Synthetic Chemistry has given rise to many innovations in the field of catalysis, molecular recognition and chemosensors that monitor our environment, and these are just a few examples !
Rosmita Borthakur (PhD), our next pathbreaker, Principal Investigator, Researcher & Royal Society Newton International Fellow at University of Sussex (UK), is a synthetic chemist working on organometallic & boron chemistry, which are air and moisture sensitive.
Rosmita talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about the significance of Lanthanide Organometallic Chemistry and how it can be applied in the design of magnetic materials that could store vast amounts of data.
For students, your dreams & desires should make you curious, and your curiosity should drive you to explore opportunities – books, newspapers, magazines, professors/mentors/friends. It doesn’t matter where you start !
Rosmita, Your background?
I am a scientist in the field of chemical sciences in the United Kingdom. But it all started from Jorhat, a city in the state of Assam, the last Capital of the great Ahom Kingdom. I went to school at different places as my father had a transferable job. Other than school, like most of the kids, I also took painting, singing lessons. I took part in a lot of co-curricular activities at school like quiz competition, elocution, extempore speech, debate, dancing, singing etc. We had a warm environment at home. My father worked in State Bank of India and my mother is a dedicated homemaker. I have two sisters who are both highly educated. Apart from work and studies, we as a family spent a lot of free time playing various indoor and outdoor games. My father made sure that we take a break from our regular routine from time to time and go on vacation, which gave me a lot of exposure to numerous things in my childhood. Gradually, I developed an interest for traveling, exploring new places, and acquired a passion for photography. From an early age, we got a lot of encouragement and independence to choose our desired careers. My parents always wanted us to explore new stuff, I guess my liking for science might have come from there as well. I read books a lot and the book “Ignited Minds” and “Wings of Fire: An Autobiography” by Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam created lasting impressions in my mind about great scientific achievements and pushed me farther towards science.
What did you do for graduation/ post-graduation?
I did my bachelor’s in science with Physics, Chemistry (Hons) and Mathematics at Science College, Jorhat and master’s in chemistry from Assam University.
Then I moved to Shillong for my PhD in Chemistry.
Can you talk about some of the influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career?
I was interested in science from an early age, but I got intrigued when I was in the IX standard. I took part in an inter school elocution competition on the topic, “Science in everyday life”. My dad guided me in writing the speech and he made sure to include all the minor details about how everything surrounding us is science. I was drawn more towards science and this was the starting point for me in choosing science for higher education and as a career. I was fascinated by chemistry when I got introduced to practical work in the lab. The colourful aspects of chemistry attracted me and encouraged me to learn more about it. In my XII standard, I remember spending a lot of time (any off period) in the chemistry laboratory practicing experiments. By this time, I was sure I wanted to pursue chemistry for my higher education.
Growing up in Jorhat, the words “scientist” or “research” were not new to me as it has 3 prominent research institutes – CSIR North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, Tocklai Tea Research Institute, and Rain Forest Research Institute. I have grown up seeing some of the scientists from these institutes, and I have always looked up to them.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Tell us about your career path.
As a part of our master’s degree curriculum, we had to do a project for one semester in the final year and submit a master’s thesis. Mine was a synthetic chemistry project where I had to design and synthesise metal complexes that can be used as catalyst. This is when I realised that I made something entirely new, a new molecule that never existed. It was a wonderful experience and hugely motivated me towards synthetic chemistry and research. I also received some very good advice from my project supervisor as well as other teachers and they encouraged me to go for a PhD.
I joined my PhD in North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, a Central University and my PhD was funded by the University Grant Commission (UGC). Having been already exposed to synthetic chemistry during my master’s, I knew that I wanted to do my PhD in synthetic chemistry. I chose inorganic and organometallic chemistry, as by now I was already fascinated towards the periodic table and wanted to explore it further. Along the way, I developed several catalytic systems for organic transformation. I also developed the field of chemical sensing in my lab by designing chemo sensors for the detection of toxic ions like arsenic and mercury. I was very proactive during my PhD and took every opportunity to attend scientific conferences held at various institutes in different parts of India.
