Adorably known by her friends as "Momo" or "dumpling", Moumita is nothing less than a star within the Gilbert Promotion of Master LIVE. An unconventional knack for absorbing the life sciences literature in her school library probably marked the beginning of her journey into STEM. Unlike most people in her high-school science class, and against the general expectation of everyone around her, she refused to chase after a medicine degree. Instead, our dumpling would make it to Mumbai, a long way away from home, to explore the world of Microbiology. The exploration continues. Three countries and five educational institutions later, Moumita is a graduated Vaccinologist, with a world of possibilities ahead of her. The 3rd episode of Humans of LIVE is delighted to present Moumita Sengupta in her own words.
A Glimpse of Me and My Life before LIVE
I grew up in a small city in India called Jamshedpur, and evidently so, did my schooling there. We did not have a lot of options, you could either choose basic Arts, Commerce or two streams of science for your final high school year – PCM (physics chemistry maths) or PCMB (physics, chemistry, maths, biology. I chose PCMB thinking it would be the best decision in life. It is funny how I had no clue what life would be like. In the meantime, I was doing coaching classes for ‘medical’, the only path for a biology student in India. I despised it, the coaching and everything and loved reading papers about life sciences from the school library. It was, and it may sound dramatic, but a very difficult day when I announced I wanted to pursue a normal BSc degree in Biology and go onto research and not study MBBS. My mom took a few months to accept it. I left coaching with zero clues on how to do a normal bachelor’s because it was not the norm.
I got into an amazing institute, that till date, is the turning point of my life- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai for Microbiology and Biochemistry. I cannot imagine better professors who made every single thing so interesting that I felt pity on people who could not attend these amazing lectures. My Immunology professor especially stood out. She made immunology a Shakespeare drama and that is exactly how I remember B cells to T cells and what receptor goes where.
My choice for LIVE was simple – Shiva, an ex-LIVE student walked into our practical class one day, told us about a course that paid us for studying Immunology with the perks of traveling across Europe. With my middle-class-high-hopes heart, I applied for it. It was the same year that COVID hit us. Things went into a standstill. Our final year exams got postponed and so did our degrees. Even after getting selected, I could not get into master LIVE, and instead, started a Master’s in India.
Knowing how beautiful the Master LIVE experience turned out for its alumni, the stubborn girl in me could not simply let it go. The following year, I tried again. I remember having my interview squeezed between two exams in my new university. Till now I really have no clue how I qualified the second time for it. This would mark the beginning of my Master LIVE journey.
Jamshedpur: The Good Old Days
Jamshedpur is, what I would describe as, ‘a small city with big dreams’. I had not imagined going abroad while living there and had never thought I was even capable of doing it. People of diverse backgrounds stayed there and children playing until 7pm was a routine for every household.
We had two big markets where we would go shopping on Sundays, the day my father had his day off. I would be very excited for a street-side ice-cream that tasted nothing like the ice-cream we know of today.
What stuck with me is how we lived there for so long and how that made everyone feel like family. I had to never question my presence in my neighbour’s house or check my pockets to go to a shop because they all knew me and my family. We trusted and respected each other. I have never found that anywhere else, roots so strong that I could literally roam the city like it was a huge family of my own.
It’s not that there weren’t downsides. Certain behavior of people would still not ring right to me. The orthodox mindset would add to the daily struggles too. But I have learnt that it has changed a lot with time.
Choosing Microbiology over Medicine: Standing against the Tide
When I said no to a potential medicine degree, my peers were as confused as my parents. Studying the PCMB track in high school automatically dictates that you prepare yourself for medical college. No one around me had ever thought of pursuing a BSc instead. Even then, my family and school mates were a lot more supportive than I would have ever asked for.
It was challenging to stand against the waves, having to figure my way out and hunting for universities and courses I liked. But I quite enjoyed it. Knowing that there was a vast wide world outside of medical that answered my small questions was amazing.
From a Quaint Neighbourhood to the Metropolis: My Journey from Jamshedpur to Mumbai
I was intrigued by the field of Microbiology, because, for me, it was about studying diseases (tell my high school version about being smart… haha…). While reviewing universities renowned for this discipline, I discovered that St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai had the best Microbiology department in the country. Admission into St. Xavier’s is based on high school scores. I happened to score well enough to get in. I succeeded to get in during the first round of admissions and then my destination was just one flight away!
