Vidita Vaidya Profile Banner
Vidita Vaidya Profile
Vidita Vaidya

@ViditaVaidya

13,734
Followers
2,937
Following
653
Media
6,815
Statuses

Mother to a teen, Neuroscientist at TIFR, Women in STEM, Scientific outreach enthusiast

Mumbai, India
Joined October 2015
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Pinned Tweet
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
6 years
Community of #WomenInSTEM post a picture of when you were a girl to celebrate the start of your life-long love affair with science #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience - This is one of my favourites with my Mum a physician-scientist
Tweet media one
12
61
624
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
When you interview young applicants be the interviewer that you hope your own child would get. Putting the applicant at ease is something interview committees must be trained for.
18
124
764
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Word!
Tweet media one
6
115
535
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Sunday cleaning led to this discovery of my 11th class journal that my folks had preserved. Taken back to an era of biology classes that involved hours of drawing - I like to sketch so it was therapeutic, but it probably put off lots of people from the Life sciences.
Tweet media one
42
15
501
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Some suggestions as you go about phrasing an email to request a summer/winter internship - 1. Address them as Dr. So & So - avoid the Sir/Maam suffix. 2. Give them a succinct description of your academic journey so far - state possible research experiences thus far, if any.
3
88
443
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
#WomenInMedicine Rama Vaidya, MD, PhD - Reproductive endocrinologist, Founder President of the Indian Menopause Society, also a spectacular mom/grandmom and all round incredible human being.
Tweet media one
6
25
388
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
It would help immensely if administrators at scientific institutions were told their job is to facilitate scientific research & not add administrative roadblocks. This may seem absurdly obvious, but administrators who seek to solve your challenges are an endangered,rare species.
13
68
371
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Congratulations to @GKangInd and her team. Her election to @theNAMedicine recognizes outstanding contributions to improve child health through her research in enteric diseases and her balanced communication on vaccine science and vaccination policy
Tweet media one
10
43
366
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
There is no substitute for building an effective public healthcare system. Period. And while this peak may indeed pass as they do with time (and huge human loss), we cannot forget that this has to be a priority for our country.
8
62
312
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Cyclone outside and rain in the lab. Story of running a lab in a hut by the Arabian Sea. Also the story of incredible graduate students who are holding it down right now for the group.
25
13
297
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
A much beloved occasion in our home always. Ganpati Bappa Morya.
Tweet media one
4
6
278
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Spot on...
Tweet media one
10
35
270
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
All opinions are not equal. For a country of 1.2 billion people we have failed to train a sufficiently large cadre of public health experts and epidemiologists. On the fly it is difficult to fix this - it needs sustained focus on public health as a priority of governance.
10
56
259
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
8 months
In case someone needed to hear this - remember to tell your people this often, remind them they matter and that they are seen and heard. All it takes is one kind act, one kind word - it changes so much.
Tweet media one
6
32
262
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Congratulations @PraachiTiwari on being awarded the Sun Pharma Science Scholar Award, 2020. Wonderful news and very proud of you.
Tweet media one
41
9
258
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
I am so glad @arshukla decided to write about this. I will never forget a grant review when a senior faculty asked me why I had "foreign collaborators" and if they gave me the grant would I still continue to collaborate.
17
53
257
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Nothing quite as spectacular as the Sahyadri mountains in the rains
Tweet media one
5
2
244
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Happy Vishu - may humanity and sanity prevail in the year that lies ahead 🙏
Tweet media one
2
12
237
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Twenty years of the privilege of working with some amazing people
Tweet media one
29
13
240
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Tweet media one
4
8
235
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Campus views @TIFRScience
Tweet media one
6
3
227
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
The lab - with pretty much everyone there barring a few exceptions. ♥️♥️
Tweet media one
4
2
225
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Remarkable isn't it that togetherness and support gives you the ability to carry loads far greater than you would ever have imagined.