This allowed me to meet a lot of academic and industry scientists as well as early career researchers like myself. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn about various future research opportunities. A friend of mine, who I met through these meetings, suggested that I apply for independent grants / fellowships to carry out further research. I wasn’t quite aware of this at that time and it sounded like an impossible task. But later, I went on to secure 3 independent grants that allowed me to work (as postdoctoral researchers) not only in premier institutes like TIFR in India but also in the United States and United Kingdom. I deeply value all those discussions and conversations I had with people through those conferences and meetings. This also helped me to strengthen my communication skills.
After my PhD, I joined IIT Madras for a postdoc in the field of organometallic and main group chemistry, precisely boron chemistry. Due to the handling difficulties associated with this kind of chemistry, very few research groups in India work on boron chemistry. Much of this chemistry involves working with air- and moisture-sensitive as well as pyrophoric materials which require special handling techniques like glove-box or schlenk-lines. During my stay at IITM, I gained all the expertise required to perform this kind of chemistry. It also helped me in building a strong research profile.
Research in main group chemistry is still in its early stages. It has the huge potential in various fields like medicine, catalysis, in defence materials and in material sciences. Although the field has developed a lot since Alfred Stock’s report on a new class of extremely reactive, air and water-sensitive boranes in 1912, boron chemistry or in general main group chemistry still requires a lot of basic research before it can be applied in the real world outside the laboratory environment.
I was awarded the Indo-US Postdoctoral fellowship through the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), to work at Texas A&M University, a premier institution in Texas, USA and with a world class scientist Prof. F. P. Gabbaï. It was the outcome of a successful grant proposal. All the funding was from IUSSTF which included travel expenses, research expenses, monthly stipend / salary, and health insurance. It was an absolute honour to be able to carry out my research at this institute. I worked on developing catalysts for oxidation reduction reactions which are relevant to biological respiration and fuel cell research. This whole experience not only helped to develop as a scientist but also as an individual.
Having successfully completed my term there, I moved back to India with another independent grant from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Govt of India to join Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Hyderabad as a National Postdoctoral Fellow. Apart from the research, these independent grants also taught me grant writing and project management skills. Being the principal investigator of the project, from writing a grant proposal to managing the budget and communicating the outcome of the research to the funding agency, everything was solely my responsibility. My research at TIFR was on main group multiple bonding where the focus was to understand the structure-bonding-reactivity aspects of these unusual compounds. A lot is still there to understand about this chemistry in the laboratory environment and as basic chemistry researchers, it is our responsibility to uncover the hidden properties and potential of this area of chemistry for the benefit of the wider scientific audience. This research is difficult as we don’t see an immediate real life application, though the contribution we make is invaluable and the experience is very rewarding.
During this period, I applied for the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship (NIF) to work in the United Kingdom. This fellowship is for non-UK scientists who are at an early stage of their research career and wish to conduct research in the UK. NIF is an incredibly prestigious and extremely competitive fellowship with a success rate of less than 8%. All these fellowship applications take nearly 9-12 months to announce their outcomes. So, it is very crucial to plan everything well ahead of time.
After successfully securing the Royal Society Newton International fellowship, I moved to the UK to expand my research. In line with the highly prestigious nature of the award, the Global Talent visa route is designed for people who are internationally recognized as potential leaders and enables the holder to be both adaptable and flexible during their research in the UK. The Fellowship is a gateway to developing a new and lasting India-UK relationship.
How did you get your first break?
After completing my PhD, I joined IIT Madras as an institute postdoctoral fellow. This was my first step towards obtaining independent grants/fellowships for carrying out research in different countries. These fellowships are highly competitive and to be successful, one needs to have a strong academic and research profile. I went on to do organometallic and main group chemistry at IITM and spent nearly 2.5 years before moving to the United States as a INDO-US postdoctoral fellow.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
This career path definitely comes with a lot of challenges. Research is tough but rewarding which is what motivates me. There are times when everything looks dark and at those times, I remember this quote from Rabindranath Tagore:
“I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door, or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come, no matter how dark the present is.”
With my experiences, I believe, if necessary, I can certainly make a new door. This is my greatest strength and helps me in making big decisions.
Where do you work now? Can you tell us about your current role?
