Desi Academia Podcast

Desi Academia Podcast
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  • SCIENCE

A space for discussing the trials and tribulations that make research and academic life interesting. This podcast offers the perspective of early-career Desi researchers navigating their futures both in India and abroad. Episodes include our insights on critical thinking, scientific temper, new scientific developments, research funding policies, and a lot more.

  1. 4D AGO

    S11E2: Mathematics, or, the pursuit of perfection in an imperfect world, with Saurabh

    This is Desi Academia Podcast's Golden Jubilee, and we are so glad you have been with us on this journey! For this special episode, we bring on friend of the podcast Saurabh, and talk to him about his academic journey as a mathematician. He takes us through his remarkable journey as a researcher in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Israel, and Switzerland. Saurabh tells us about what it mean to “encounter infinity” through mathematics, what is it like to understand the world by asking ‘if this certainty was weakened, would the theorem still hold true’, and what it's like to ask great questions without thinking about applications. We talk about how Saurabh found his passion for teaching, his pivot to industry, his experiences with the political realities of all the places he inhabited, and how he finds joy in his work. Recommendations: Saurabh Book: Everybody Loves a Good Drought The Wire Powder Capernaum El secreto de sus ojos Argentina 1985 “AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself” “AI may upend online studies critical to social science” Vatsal What Noam Chomsky’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein says about progressive politics Megh Pleurebis Ted Lasso Humans in the Loop Murtagh

    2h 36m

  2. JAN 25

    S11E1: Pivoting from a PhD- navigating an alternative career path with Harsha

    We are joined again by Harsha, to discuss the difficult reality of life in the sciences and how to pivot when the academia and funding the system fails. Harsha shares his learnings from his experience being asked to 'master out' of his PhD program, how he reconciled with academia, found a community to do impactful work, and how he views 'science for the sake of science’. We discuss the short-term and long-term next steps, navigating the immigration system, building communities and using our knowledge for the good, and keeping the faith in science. Recommendations Megh The Wire "The War on Science'", Youtube video by Shaun "OpenAI is huge in India. Its models are steeped in caste bias", MIT Technology Review Vatsal Lancet article: Estimating the effect of annual PM2·5 exposure on mortality in India: a difference-in-differences approach - The Lancet Planetary Health Harsha Braiding Sweetgrass Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

    1h 31m

  3. JAN 1

    S10E4: Teaching sociology to STEM students: why do we need a sociologist in the room?

    In this episode of DAP, Vatsal and Megh are joined by a friend of the pod, Dr. Rituparna Patgiri. She shares her experiences teaching sociology to STEM graduates. Most importantly, she shares her teaching and mentorship philosophy. We discuss the different roles of a teacher, what it takes to teach sociology, and how to distinguish between opinions and empirical studies. Recommendations: Recommendations: Megh Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language by Adam Aleksic TV show: Boots, Netflix Rituparna TV show: The social dilemma Rituparna's co-edited book: Food, Culture and Society in India: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Perspectives The Attention Economy Arushi Bhandari Vatsal Karen Hao- interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8enXRDlWguU Superboys of Malegaon

    1h 28m

  4. 12/19/2025

    S10E3: The Second Postdoc- Vatsal's life in outside his Alma Mater

    Aditya, Megh, and Vatsal are back to discuss their major life changes in 2025. Vatsal shares his shift from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to fibrosis, the scientific and ethical training needed to work with live human doner tissue, and the challenges navigating the visa system in Canada. We also discuss the challenges of postdoc onboarding, HR in academia (or the lack thereof), 9-5 life after the PhD,  'dry lab privilege vs wet lab reality', the impact of being gym-pilled on intellectual labor, and navigating postdocs in non-English speaking countries. We end with a question- has your PhD given you the training to build a career not just outside Western Academia, but in the Global South?

    1h 32m

  5. 11/26/2025

    S10E2: "Dissertation Research is a Team Sport"- Megh's Defense Experience

    We continue this season with another friend-of-the-pod Professor Indranil Dutta, as we discuss Megh's dissertation defense and thesis writing experience, and the value of a supportive research experience. Recommendations:Megh The Rosie Project Indranil TV show: Orbital Parts Unknown Kitchen Confidential Vatsal Anthony Bordain’s ‘No Reservation’

    2h 28m

  6. 10/24/2025

    S10E1: Desi Academia Podcast founders meet: Postdoc edition!

    It's season 10 (Yes, we can't believe it either!) and the OG gang (Megh, Aditya, and Vatsal) gets together after a very long time to vent about all things academia. In this episode of Desi "postdoctoral" podcast, we catch up with Aditya and discuss how academia has been treating him over the past year or so. We talk about what's going on in our lives, things plaguing academia, and much more! Join us for this fun conversation!

    1h 55m

  7. 10/03/2025

    S9E4: What is Islamic Studies? Wrong answers only, with Manan and Sumaira

    Have you ever wondered what it's like to explain your research to an immigration and customs officer? Today, Manan and Sumaira join us to discuss their work on trans-continental poetry and periodicals respectively, what it means to study the history of Islamic communities and literary traditions in Western Academia, the different aims and focii of sociology, anthropology, literature, religious studies and Islamic studies, and what it means to impart all this knowledge and passion in college classrooms. Recommendations Sumaira Idea of the Muslim World Ottoman History Podcast When only God can see: the Muslim Faith of Political Prisoners Walaa Quisay & Asim Qureshi The Writings of Sharjeel Imam, Gyanendra Pandey, Papihah Ghosh Adul Manān Bhat  Genealogies of Religion Talal Asad The Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodson Politics of Piety,Saba Mahmood What is Islam? Importance of being Islamic, Shahab Ahmed The work of Iqbal Megh Becoming Young Men in a New India, Shannon Philip After I Was Raped: The Untold Lives of Five Survivors Urmi Bhattacheryya Vatsal Ozarc, Netflix

    2h 5m

  8. 07/27/2025 · BONUS

    Supplementary Materials 6: Fighting for Research Integrity with India Research Watch

    We have a thought-provoking discussion on how to fight for research ethics with Dr. Achal Agarwal. We discuss different kinds of unethical behaviour in academic publishing, how retractions happen, and the institutional reform needed to uphold academic standards. Learn more about the Indian Research Watch https://irw.co.in Recommendations Achal Freakonomics Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy Course: Calling B******t Vatsal Alzhimers’ paper retraction https://www.science.org/content/article/researchers-plan-retract-landmark-alzheimers-paper-containing-doctored-images Alzhimers’ paper data manupulation https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/cassava-alzheimers-trials-misconduct-scrutiny-matthew-schrag/728955/ Megh The Data Detective: Ten Easy Rules to Make Sense of Statistics, Tim Harford Movie: Krippendorf’s Tribe Movie: Serious Men

    2h 4m
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About

A space for discussing the trials and tribulations that make research and academic life interesting. This podcast offers the perspective of early-career Desi researchers navigating their futures both in India and abroad. Episodes include our insights on critical thinking, scientific temper, new scientific developments, research funding policies, and a lot more.

Information

  • Creator
    Desi Academia Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Desi Academia Podcast
  • Show Website
    Desi Academia Podcast