This scientist and work from home mother aims to make science fun and simple

Securing a fully-funded PhD position in Life Sciences from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, was not a challenge for the studious Dr Shruti Sharma. Armed with the PhD and a Post-doctorate fellowship in cancer biology, Shruti returned to India and over time, found a job as a Research Associate, where she discovered her passion for teaching and discussing science with her students.
 
However, as is the case with many working women, after her baby was born, Shruti took a career break. “My husband travels a lot because of work and one of us had to take this decision. I decided to become a stay-at-home mom for some time,” she explains. But, life with a new-born was not easy. “I felt like a failure in my first year as a mother. Since I had no help at home and had to handle my baby alone, I did not have a routine. Some nights were extremely hard and I would wake up with a bad headache.”
 
Moreover, being a professionally qualified person, frustration crept in as Shruti was unable to work. That was when she came across FlexiBees on Facebook. She signed up immediately and after a screening process, was selected for a project where she was assigned to write science activity guides for school-going kids to explain complex scientific principles in simple terms.
“FlexiBees was just the thing I wanted at that stage of my life. They identified my skills, interest and passion in Science and matched me with the perfect project where these could be used. The exposure and training I received for this project honed my skill set and sharpened my teaching ability. I learnt how to explain science in simple terms to students at school.” Further, Shruti’s academic training and international exposure also equipped her with the knowledge and ability to simplify science for any age group.
 
FlexiBees identified my skills, interest and passion in Science and matched me with the perfect project where these could be used.
 
Shruti credits FlexiBees for boosting her confidence levels. “FlexiBees has been instrumental in helping me make a professional comeback and I have asked several friends to sign up with FlexiBees,” she says. It has also helped Shruti organize her work day and personal time with her child, better. “FlexiBees was the beginning of a new phase of my life. Being in a flexi-job, I was never under pressure of daily submission or deadlines. It has also allowed me to spend Sundays with the family.,” she quips.
 
The client was impressed with the quality of the material that was written by the trained scientist and, hence, renewed Shruti’s contract for an additional six months.
 
When Shruti took up the project through FlexiBees in December 2017, it was for a period of one year. The client was impressed with the quality of the material that was written by the trained scientist and, hence, renewed Shruti’s contract for an additional six months. “I was looking for an opportunity to showcase my skills and dedication to science post-motherhood, and this project was the perfect platform. I am pretty sure that the students who learn from those activity guides will benefit because I tried my best to explain complicated stuff in very simple and relatable terminology.
 
Shruti has also kept her skill sets and knowledge updated.
 
“Thanks to the digital world, there is no problem in getting access to relevant information. I read a lot in my free time, not only fiction, but also academic e-books in my subject. Besides, through some of my writing assignments, I have access to the latest e-books in medicine and life-sciences.
 
Going forward, Shruti sees herself growing with FlexiBees and taking up many such projects where she can use her academic knowledge and passion in Science to help others. “Since I have developed so much interest in teaching, I would like to look for teaching or academic roles. I believe that all mothers should have a professional identity, so that their children understand that the role of a woman is not limited to the kitchen and household, and that there are many more aspects to them. I want to set a positive example in front of my son so that he grows up to respect and support women who manage their professional life along with their personal life,” she surmises.
 
“All mothers should have a professional identity, so that their children understand that the role of a woman is not limited to the kitchen and household, and that there are many more aspects to them”
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