Student & Alumni Blog

Hello! I am Shankari, I have completed M.Sc. Biochemistry at Central University of Kerala. I did my Master's dissertation project at SURE labs. When I was in my M.Sc second year, I got very much interested in the field of Ecotoxicology of plastic and related pollutants. I approached my professor Dr. V B Sameer Kumar and told that I want to work on a project for MSc dissertation related to it. I knew my interest was very much irrelevant from the research work which was happening at Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at that moment. But Dr. Sameer didn't hesitate and instantly linked me with Dr. Rishiram Ramanan – PI of SURE Labs of Department of Environmental Science. He was interested in the project which I proposed and took me in and I was welcomed by SURE Labs without any discrimination.

It is the first lab where I started my journey of individual research. The first day I walked into the lab, what intrigued me the most is freedom of individual ideas is valued. It is one of the most important aspect to look in a lab environment and with proper guidance from the PI, and the team, the project I did went into the right direction and at present we are still working together to reach our specific goals. The lab works with you when you have plans for your project and help will always be given for those who ask for it (like in Hogwarts..! :D). SURE labs taught me many important lessons which I will follow throughout in my research career. It’s is a fast growing laboratory with great work environment, which helped me to learn valuable skills and gave me a chance to find my working style, and find my path in research.

Hi everyone! I am Akhina Mohan from Kannur. I have completed my masters in Environmental Science from Central University of Kerala. During my masters I did my final year dissertation on “A study on occurrence of microplastics in epilimnetic zones of the wetlands on coastal urban clusters of Northern Malabar”. Now I am starting a new organization called alarmo which will be focusing on empowering children to conserve and restore the local environment. During masters I wasn’t very passionate about research and academics but Sure Labs helped me in completing my dissertation on an area which we were passionate about, solid waste. I really love the way of independency and comfort in working in the lab. During my dissertation days, I will be engaged in sample collection in the field and I used to work in the late evenings but I never had any difficulty working in the lab and rather provided a very enabling working atmosphere. Even though I am bit away from R&D these days, still the learnings during those periods help me in my work too. I really wish all the very best to the researchers at Sure Labs to keep doing the good work and training young minds.