Her Story
About Kajal
Kajal X serves as a lab manager and associate researcher at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY. She joined the institution in 2022 and focuses on diabetes and obesity research, examining the effects of various medications on mouse models. Prior to this role, she worked at Harvard conducting research in blood cancer. Kajal earned her master's degree in pharmacology and toxicology from Wright State University, where she also served as president of the Medical Research Club, and her bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences and research from Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University in India. Her interest in science developed early through volunteer work with her mother at an NGO that teaches and sponsors education for underprivileged children. Kajal attributes her drive to a desire to improve people's health and lives through research, and she plans to pursue a PhD or MD in the future after gaining additional hands-on experience.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kajal
01What do you attribute your success to?
I wouldn't say success for me is seeing myself on the top or something. I think at the end of the day, when I'm at peace of mind with me, that I did my best today, I did what I could have did. I tried my best... my parents are happy with me, I am peaceful, my mind is at rest, I'm in a good mental health condition right now... I want to be remembered like that, yeah, she was a nice person, she was kind, and she was helpful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Science is very deep, it sounds like an ocean. There's a lot of opportunities, a lot of career growth. You just need to set a mindset that this is the research you want to focus for your long term. And then you can always contribute in that field.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One should follow their passion, whatever their heart is saying... follow your heart, follow what your mind is saying to you... look closely, observe, and then follow what your surrounding is saying to you, and what your mentors or family is saying to you... follow your passion, and definitely you will do something amazing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
When you are in science, you definitely have to wait for 3 to 4 years to make some big impact, because science takes a lot of time... biggest challenge in science right now, definitely is funding... impact, because you have to wait at least for 2 to 3 or 3 to 4 years to make research worthwhile.
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