Please tell us about yourself.
My name is Krittika Ralhan. I hold a Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from Banasthali University and a Ph.D. in Biological Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar. After completing my Ph.D., I went for postdoctoral research experience at Tel Aviv University, Israel, after which I began working as a Biology content quality controller (QC) at ByteDance, India. I am currently working as a Sr. Science Writer with the Encyclopedia of Experiments team at JoVE. In my free time, I like to binge-watch TV shows and cook new dishes for my twins in my free time.
When did you decide to switch from scientific research to a career in science writing?
After completing my postdoctoral stint, I realized that although I am passionate about science, what I enjoyed most was the communication aspect of it rather than being a part of active research. That is the moment when I started looking actively for opportunities in scientific writing, and that’s how JoVE happened.
How did your previous training in STEM helped you in deciding upon this career path?
I had been fortunate that during my Ph.D. and postdoctoral research, I got experience in diverse fields, and that helped me immensely in translating to scientific writing. As a part of my job, I have to work on a broad spectrum of topics, and reading and understanding them has become a lot easier because of my diverse research experience.
What were the attributes in your present job that attracted you in deciding for this role?
The freedom to read and write about diverse topics, be updated with the latest scientific techniques, and communicate them to a specific audience sector in a lucid yet engaging way are the most significant attractions I have in my present job.
What kind of preparation/courses did you undertake for/while switching?
As I was new to the scientific communication career, I took a few introductory courses that helped me strengthen my foundation in scientific writing. Also, I keep taking courses that help me hone my writing, time management, and team dynamics skillset.
What bottlenecks did you encounter while you were preparing to make the transition?
My job requires me to make the animation to support a scientific concept. The major bottleneck in transitioning from lab set up to science communication, I can say, was the visualization of scientific concepts. However, I think I got the hang of it after a few months, and now it is something that I enjoy doing.
At present, how do you keep yourself updated with the latest developments in your field?
I am lucky in that sense as the research product I work for requires me to learn and write about current scientific concepts. It helps me keep myself updated. Over the years, I have inculcated a habit of reading science blogs and magazines which help me keep pace with advances in the science field.
While making career related decisions, who did you consider as role models?
I consider my mother my role model because I have seen her balance her family life and professional life so beautifully.
And did you have any mentors while deciding to switch careers?
One of my friends from masters started her blog where she writes about the scientific contents for a generic audience. That was the first time I learned about the scientific writing field and discovered my inclination towards it.
What kind of career development can one expect with this role?
The opportunities are enormous in this field; there is a massive upthrust in these kinds of roles in the post-pandemic era where ed-tech is a booming industry. Also, it opens the doors to allied fields such as medical writing, regulatory writing, which can also be very lucrative and exciting career options.
Where do you see yourself five years down the line?
Five years down the line, I see myself handling managerial roles in a similar field.
How do you unwind after a hectic day/week at work?
I love to spend the ‘non-working time’ of my day with my twins. I also like to listen to music, cook, and laze around to unwind.
How do you balance your career and personal life?
I try to start my day early so that I am done by the evening, post that, I try to spend time with family. I try my best to spend time on the weekends with family to have quality time with my kids and husband.
Would you like to share any messages/tips for women in STEM who wish to pursue a career similar to yours?
If you wish to try out something new, go for it. It is better to try than to regret later.
If you had to summarize your career in one sentence, what would that be?
I am trying to gather knowledge and experience at every step.