Career as Science Communicator | Nishtha Bhargava | PhD

Career as Science Communicator

Welcome to Career Konnect by BioPatrika – your go-to series for inspiring career journeys in science, biotech, and beyond! Here we bring you inspiring career journeys of professionals in science and beyond. In each episode, we explore unique career paths, transitions, and insights to help you navigate your own professional journey.

Guest: Nishtha Bhargava, PhD

Host: Sarah Wettstadt

Science Communication Career Journey with Nishtha Bhargava

In this episode of Career Konnect by BioPatrika, host Sarah Wettstadt interviews Nishtha Bhargava, a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology who transitioned into science communication. Nishtha, now a Communications Manager, shares her journey from research to outreach, her passion for simplifying science, and her role in organizing workshops and student events.

Key topics covered:
✅ How Nishtha discovered her passion for science communication
✅ Her transition from PhD to a career in science outreach
✅ Day-to-day responsibilities as a Communications Manager
✅ The impact of science outreach on students and educators
✅ Tips for aspiring science communicators

🚀 If you’re interested in science communication, outreach, or alternative careers after a PhD, this conversation is packed with insights!

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GIST:
In this Career Konnect episode, Nishtha Bhargava, a ScienceCommunication, shares her journey from a PhD in Cell & Molecular Biology to a Communications Manager in science outreach. She discusses how she discovered her passion for science communication, her transition from research, and her role in organizing workshops, managing social media, and simplifying research for the public. Nishtha also shares insights on making science accessible and offers tips for aspiring science communicators.

Full interview

Sarah Wettstadt: Hello and welcome to the next Career Konnect interview. Today, I have with me Nishtha Bhargava, who has a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and is now working as a Communications Manager at a research institute, where she organizes workshops and student events for science communication. Thank you very much for being here today.

Question: Can you please tell our audience how you got interested in science communication?

Actually, I got interested through the outreach activities at my PhD host institute, which is a life sciences research organization.

Not just that, but my family and friends couldn’t really understand what we do in a PhD. Sometimes, out of frustration, I would just start explaining how everything in life is connected to science. Those moments made me realize that communicating science in a simple way is a big gap in our country.

I also realized that I could help fill this gap, both through dialogue and writing. During our PhD outreach events, we would invite school and college students to our campus, not just to show them facilities and technical aspects of science, but also to ignite their curiosity in ways beyond textbooks. That’s how I got started in science communication.

Question: What is motivating you to keep doing science communication? Why are you passionate about it?

As I mentioned, people often think of science as something separate from their daily lives, which is not true. Science is as much a part of our everyday lives as it is in books and research labs. But for people to understand it, science needs to be simplified and distilled down so they can connect with it, rather than seeing it as something distant or only for intellectuals.

In India, traditional science education is largely textbook- and test-based. But when students see what they learn in books applied in real life—through displays or demonstrations—they grasp concepts more effectively and retain them longer. That was a key motivating factor for me.

The feedback we received from both students and teachers reinforced this. They told us how much easier it was to understand science when they could see its real-world applications. That made me want to continue doing this work.

Question: Once you figured out that you wanted to do science communication, how did you get started? What were your first steps in gaining experience?

I want to acknowledge the scientists who encouraged me. When I started doing outreach, they told me that science communication was important and that I had a natural talent for it.

So, I started by writing articles—blog posts and newspaper pieces. That turned into my first paid gig as a freelance writer. Seeing my articles published in online magazines and newspapers was encouraging—it showed there was a demand for this kind of writing. Fortunately, in India, institutes started creating dedicated positions like Science Communications Officer or Manager, especially in life sciences research organizations. That’s how I transitioned into this field as my PhD was coming to an end.

Question: Now that we know how you got started, what does your role as a Communications Manager involve? What do you do on a daily basis?

I’m currently in transition between roles. Until recently, I was at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (InStem), where I managed their website content, social media, and highlighted research in a simplified way for the general audience.

I also showcased student life at InStem, targeting master’s and postgraduate students interested in research careers. In addition, I was responsible for reporting research in lay summaries, creating illustrations, and sharing this information with stakeholders.

Now, I have a similar role at Plaksha University, a private technology institution reimagining higher education. They focus on undergraduate programs like B.Tech, with courses in AI and robotics. Here, I’m highlighting research for both the general public and the scientific community, writing science news pieces, managing research-focused social media, and training faculty on communicating science to non-experts.

Question: You also mentioned organizing workshops and student events. How has that experience been for you?

During my PhD, I helped design outreach stalls for school students. At InStem, I coordinated school visits, ensuring alignment between what students studied and what they saw at the institute. For example, bioinformatics students would visit the mass spectrometry or genomics facility instead of a Drosophila lab. This helped students see how their coursework applied in real-life research, making it easier for them to understand potential career paths.

Question: How does it feel to see students react to your work?

It’s incredibly gratifying. If I could do this for free, I would! Seeing both students and parents understand science together is a rewarding experience. It reinforces that science isn’t difficult—it just needs to be explained properly.

Question: In science festivals and workshops, how do you tailor your communication for different audiences?

I adapt based on their language and background. If someone asks a question in Hindi, I switch to Hindi. If it’s a homemaker or a professional, I find relatable analogies. It’s all about ensuring that science is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or expertise.

Sarah: That’s great. Everyone processes information differently, so it’s important to adjust communication styles accordingly. Thank you for sharing your experiences, Nishtha. It’s been an insightful conversation!

That brings us to the end of this insightful conversation. Thank you, Nishtha Bhargava, for sharing your journey as Science Communicator and valuable advice with us. We hope this discussion helps our audience gain clarity and inspiration for their own careers. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to BioPatrika for more Career Konnect stories. See you in the next episode!

If you’re seeking guidance on science communicator careers and job opportunities, feel free to reach out to scikonnect@gmail.com. We’re happy to connect you with the right resources and partners to help you navigate your journey in scicomm.

🌟 About Career Konnect

Career Konnect by BioPatrika is your go-to platform for discovering diverse career pathways in science. From academia to industry, science communication to patent law – we bring inspiring stories, expert interviews, and practical resources to help students, researchers, and professionals navigate their career journeys.

Empowering the next generation of scientists – one career story at a time.

Explore more job profiles at Career Konnect Job Profiles.

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