Tweet media one
4
20
226
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Nothing like the arrival of the first rains in Mumbai - with the light and sound show - cannot capture the smell of the earth though - #MumbaiRains
4
8
226
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Self-driven graduate students - getting the advisor out of the way :)
@TansuYegen
Tansu Yegen
2 years
Some people need to be pushed and some people push themselves😂
1K
38K
208K
4
16
222
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
My research group works on the effects of early adversity and perturbed nurture. This is one of my favourite Beatrix Potter sketches and I was super thrilled when @Mahek_3012 agreed to do a commissioned sketch of the same. Thank you Mahek, it is absolutely lovely.
Tweet media one
7
11
220
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Twitter debate got me thinking on how we can mitigate the steep power differentials in academia - in particular those experienced by graduate students. (1) Ensure choice - let graduate students have the chance to choose their advisor/research group. Mandate rotations.
9
46
220
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Really happy to have our study "Chronic postnatal chemogenetic activation of forebrain excitatory neurons evokes persistent changes in mood behavior" accepted in Elife - the review process and the suggestions of the reviewers are deeply appreciated @SthitaPati
41
20
218
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
"A picture is a poem without words"- Horace
Tweet media one
4
2
217
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
“Purkinje neuron” tree on the @TIFRScience campus
Tweet media one
3
4
212
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
“People often ask me what is the most effective technique for transforming their life. It is a little embarrassing that after years and years of research and experimentation, I have to say that the best answer is— just be a little kinder.” Aldous Huxley
6
38
209
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
The amazing people I am so lucky to work with .. it is nice to have the lab almost all back here on campus now ..
Tweet media one
5
3
205
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
"Mentoring is not something you do just for a couple of years while someone is working with you; the position of mentor is a lifetime appointment" - Robert Lefkowitz
8
43
206
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Socially distanced, UTBT (under the banyan tree) lab meeting with delicious "brain" cupcakes to bring in 2021 and to welcome our newest lab member to the team
Tweet media one
5
5
198
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
My heart breaks for our people and our country. So many people in crisis right now and the sheer helplessness of not being able to do anything is gut wrenching
13
8
198
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
8 months
There is something rather special about having the opportunity to present our work on serotonin, psychedelics and mitochondria at the Centre for Psychedelics and Consciousness Research @JHPsychedelics - thank you for hosting me David @ExistWell and Praachi @PraachiTiwari
Tweet media one
3
7
196
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
It is remarkable how much toxic and hostile behaviour humans are capable of, and yet we also know our species can embody grace, compassion, empathy and kindness as well. Be kind, you have no idea what battle someone else may be coping with.
Tweet media one
1
25
186
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 months
We are looking to recruit a postdoctoral fellow for a fully-funded position in the Hutment Lab @TIFRScience - experience in neuroscience would be an asset, but is not an absolute requirement. RTs to spread the word would be much appreciated.
Tweet media one
2
137
188
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Good mantra to follow - it would serve all of us well if we just remembered this and watched ourselves in our interactions with others.
Tweet media one
3
28
185
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Spot on.
Tweet media one
4
27
181
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
No matter how often heard or repeated, this is powerful every single time. Happy Independence Day.
Tweet media one
2
21
184
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
6 years
@RobinMazumder 1. Celebrate small successes. This keeps you going when the light looks very far down the tunnel. 2. Don't allow yourself to become anyone's doormat or punching bag- nothing not even a thesis is worth that.
1
26
176
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
This absolutely made my day, my Mum has always been my role model and inspiration. Thank you for profiling her wonderful contributions to clinical medicine and research.
