Yathish Achar

A PhD tests patience more than intelligence, offering neither comfort nor clarity along the way. But in the slow grind of failed experiments and small victories, the journey shapes someone who can carry uncertainty without breaking. In the end, what endures through the process matters far more than the destination - that is the quiet transformation a PhD leaves behind. Let me tell you a story I heard a long time ago. Up in the mountains there was a monk, famous for teaching meditation and...

I began writing this article after hearing the news of James D. Watson’s death on November 6th, 2025, which made me revisit the story that first introduced many of us to scientific discovery. This article is not about his unusual journey or his bold and controversial personality. Instead, it is about why The Double Helix remains one of the most memorable and dramatic accounts in biology. Despite its flaws, the book changed how the world views science- showing it as emotional, competitive,...

Yet another round of PhD selection completed. Same questions, alike answers and similar let downs, revealing a deeper issue in how research aspirations are shaped. The real issue runs deeper, and honestly, there are no easy fixes. "I want to do a PhD in Molecular Biology" That was my quick reply to a senior researcher who had just asked about my future research interests. He had recently returned from a successful postdoc stint in the US and listened to my response with a wry smile. Then he...