focus on healthy habits rather than just applying cosmetics to look healthy and beautiful better than my biology teacher.

I still remember how she would go into cellular-level details, and somehow, even in grade 9, it felt easy to understand. That early exposure shaped my curiosity.

As I moved through my formal education, that curiosity became more structured. I started understanding science not just as information, but as a way of thinking.

I also remember the first conference I attended during my bachelor’s. That experience stayed with me. I met young researchers who were so open to talking with students, and their enthusiasm was contagious. That further motivated me to continue my scientific training.

However, the real turning point came much later, during my postdoctoral work, when the world was going through the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, I realized something important:
Doing science is only part of the process. Communicating it is what allows it to have impact.

That realization is what eventually led me toward medical writing.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path

I didn’t follow a clearly planned path. There wasn’t any role model at the beginning. All I knew was that I wanted to help my family and others like them navigate through health information.

I often felt worried seeing my family follow health news on social media that wasn’t always correct. So instead of just telling them what was right or wrong, I started breaking things down in simple ways.

For example, I would turn complex topics into short stories, like how scientists controlled Ebola outbreaks or how smallpox was completely eradicated. Sometimes, I even made simple slides or drew diagrams to explain complex topics step by step.

Without realizing it, I was already moving away from the lab bench work and toward medical communication.

Later, when I became more certain that I wanted to be a medical writer, I started writing articles on Medium and for The MedReport Foundation, mainly focusing on common health topics for my loved ones.

I also joined professional groups like the American Medical Writers Association, which helped me understand the different types of medical writing. Over time, I realized that I enjoyed continuing medical education and patient-focused writing the most.

Looking back, I can see that my path was not planned step by step. It was shaped by:

  • Curiosity
  • Real-life problems
  • And a gradual shift in what I enjoyed doing

I didn’t leave science. I just started using it in a different way.

How did you get your first break?

Although I had started writing on my own and worked with some pharmaceutical companies to create scientific materials for conferences and their website, my real break came when I worked with a prognostic company.

In this project, I had to write for women in their 40s during pregnancy. This exposed me to communicating with the general public, something I had always wanted to do.

This experience taught me how to write for a specific audience—what language to use, and how to make statistics and numbers easier to understand.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing for this project and also found my niche.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

When I was just transitioning into medical writing, I thought it would be very easy. You see, I was a natural storyteller and had a strong science background. But this wasn’t true at all!

I quickly realized that explaining science to real people is much harder than understanding it.

People have different beliefs, experiences, and levels of understanding. To write effectively, I had to put myself in their shoes. That is to see things from their perspective.

How did I address this challenge? It took time and practice. With different projects, feedback from clients, and slowly identifying experts in the field who could guide me, I was able to improve my skills.

Another challenge I faced (and still facing!) was the rapid growth of AI.

Tools like GPT became widely available almost at the same time I started my career as a medical writer. I didn’t want to get lost among writers who were using AI without understanding it. I also noticed that AI could sometimes hallucinate or make the writing sound too robotic.

But over time, I learned how to integrate AI into my workflow in a way that helps me become more efficient, while still keeping the writing accurate and human.

I sought guidance from experienced mentors and joined community of writers. Trust me, there’s a lot to learn from others in the field.

Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?

I am a full time freelance medical writer. My day typically starts at my home office desk with some warm water (nothing can be more energetic than water).  

I work with medical education companies, medical associations. Together, we create learning materials for doctors so they can stay updated. I also write for patients and families, so they can better understand their health.

How I do these: Once I get the project brief from my clients, I would start doing my research with the question in mind “how this will help my readers”. That initial question helps my pull out the right information that would be most essential for my readers and then begins the storytelling.

Although one does not need a wet lab experience or a PhD, you would need a clear understanding of scientific discoveries and an aptitude to stay in tune with recent research helps you make a good writer. You don’t need to know it all, but just a curious mind and try to explain the findings in plain language!

My science background helped me understand research. But my writing skills grew slowly over time.

I practiced by:

  • Reading a lot
  • Writing small pieces
  • Explaining things to my family

Sometimes I feel teaching others is the best way to learn.

If you enjoy explaining things in a simple way, you might enjoy this work too.

How does your work benefit society? 

Today, we see a lot of health information online. Not all of it is correct.

My work helps people:

  • Understand reliable health information
  • Make better health decisions

I also support doctors by creating educational content that helps them stay updated.

In simple terms, I act as a bridge between science and people.

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

One piece of work that stayed with me was when I was writing about GLP-1 medications, which many people know today through social media for weight loss.

When I started looking into it, I realized there was a lot of confusion.

  • Some people saw it as a “quick fix”
  • Some were unsure if it was safe
  • And many didn’t understand who it is actually meant for

So I approached this piece with one simple question in mind: What should someone know before even thinking about it?

As I worked on it, I noticed how easily people can trust half information online and start looking for solutions that may not be right for them, and can also be very expensive.

That experience stayed with me. Because I realized that as medical writers, our goal is not just to give information, but to help someone pause, think, and make a better decision.

Your advice to students based on your experience?

I would say, choose what genuinely interests you. Stay curious and keep learning from others in the field.

You don’t need to rush or have everything figured out right away. Just stay consistent and keep moving forward. Your path becomes clearer as you walk on it.

If you’re wondering where to find people who can guide you, start with platforms like LinkedIn (or whatever platform is popular when you read this). Follow people whose work inspires you. Read what they share. Write thoughtful comments. Ask questions. Connect with them and stay engaged.

Over time, you’ll realize something that you’ve built a community of like-minded people.

And remember this: You are not just looking for a job. You are learning how to contribute and add value wherever you can.

All the best for your journey. I hope to read your story here one day.

Future Plans?

I want to continue working in medical and patient education, where clear communication can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Learn more about medical writing: The Different Types of Medical Writing Explained