@labhopping
TheLifeofScience.com
3 years
@Alexis_Verger @kscsteofficial @IITKanpur @iitbombay @TIFRScience @azimpremjiuniv @RGCB_Trivandrum @scienceout_ind @iiserkol @SciResMatters @csir_ncl @NCRA_Outreach #365IndianWomxnInSTEM Rama Vaidya is a researcher-clinician at Kasturba Health Society. Among her many other contributions, she is a founding member of a multidisciplinary research, treatment, and advocacy collaboration Abhiyaan PCOS. Do read this piece:
Tweet media one
Tweet media two
1
10
66
10
10
179
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Surprise Xmas gifts that are the very best ♥️
Tweet media one
3
1
179
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
So proud of @PraachiTiwari and the fact that the @SunPharma_Live award recognises the importance of negative results which prove the null hypothesis. We need to recognise that negative results matter and that they have their vital place in Science.
Tweet media one
11
12
179
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Honoured to receive the Shree PVF philanthropic foundation support, along with @UllasKolthur , for our collaborative researchproject. Dr Nageshwara and Dr Sudha Rao's philanthropic work is inspirational. Really hope this opens a new chapter for philanthropy to scientific research.
Tweet media one
18
17
176
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Connection matters. Pick up the phone, check on your people, reach out to neighbours, friends, family. We may be unable to be physically present in each others lives due to the pandemic, but there are ways to let people know you care and that they matter. Connection is important.
1
13
173
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
We need the poets, the writers, the philosophers, the dreamers, the musicians, the artists. We need so so many more of those who believe and can craft a different world ♥️
Tweet media one
3
19
174
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi- the making of an atta Ganpati every year to be surrendered at the end of the festival is a tradition close to our hearts. Bappa is home again.
Tweet media one
4
4
175
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
9 months
For all the children in India who are watching Chandrayaan-3 land at the south pole of the moon - what a wonderful message, to keep striving and never lose hope. Congratulations @isro you have inspired an entire generation of Indians to hold steady and persevere.
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
@isro 4 year old Ayan Ranade then followed the news about what was going on with the Chandrayaan-2 mission and had a lot of questions for his folks. When he heard that Vikram lander was lost he told his mom "why should they lose hope, I have not lost hope nor should they!"
Tweet media one
1
3
24
2
27
169
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
A library in Rajkot named after my grandfather Babubhai Vaidya, freedom fighter, writer and story-teller par excellence. My earliest memories are tucked in by his side listening to stories about India's freedom struggle. He has always been my inspiration.
Tweet media one
2
6
166
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
If you are not willing to give committed support to a young faculty member/postdoc/grad student, you may want to rethink how critical you have earned the right to be. First invest in people so you earn the right to provide constructive criticism.
6
17
163
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
Two of my mentees shared exciting news, one entering consulting and one business school. I am so proud of them both. Celebrate all the successes that come your mentees way, not just the linear trajectory in science we have been programmed into believing is the only path ahead.
2
17
164
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
What is your "comfort food" that evokes a feeling of being looked after and cared for by loved ones? There are several runner ups but the number one for me would be "Bajra no rotlo, ghee and gol".
Tweet media one
26
2
161
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Please don’t do this. This is simply awful to lay this on people who are already going through a lot. Check your privilege and please think before you write this to anyone.
@hima_lakkaraju
𝙷𝚒𝚖𝚊 𝙻𝚊𝚔𝚔𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚓𝚞
3 years
As I struggled to deal with the impact of COVID on my family members in India, I got delayed by a day for submitting my reviews for a conference & I got a message from a senior reviewer with the blurb below. My humble request to everyone - pls don't say this to anyone ever! [1/n]
Tweet media one
1K
6K
39K
6
19
158
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Would be nice to not always be told to make lemonade! Some things are not fixable you only have to learn to live with them. If you haven't lived that experience perhaps avoid asking someone who has, to make lemonade from what has come their way - toxic positivity is a real thing
Tweet media one
2
19
156
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Every now and then we need to remind ourselves that toxic positivity is also a thing, and it can be hurtful because it undermines the lived experience of another.
Tweet media one
2
41
156
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
A story that touched my heart and tells me what good science outreach can and should do. A friend's 4 year old son is a big fan of space science and @isro He made the rocket he hung at his window inspired by Chandrayaan.
