Personalized medicine, especially in the context of cancer research, has tremendous potential in helping people live healthier and longer lives !

Nikita Naik, our next pathbreaker, works as Scientist at Acasta Health Pvt Ltd (Visakhapatnam), a company that develops products focused on improving the health span of the aging population through approaches based on Regenerative Medicine and Precision Medicine.

Nikita talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about one of her memorable projects in which she developed a 3D model of an Oncolytic virus therapy for cancer.

For students, be curious and keep your mind open to new things because they might be your doorway to your career aspirations !

Nikita,  can you share your background with our young readers?

I grew up in South-Goa and completed my higher secondary education at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. It was there that I was exposed to endless possibilities and opportunities. My parents always encouraged me to focus on my studies, and in school, I was mostly focused on my grades because my goal was to secure a scholarship for further education. During my university years, I enjoyed extracurricular activities like drawing, writing poems, and debating. These activities helped me explore my interests beyond academics. In every phase of my career, I was fortunate to have good mentors who guided me along the way. 

What did you do for graduation/post graduation?

I did my Bachelor’s in Biology from the Asian University for Women. Two main reasons for choosing this path were the availability of a Genetics course and a full scholarship, including lodging. I fell in love with Genetics when I first learned about it in the eighth grade. I completed my Bachelor’s a year before my peers, which allowed me to explore more advanced opportunities early on.

For my Master’s, I studied ‘Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology’ at the University of Sussex in the UK. Initially, I had aimed for an integrated PhD program, but the applications were expensive, so I could only apply to four universities. I got into one with a partial scholarship. When I was ready to take a gap year and join the workforce, my supervisor suggested I apply to the University of Sussex for their Master’s program since they didn’t have an application fee. I was one of the four lucky girls to get admission with a full tuition fee waiver. 

What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional career as a Research Biologist?

Several mentors played a crucial role in shaping my career. My high school biology teacher, my undergraduate advisor, my master’s supervisor, and my current CEO were key influencers. My high school biology teacher sparked my interest in science, while my undergraduate advisor guided me through my initial research projects. My master’s supervisor helped me refine my skills and encouraged me to apply for opportunities that I might have otherwise overlooked.

My interest in personalized medicine, especially cancer research, was sparked by my first research position at Oncoseek Bio Pvt Ltd, where I worked on developing 3D models of various cancers. My CEO at Oncoseek Bio recognized my potential and provided invaluable mentorship, giving me opportunities to grow and contribute to the company and the scientific community.

My decision to move to regenerative medicine was influenced by my desire to help my mother, who was diagnosed with diabetes and mild arthritis, and to improve the health span of the aging population. Watching my mother age made me want to understand the process better and work on solutions to enhance the quality of life for the elderly.

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

My love for Genetics guided my educational path. My Master’s degree was a one-year intensive degree. We didn’t learn from textbooks, we learned from real-time research, mostly the ones going on in the university. It was very interesting but intense education system; our professors basically taught us their decades of research within 2-3 weeks. 

Even though I had all the resources I could ever imagine for wet lab thesis, I decided to take a risk and did a Bioinformatics thesis, even though I had no background in computers or coding. Though it was challenging, I am glad I did it. I considered where the Biotechnology field was heading towards, and took the risk. I knew there would be trade-offs, like lack of wet lab thesis reduced my chances of getting a good job right away. However, it made my skill set unique, and opened more doors later on. It was also an added advantage during my time in UAE and during COVID, as I could continue upskilling in Bioinformatics despite the restrictions.

I focused on acquiring a broad range of skills before specializing. I had to get a job in UAE, right after my Masters as I had financial obligations towards my family and I also saw it as a means to get financial stability for myself. While teaching in the UAE, I upskilled myself with a MicroMasters degree in Bioinformatics. I had decided I will stay there only for one academic year, when it was time to come back to India, it was during peak of second wave of Covid. 

My internships and jobs, like the one in Pune, helped me understand research in academic institutions. I did an internship in Symbiosis University, Investigating the genetic architecture of complex disorders using quantitative approaches and Bioinformatics.

Talking to people from both industry and academia guided my decision to join the industry. My experiences in biotech start-ups, particularly at Oncoseek Bio, were invaluable in learning and growing in this field. 

How did you get your first break?

I got my first break at Oncoseek Bio Pvt Ltd as a Research Assistant. It was a start-up in the truest sense, which meant there were many opportunities to learn and prove myself. My CEO recognized my potential, and under his guidance and mentorship, I got many opportunities to grow and contribute to the company and the scientific community. Being in a start-up also taught me to be a jack of all trades, as I had to wear many hats and learn various aspects of the business beyond my primary role. This experience was invaluable and helped me develop a diverse skill set that will be beneficial throughout my career. 

I got this job through applying for an advertised opening in LinkedIn.

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

My first major challenge after completing my Master’s was that most Indian companies did not recognize my degree since it wasn’t from an Indian university. They also didn’t consider my skills or experience. Fortunately, I had somewhat anticipated this and worked for a year and a half in the UAE as a teacher to become financially stable and help build a house for my mom.

However, I did have some bad experiences with the Indian job market, as my lack of familiarity with it was taken advantage of. I came back to India determined to make a career in research during the peak of the second wave of COVID. I worked for eight months on a volunteer basis as a Research Intern at a private university, working on a Bioinformatics project. My first paid job was as a Research Assistant for less than half of the market value as salary.

I kept learning from my mistakes and learned the lay of the land. I accepted the fact that I would be treated as a fresher with no skills until I could prove myself. After a couple of job hops, I landed another Research Assistant position in January 2022, where I was indeed a fresher in Cancer Biology. I had amazing seniors who taught me every skill required in the field of cell biology from scratch and provided me with the room to grow and contribute.

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

I work as a Scientist at Acasta Health Pvt Ltd, a start-up in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. My role involves designing and executing projects focused on healthy aging. Working in a start-up means I get to learn about various aspects of running a business, from logistics to branding, in addition to my scientific work. I love the dynamic and challenging environment of a start-up.

Acasta Health works towards developing products focused on improving health span of the aging population helping people live healthier, longer lives. It mainly delves in Regenerative Medicine and Precision Medicine.

How does your work benefit society? 

Our work aims to improve the health span of the aging population, helping people live healthier, longer lives.

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

One of my most memorable projects was developing a 3D model of an Oncolytic virus therapy for cancer at Oncoseek Bio. It was a challenging and rewarding experience that allowed me to contribute to cancer research in a meaningful way.

Your advice to students based on your experience?

Stay curious and open to learning new things. Don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths or face challenges head-on. Find mentors who can guide you and be persistent in pursuing your goals.

Future Plans?

My future plans include continuing my work in regenerative medicine, focusing on innovative solutions to improve the health span and quality of life for aging individuals. I also aim to contribute to the scientific community through research and collaboration.