Currently, I am a Royal Society Newton International Fellow at University of Sussex, United Kingdom. This is a prestigious fellowship which comes with a lot of responsibilities. My work in organometallic and boron chemistry is of direct relevance to this project. My host is an expert in molecular magnetism and this project unites two traditionally separate fields – organometallic chemistry in molecular magnetism. Here, I apply my expertise to lanthanide organometallic chemistry and how it can be applied in the design of magnetic materials called single-molecule magnets (SMMs). One of the most important tasks facing society is to deal with vast amounts of data. The development of new magnetic information storage devices is essential, and the key to success is miniaturization of the technology. This project will develop novel magnetic materials that can be used for applications in magnetic information storage materials.
What are the skills required for your role? How did you acquire them?
The synthetic work is challenging as is expected for an ambitious project of this nature. The research-related skill is basically handling air and moisture sensitive organometallic compounds and the associated characterization methods along with the interpretation of data. The work also involves a lot of hazardous and pyrophoric substances. So, proper training to handle substances and to tackle any kind of accident that may occur due to it, is important. Also, we need to maintain the COSHH (control of substances hazardous to health) form for any experiment carried out. Health and safety, and fire extinguisher training are essential parts of our daily work. Keeping updated with new developments in the field is another important skill. Apart from the synthetic and technical skills, you also need to be a good writer to communicate your work to the scientific and the wider community. Proper management of time, people and projects are very important in research along with leadership, mentoring and organizational skills.
What is a typical day like?
As a synthetic chemist, I spend most of my day in the laboratory, working on synthetic chemistry problems, designing, and synthesizing different molecules. All these involve handling a lot of instruments and equipment, which comprises a major part of the day. The other half of the day is spent in the office interpreting and compiling all the data and writing scientific reports.
What do you love about your work?
I love research and that’s what makes me love this job. Developing new materials every day, which you know will make the world a better place, itself is rewarding. This current position also gives me various opportunities to expand my avenues. I get the opportunity to collaborate with the Royal Society, the independent scientific academy of the UK, dedicated to promoting excellence in science for the benefit of humanity, from which my fellowship is funded as well. It is a privilege to be a part of this organization. I am also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of “advancing the chemical sciences”.
How does your work benefit society?
Chemistry is at the center of everything you can see, smell, touch and taste. Whether studying the chemistry of life, or developing the advanced science behind modern technology, as chemical scientists, we use our expertise to improve the health, environment, and daily lives of people. As a synthetic chemist, my work immensely contributes to society whether in the field of catalysis, molecular recognition or in developing new magnetic information storage devices, single molecule magnets (SMMs), to solve important problems that the society is facing in dealing with vast amount of data. With the development of suitable chemosensors for detection of toxic elements like fluoride and arsenic, a lot of problems related to drinking water contamination are being addressed.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
My most memorable work was what I did during my stay at IITM. The whole experience was memorable because it was new and challenging for me. I had to develop a whole new set of skills to perform air and moisture sensitive chemistry. By the end of two years, I became an expert in this field. This experience increased my confidence and my flexibility as a synthetic chemist. It also prepared me well for the future challenges.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
My advice to students is to have dreams and desires. If you have a dream and a willingness to fulfill them, I am sure you can figure out the path. Explore different opportunities available, talk to people around you, like teachers, friends, family friends etc. You never know where the best advice may come from. Also keep reading as much as possible – books, newspapers, magazines. It doesn’t matter where you start, what matters is where you want to get to.
Future Plans?
My future plan is of course to continue my research in academics/ industry and make meaningful contributions towards the advancement of science and society. Having built a career in science and scientific research, I now feel it’s time to give back to society. I want to encourage the next generation towards science and STEM careers. I am a designated STEM Ambassador in the UK. As a STEM Ambassador, we offer our time and enthusiasm to help bring STEM subjects to life and demonstrate their value in life and careers. I mentor children in the age group 13-18 through the National Online Mentoring program about their career prospects. I also tutor students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the age group 10 – 13 through the access project and visit schools to deliver career advice and STEM activities. As a STEM Ambassador, I will continue my volunteer work to inspire and mentor young children to achieve their desired careers.