The first day at the institution was very overwhelming. There were simply too many new people. They also happened to only speak English, not a habit I was used to. As the new courses rolled out, I realized Microbiology was not confined to what I thought it was. A whole wide world opened in front of me. My comfort of that day? A 10 rupee lemonade at the canteen that I can still savour in my mouth.
A Visitor in Our Classroom
The day Shiva visited our class and informed us about the Master LIVE opportunity initiated a chain of events that would later shape the course of my life.
My LIVE experience turned out to be exactly how Shiva had described it, or maybe better! I have never been prouder of a decision made in my life. I am very grateful to Shiva for that day. I would like to tell her she is the reason I got to spend two amazing years of my life with 23 most amazing colleagues and friends and experiencing life outside of the well.
Almost a "Barré-Sinoussi"
As I hinted earlier, I could not join Master LIVE the first time I was selected. This was the cohort named after the renowned French Virologist Barré-Sinoussi. Ultimately, I found myself forming a part of the LIVE cohort the following year, named after yet another legendary scientist Dame Sarah Gilbert. I think I would have loved being a Sinnousi as much as I enjoy being a Gilbert. The best part is, I received love from both.
As for the “Barré-Sinoussi”s, not only did they all support me whole-heartedly when I dropped out, but a couple of them- Shafaq and Evangelin, had stayed in contact with me and helped me the following year. Now that we are friends with so many of them, I am sure I would have loved being there as well, except for the COVID lockdowns we did not have to experience.
The JMD Alliance
In my cohort, JMD famously stands for Justin-Moumita-Divya…hahahahaha! It was an alliance based completely on the fact that we lived together since the first semester. I know now that I will always have them as well as a lot of others from Gilberts to pick me up when I fall. However, my sick day food always come from either Justin (his amazing soup) or Divya (Congee)!
Parting with the “Gilbert”s
It may sound like I am exaggerating but I literally missed everyone once our cohort split up to join our thesis hosting institutions. It felt like I was losing a family built for the past 18 months. It felt difficult to work in a lab with none of the “Gilbert”s around. I still found moments of happiness during the once-in-a-while catch-ups with others doing their internship in Belgium- Yuliia, Zhanna and Adhara.
Semester 4 Master Thesis: the Ebbs and Flows, Life Explored and Friendships Made
It was a different semester altogether. For the first 3 weeks, I could not comprehend how to spend 5 months in Antwerp without my peers. But then, slowly, I befriended other interns from the lab who are still good friends of mine. I even travelled to some cities with them, and I am grateful to not only having found them but having the courage to accept a new life as was presented and embracing the loneliness when it dawned upon me. Of course, the last two months just flew by with the writing of the thesis, starting to apply for positions but I still made sure I enjoyed every last bit of it and spending ample amount of time with friends and peers, whenever I could.
My Bedrock and the Greatest Cheerleader
My mom is my biggest cheerleader until today. She has loved this journey, has been my constant support and believed in me even when I could not. All I have for her is heartfelt gratitude, for being my 24/7 helpline and my favourite gossip girl.
An Ode to the Shapers of Perspectives
Back in St. Xavier’s College, Immunology felt poetic in Prof. Sangeetha Chavan’s classroom. Building on it during my Vaccinology masters experience, I continued to meet inspiring scientists and educators. If I must name one such person, that would be Rosybel Drury. I feel it was an honour to be able to attend two lectures by her in Lyon, both being extremely detailed, very interesting and highly passionate,that really inspired me to put my foot forward to research with the same passion as her. With her energy in heart, as a fresh graduate of JMD Erasmus+ Master LIVE (2021-23), I am hoping to either get a PhD in the field of immunology or vaccines OR work in the public health sector such that I can make an impact on the larger scale for the benefit of humanity, while earning enough to afford two desserts every week.
Rapid Cannon Ball Quiz: Moumita’s Pick
Favourite Master LIVE destination
Antwerp, Antwerp and Antwerp!
It just reminds me of Jamshedpur, a small, sweet city with access to everything. Also, who does not love being in a city filled with frituur, waffles and chocolates?
Favorite master LIVE coordinator
I personally have always adored Dolores for being everyone’s mom away from home and being so accommodating to us, helping solve our problems and being a caring personality we all very much needed in the first semester.
Peer Meter
The first word that comes to my mind when I hear the following names-
Florencia : Choosy
Idrees: Funny
Houda : Witty
Ozeir: Laughter
Adhara : Didi (big sister)
Story development and narration: joint effort of the guest and IVAA website.