Nurturing Future Faculty Leaders for Premier Institutions

At our research group, we believe that creating outstanding scientists is not enough, we must also prepare future academic leaders who can inspire, innovate, and uplift the educational ecosystem of our country and beyond. If any of our team members are interested in pursuing a career as an Assistant Professor at top-tier national and international institutes such as IISc, IITs, IISERs, and other global universities, I personally make it a priority to guide and mentor them from the early stages of their career. This mentorship goes beyond technical training. I systematically encourage and nurture qualities that are essential for becoming an independent group leader and faculty member. These include:

• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Effective Communication and Productive Collaboration
• Self-Efficacy and Professional Identity Development
• Ethical Integrity and Accountability in Research
• Adaptability and Commitment to Lifelong Learning

I closely monitor their progress to ensure that they are gradually developing a mindset suitable for academic leadership. This involves making sure they are aware of faculty application procedures, interview expectations, and institutional requirements. I actively involve them in discussions about research management, proposal writing, and leadership ethics. Additionally, I encourage them to acquire hands-on expertise in advanced scientific tools and techniques such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Atom Probe Tomography (APT), Raman Spectroscopy, and others. I place a strong emphasis on deep data analysis, encouraging them to go beyond surface-level understanding and develop strong reasoning skills from experimental evidence. I consider this mentorship not just an academic responsibility, but a national duty. India still faces a significant gap in the availability of high-quality faculty across various regions and institutions. By systematically training and empowering my students and researchers, I hope to contribute to building a stronger academic network for the country. My ultimate goal is to see them confidently leading their own research laboratories in different parts of the India and uplifting the educational and research standards of our nation. This initiative is an essential part of our group’s philosophy, and every member is welcome and encouraged to be a part of it.