STORY CREDITS

Writer/Editor: Shivangi Vasudev Bhatt

Photo: Media and Communication, IIT Gandhinagar

Graduated this year, Shweta is all set to pursue her doctoral studies in Medicinal Chemistry at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo in Fall 2022.
Jim Rohn once remarked, “Fascination is one step beyond interest. Interested people want to know if it works. Fascinated people want to learn how it works.”

Fascinated by the idea of working at the interface of chemistry and biology, Shweta Chitkara opted for research in the field of medicinal chemistry, thus joining IITGN’s Master of Science programme in Chemistry in 2020. Calling herself a “Covid-batch” student, she acknowledges that despite all the challenges the pandemic brought, her journey at IITGN has been very fruitful. During her studies, she worked on projects that revolved around developing inhibitors of kinases that could act as anticancer agents.

Describing her journey at IITGN, Shweta shared, “All members of IITGN are so welcoming that this place feels like home. This institution has helped shape my life and dreams by providing ample support and opportunities. I came out as a more independent, confident, determined and strong person than I ever was. Since I want to pursue my career in research, this place has provided all the facilities and state-of-the-art lab equipment that have bolstered my laboratory skills.” She stated that after coming to the institute, she has learned to look at setbacks or failures as a learning opportunity.  

A Delhiite, she aspires to become a professor in one of the top-ranking universities or research institutes. Her hobbies include doing Mandala art, listening to music, exercising, cooking, dancing, and reading.

KNOW MORE ABOUT SHWETA
  • 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲: “The secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” (A quote from the book ‘The Alchemist’)
  • 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: Honesty
  • 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱: Go-getter
  • 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮-𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Balance is the key to it. Starting from developing a schedule, setting priorities and being consistent is all that is needed to maintain a balance between research and extra-curricular activities
  • 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗜𝗧𝗚𝗡: One of the essential skills that I have learnt at IITGN is adaptability. Life is unpredictable, and one must know how to adapt oneself according to the situation that life throws us into
  • 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲/𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻: To work on improving “emotional intelligence”