Mirrors: Madhulika Rai, Visiting Research Scientist
The AdaMarie Mirrors reflect back to us the many roads (often winding, never smooth) to success! Real stories of real women to see yourself reflected in. At first, you’ll see Madhulika in this mirror, but eventually, we hope you’ll see yourself.
Welcome, Madhulika Rai!
Getting to Know You:
Field of Work: Cell and developmental biology
Expertise In: Metabolism
Current Company: Indiana University
Job Title: Visiting Research Scientist
One-liner About What You’re Working On: Using fruit flies as model organism to understand the complexity of metabolic diseases
Currently geeking out over: Tumor metabolism
STEM Hero: Marie Curie
Tell us about your professional journey – how did you get where you are now?
I was privileged to attend a school that emphasized not only academics but also extracurricular activities, strengthening my overall personality. I remember my biology teacher, who extended classroom learning into practical, hands-on experience with plants, microbes, and the natural world. That definitely developed my keen interest in pursuing biology as my major for undergrad. I did my master's degree in India, studying science in a heavily engineering university. Studying in a very interdisciplinary culture, I developed a keen interest in solving biological questions from an interdisciplinary approach. During that time, I was introduced to fruit flies in a developmental biology course by an exceptional professor.
After that, I moved to Barcelona, Spain, for my PhD research and then to the US for postdoctoral research, using Drosophila as a model organism. Currently, I am in the job market, actively applying for faculty positions. My professional journey would not be possible without my mentors, friends, and family.
We’re also curious to know your personal story and upbringing. What has made you “you”?
My parents have the biggest contribution in making me "me." I have been lucky to have great teachers, friends, and surroundings, but my parents have been a constant backbone, given any situation. My mother had no support from her family in the village of India for education, space to study, and often, no electricity. Still, she managed to stay strong, thrive hard, often hide her schooling from family, somehow manage fees for writing exams, and eventually get her bachelor's. After getting married at a very early age, she moved to a city with my father, had his support for further studies, and became an excellent teacher. She is a true inspiration in my life! My parents' support, my friend's encouragement, and my mentor's guidance gave me the courage and strength to travel the world and get a higher education.
“I think it's all about management skills and continuous efforts…”
We know that real life isn’t a smooth and linear journey. What was your initiating moment that led you to your calling - can you tell us about that moment, what helped you move forward, what you learned/discovered?
I was an above-average student during my school life. I studied, danced, painted, participated in sports, went camping, and much more. Moving to the University after school, I struggled with engineering courses that were not that interesting to me. Eventually, I went into a state where I had constant stress to do better in my courses other than biology, which not only affected my life and activities outside of academics but also my mental health. I went from being a social extrovert to an introvert, sharing the least emotions, staying in my room (reading books helped), and struggling to just be surrounded by people.
At that moment, the disappointment on my parent's faces and not fulfilling my own expectations for myself was unbearable. I took that as a challenge from everyone who thought I could not excel or do much. I studied and applied continuously to move out of that space in a different city for a research position, and after a rigorous application process for a year, I moved out of India to explore the world and get higher education. From then on, I have been trying my best to reach my goals. From this and multiple instances throughout my life, especially being a woman, often getting questioned on my strengths and pushed on my weaknesses, I discovered that there are mainly two ways to come out of difficult moments/ situations-
“Either you take the path, laid out by voices, or you stand through the storms. No path is full of roses and no path is all thorns!”
You’re a working woman in a performance-driven industry. Where do you find balance?
I do not think there is a balance. I think it's all about management skills and continuous efforts. In my experience, maintaining balance at all times is imaginary. Instead, focusing on thriving through the rough patches and taking breaks when work is less demanding is attainable. Additionally, the moment you think you have a good balance, the patriarchal mindsets, surroundings, colleagues or faliures and personal life, challenge your balances and the key is to manage the situation, to make best out of what you have without getting disturbed/ distracted by the surrounding voices. Balancing to me does not strictly mean maintaining strict boundaries, schedules or rules.
For me, balance means doing the best through difficult times, continuous efforts seeking growth, and taking breaks when life offers moments to catch your breath. Moreover, comparing my current performance to my previous one helps me way more than comparing myself to others. It is understandable to be affected by the competition in a performance-driven work culture. But, at the end of the day, till I am putting continuous efforts towards my growth, I am performing well! It gets a little easier to live, when we learn to listen to the voices, helping us to lead us in the direction of progress, and avoid the noises.
If you were a scientific process or phenomenon, what would you be?
Moon (I like the light in the darkness).