Tweet media one
6
36
153
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Congratulations @UllasKolthur on being elected Fellow of the Indian Academy of Sciences.
30
0
143
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Still a way to walk out of this without further damage - acknowledge, apologize and change the name @VigyanPrasar @pallavabagla - the longer one holds on to an untenable position the more damage you do to how you are perceived by the very people you seek to represent #Scicomm
4
49
141
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Guess who showed up to help with behavior experiments. My lab upping their meme game @PraachiTiwari @darshanakapri
Tweet media one
2
7
132
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Inspired by Roop Mallik @BsbeIitb we decided to expand our lab website to include a description of our work in Indian languages. It is still very much WIP and we want to expand this much further- Thanks @AmartyaPradhan for getting this going.
9
18
134
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
1 year
#InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience Equity in STEM is vital to reimagine the manner in which STEM disciplines can contribute to transforming our world.
Tweet media one
0
22
130
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Wouldn't hurt to consider institutional training to check ones own privilege, it shows up in overt, covert and often truly hostile ways in academia.
Tweet media one
2
14
133
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
What do you call a neuron that packages glutamate and GABA into the same vesicles and co-releases - GLABAergic???? Cool paper
11
21
132
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Happy New Year
Tweet media one
8
1
132
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Ron Duman was the rarest of mentors and I consider myself priviliged to have been his grad student. His mentoring style was characterized by a magnanimity and kindness that endeared him greatly to his mentees. He leaves behind a rich scientific legacy and we will miss him a lot.
Tweet media one
2
7
131
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Done it again @Pvsindhu1 - you do our tricolour proud. The grit was on full display today.
Tweet media one
1
3
131
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
A word well worth adding to one's vocabulary - coddiwomple!!
Tweet media one
6
5
130
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
In a surreal year, what stands out is the sheer power of kindness and compassion. In all the hubris of human arrogance, it is in our moments of kindness, empathy, compassion and grace that we find our best version. Here is to our world embracing a generosity of spirit in 2021.
Tweet media one
10
7
128
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Morning walks @TIFRScience
Tweet media one
1
0
129
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
To all the teachers who opened up anything can happen possibilities - Happy Teachers Day.
Tweet media one
1
10
128
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
"Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything, That's how the light gets in" - Leonard Cohen One of my favourite songs and it seems particularly fitting for this Diwali. Best wishes for Diwali.
Tweet media one
1
5
128
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
The purpose of administrative procedures is that they are meant to ease the process of getting things done. Somehow this is not actually that apparent.
9
12
128
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
7 years
A Neuroscientist, clinical pharmacologist and reproductive endocrinologist - me and my parents in their lab. #actuallivingscientist
Tweet media one
0
26
124
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Book club kickstarting tomorrow - "Behave" - Robert Sapolsky - relevant time to be discussing human behavior at its worst and best.
Tweet media one
11
10
127
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
A mantra worth adopting. How easy it is to reach a snap judgement, to conclude you know everything to take a call and have a view, without the time taken to genuinely empathize. Stop, think before you pass a snap judgement.
Tweet media one
6
14
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Happy that eNeuro has a home for negative results - @PraachiTiwari tested whether postnatally perturbing forebrain Gi signaling in excitatory neurons alters mood behavior - looks like it doesn't. A ton of work with many controls. Happy to see this out @SfNJournals @eNeuroEiC
@PraachiTiwari
Praachi Tiwari
2 years
📢My first first author from my PhD is out. Yayee! Also, my first lesson that a failed hypothesis is an important finding too. Grateful to my advisor @ViditaVaidya and the team @darshanakapri @AmartyaPradhan @Angarika13 @pRATik12rc
35
19
208
9
17
126
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
A year ago with the lab gang.
