An interview with Vishwadeep Mane

Name: Vishwadeep Mane

Current Job: PhD student

Scientific Discipline/Field: Cell biology

Country: India

Pick some letters (L,G,B,T,Q,+, etc.): G

Twitter or other social media handle: @ManeVishwadeep

What does your job involve?

I am a PhD student involved in understanding role of mechanical forces in shaping development of leaf.

How did you get to this job (education etc.)?

By intensive training through my master’s degree and qualifying entrance exams to apply for an institution in India, I secured a position at department of microbiology and cell biology at India’s premier institute i.e. Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.

Do you feel being LGBT has affected your career decisions?

Till now, I have not felt so. But the discrimination you can sense when you are out formally at your workplace is quite evident.

Have you had any reactions from colleagues about being LGBT, either good or bad?

When I came out to my friends, who are basically my PhD batchmates, they were more than happy to accept with my identity and choices. That was a real accomplishment in my life.

Did you have any role models growing up (LGBT, STEM, totally unrelated.)?

Honestly speaking I was inspired by women who fought against existing men dominated society. Late PM of the UK Mrs. Margaret Thatcher was one of my inspirations.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to make STEM an accepting place for LGBT+ community. My long term goals apart from being an academician includes advocacy from LGBT+ community through scientific platform and policymaking.

Anything else you’d like to add?

My partner has been the biggest supporter of my thoughts. He is the reason I came to know a lot about myself, my identity and shaped my thoughts to invoke the true rebel inside me. Like everytime, I want to collaborate with him and reform the LGBT+ community through scientific perspectives.