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Sharanya Sarkar, a doctoral student in molecular and cellular biology, is originally from Kolkata, India. She earned her undergraduate degree in Microbiology from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. Sarkar won the Diversity Award in 2024 from the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
My hometown is Kolkata, India. It is also popularly known as the City of Joy and is known for its rich cultural heritage.
I earned my undergraduate degree in Microbiology from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. It is one of the top 10 best undergrad institutions in India for studying basic sciences.
My research primarily focuses on developing novel therapeutic approaches for Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a genetic disease characterized by chronic respiratory infections and inflammation. Specifically, I'm exploring the potential of a microRNA- based therapy to mitigate these infections and inflammation.
My research holds significant promise for clinical translation. We have filed for a provisional patent for the microRNA we are utilizing. While current modulators administered to individuals with CF improve clinical outcomes, they do not effectively address chronic airway infections. The therapy we are developing represents a novel approach, offering both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects without potential side effects.
My Ph.D. advisor is Dr. Bruce A. Stanton, a long-standing leader in the field of CF. In 2019, he was honored with the Unsung Hero Award by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for his significant contributions.
I landed in the US on a chilly December night, with over 140 pounds of luggage and after a grueling 40-hour trek through the pandemic chaos. With no friends around and public transport, getting to my apartment felt like an impossible mission.
But then, like a guardian angel, Parth Sabharwal, a senior grad student, came to my rescue. Even though it was late, he volunteered to fetch my apartment keys from the college office and gave me a lift home.
Then came the quarantine blues with 7 days locked up before I could even think about getting groceries. That's when Parth went above and beyond, braving the pandemic to grab me enough food to last the week.
Parth's kindness left a lasting impression on me. Inspired by his selflessness, I jumped at the chance to join the International Grad Student Mentoring Program. I wanted to pay it forward and spread a little kindness of my own, just like Parth did for me.
The most rewarding aspect of this journey was the opportunity to connect with over 320 international students. Their diverse perspectives have opened my eyes to new possibilities. As someone who thrives on human connection, each encounter has been a precious and gentle reminder of the resilience and beauty of the human spirit. It has also taught me that despite our differences, at our core, we are all the same. This journey has shown me that there is indeed joy in diversity.
For me, winning the Diversity Award is a symbol of the journey we've all been on, embracing our unique shapes and sizes and realizing that together, we make something beautiful - just like a completed puzzle. Personally, this award is a reminder that in a place where we don't just tolerate our differences but truly celebrate them, do amazing things happen.
Dartmouth's renowned reputation, coupled with its emphasis on a close-knit community, an interdisciplinary collaboration among advisors, and small class sizes, drew me in. The prospect of forming strong faculty-student bonds and engaging in collaborative research is precisely what I sought in my academic journey.
I'm a trained Indian Classical vocalist, and in my leisure time, I enjoy singing or playing my guitar. I also love writing reviews about coffee from different places, cooking, and watching thrillers.
In the non-winter months, my favorite activity in the Upper Valley is hiking, particularly on trails near lakes or other bodies of water. However, during winter, my favorite spot shifts to the Tower room in the library. There, I spend a few hours with a hot matcha latte from the Novack Cafe.