A research and teaching career in India
Always be kind to students and be ready to help

In the thick of career – Rajiv Krishna Saxena

Recently (starting Jan 22, 2025) I wrote a series of posts on the portal Linkedin.  These posts went viral and attracted more than 2 lac reads and thousands of likes.  I am archiving these posts on www.geeta-kavita.com  for all readers.  Rajiv Krishna Saxena

In the thick of career

After joining JNU as an Associate professor, I built a laboratory and started research as well as teaching MSc and PhD students. I climbed the career steps and became a Professor in 5 years and later the Dean of the School and Pro Vice Chancellor of the university in due course.  In University we have set rules to take sabbatical leave. I used that provision for going to three prominent university/institutions in USA (University of Pittsburg Medical School,  NIOSH, CDC, Morgantown, WV, and US EPA Research Triangle Park, NC) for about 2 years each. These visits resulted in new research ideas and acquisition of new research techniques. I am grateful to JNU for giving these opportunities.  Widening our thinking and extending our research in newer areas is very important and wherever possible, such opportunities must be availed. Our students also gain a lot when this happens.

Further down, at the age of 55, I had the opportunity of playing a prominent role in the establishment of the new South Asian University (SAU) that was jointly established by all eight SAARC countries. Participating in the establishment of SAU was a great experience and required active and sustained interactions with the top academicians /administrators from these eight countries.  I moved to SAU as its founding Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (FLSB). We established research laboratories and facilities rather quickly and were fortunate to recruit young and very talented faculty members.  FLSB is doing very well as a result.

For being successful, the very first requirement is that you must develop a deep understanding of  your work and the area of research. Besides that we must do our work most diligently and put in all out effort.  Another  very important ingredient is to be polite and get along well with colleagues. Further, always be kind to students and be ready to help. If you stick to these things, you would not have regrets later and success is bound to come.

There is however yet another secret ingredient that to my mind plays a very important part in the achievement of success in career and in life.  Not many are aware of this ingredient. More about it in the next write up…

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajiv-saxena-b8183ba5/recent-activity/all/

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