Venkatavamsikrishna Kovelakuntla, India

Curriculum vitae

Venkatavamsikrishna finished his Master of Science in Biology and his Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology and minors in Physics and Environmental Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. His research interests are in the field of Microbial Ecology and Evolution and he is now pursuing his doctoral studies.

Reflection

In the summer of 2016, I got the opportunity to work at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria in the research group of Calin Guet. I worked on the trade-offs in carrying multiple Restriction-Modification systems. As I am interested in pursuing my doctoral studies in the field of Microbial evolution and ecology, this experience provided me with exposure to current trends in the field and to independent working in a research environment. Working in an international group and living with students from various countries gave me a first-hand opportunity to learn about their respective cultures. Vienna, the cultural capital of Austria, had a profound influence on me, owing to my interests in history, art, cultures, philosophy etc. I spent a significant amount of my leisure time in art galleries and museums learning about various things. Moreover, it was a great experience to explore the interesting avenues of current research. My stay in Vienna also trained me to work independently in a research environment. In addition, these experiences made me realise the importance of other spheres in life apart from a career. I realised that art, culture and philosophy are, apart from science, very important to me. So, I am attempting to maintain this balance.