Tweet media one
5
0
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
These experiences leave long lasting scars when they go badly. There is a reason many review committees still haven’t learned how to ask probing questions while remaining respectful. Being critical whilst always respecting another’s dignity requires mindfulness.
3
3
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
6 years
Monsoon Neurogroup meeting in Khandala. Meetings with no powerpoint, only a whiteboard and open sharing of all ideas, hypotheses and experiments in their rawest form are special.
Tweet media one
7
5
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
Tweet media one
1
2
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Congratulations to Roop Mallik @BsbeIitb
@EMBO
EMBO
3 years
EMBO is pleased to announce the 64 new #EMBO Members and Associate Members. Congratulations and welcome! Find out more at:
27
96
558
9
5
125
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
This will go down in cricketing history as one of the absolute best - with the injuries, the challenges, this team showed such heart, grit and determination. They really do the entire country and the tricolour proud - #INDvAUS
@FoxCricket
Fox Cricket
3 years
Incredible moment for India as they lift the trophy 🏆 #AUSvIND >>>
66
3K
12K
4
8
120
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Remember these are young minds and you are privileged to interview the next generation of scientists. If not in your institute they will excel elsewhere.
2
6
123
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
For the interviewers- these young students are showing up after two horrendous pandemic years, you have no clue what they have lived through. Just make sure that you keep that in mind as you go through your interview.
4
5
122
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
For all those young people going through this experience, a short interview is no reflection of your capability. Please always remember that and dont let anyone make you feel not good enough. All the very best to young students entering the interview playing field for grad school
2
7
121
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
"One thing about tables - they always turn" - not sure who said that but this exemplifies it !!!
@neurosocialself
neuro.social.self
4 years
8
97
250
9
11
122
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
This is amazing - don't think any movie chase scene can come even close. The accompanying music score is pretty impressive also :)
@ValaAfshar
Vala Afshar
3 years
Before you quit the impossible, watch the greatest chase scene of all time
20
272
876
4
8
119
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
Next time anyone in my lab complains about a challenging protocol - I am going to tell them about this study 😜
@NeuroPolarbear
Neuro Polarbear
2 years
So proud of ⁦ @SRHeilbronner ! This was a hard study. It’s very tricky to spray oxytocin in ⁩a lions nose.
6
18
116
5
6
120
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
1 year
Best wishes for the holiday season and for the New Year from the Hutment Lab.
Tweet media one
4
10
121
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
1 year
Punching down is always a problem - Terry Pratchett says it best - usually always has said it best :)
Tweet media one
0
14
121
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
Collaborations fuel cutting-edge science. Don't send a message out to your trainees that collaborative science could result in their contributions being second-guessed. We all do better by recognizing the importance of team science!
4
8
121
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
3 years
When science funding bodies raise key topics of gender equity, diversity and inclusion for discussion, it is critical that there be attention to detail and consideration of the voices being given a platform. Otherwise it can badly backfire and alienate URMs. @PrinSciAdvGoI
Tweet media one
4
39
116
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
4 years
Serotonin and Mitochondria - Relevance to psychopathology
14
22
118
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
5 years
Super proud of @SashainaEF for her work, just accepted in PNAS, demonstrating the mitochondrial effects of 5-HT, and the 5-HT2A receptor, Work in collab between our lab, @UllasKolthur @TIFRScience and my Dad. This paper will hold a special place for many reasons.
12
7
116
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
"I truly, truly try to be better tomorrow than I was today. And I mean better as simply a better human being, not a better actor, not a better anything, but just a better human being. That will please me well. And, when I die I will not be afraid of having lived."- Sidney Poitier
Tweet media one
2
13
115
@ViditaVaidya
Vidita Vaidya
2 years
This plant is the definition of both vulnerability and resilience - it was collapsing yesterday and this morning it is on a route to recovery. My attempts at acquiring a green thumb are being truly challenged by this nerve plant - glad I do better with real nerves and neurons 😳
Tweet media one
6
1
115