This year Cactus Communications celebrates 20 years of supporting researchers on their publication journeys. Starting with our editing service, Editage, CACTUS soon expanded to publication support, pre-submission checks, research impact creation, and other solutions for researchers’, needs beyond publication. To celebrate, we recognize researchers from across the globe who share our vision in supporting and empowering researchers in this interview series.
Please briefly introduce yourself, focusing on your research experience and achievements.
I am Suman Mundkur, Ph.D. – a Research Consultant with Academic Research Consultancy Services. I am a visiting faculty at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
I have teaching experience of 29 years as an Associate Professor in the Department of Textiles and Apparel Designing, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science (Autonomous), SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, India. This experience has helped me guide and mentor students and first-time researchers. I have been able to understand the roadblocks faced by early researchers.
I am the General Secretary of the Home Science Association of India and Hon. Trustee on the Board of Trustees, Society of Dyers and Colourists Education Charity, India. Both these positions have helped me further my contacts and research capabilities.
Being a late-career researcher and receiving the best paper awards at two International Conference presentations have been rewarding. Securing the UGC Minor Research Project Grant and UGC Travel Grant to present a research paper in Melbourne, Australia, 2012. Maximizing my research experience of 14 years has helped me gain confidence in coaching, mentoring lifelong learners (young and old) prepare research proposals, seek Ph.D. admission, face selection interviews, publish papers, etc.
Recognition from Researcher.Life as a Gold-Plus Researcher.Life Ambassador has been rewarding. Awards for Recognition of Research at 5th Faculty Branding Awards at Kolkata in 2017 and from RSRI Society as Woman Research Scientist in 2020 have been rewarding.
You have been teaching and studying at women’s universities, and your resume includes majors not found at regular Universities, such as Home Science and Family and Community Sciences. Why did you choose a women’s university from the beginning, and what subjects are included in the above two majors?
I was privileged to learn at M.S. University of Baroda and Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science, and teach at SNDT Women’s University. Home Science is a field open to all genders. All people do not sufficiently understand the name Home. Both Home Science and Family and Community Sciences are the same; the difference is in the nomenclature.
In many countries it is called Home Economics. Although categorized under Science and Technology, this field does not fall under Arts or Basic Science. There are many specializations offered, namely: Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics, Textiles and Apparel Design, Human Development: Early Childhood Care Education, Developmental Counselling, Interior Design and Resource Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Mass Communication and Extension Education, General Home Science.
Each specialization offers various professional opportunities that can emerge into successful careers.
Do women researchers in India face some challenges from mainstream society? What are these challenges? How did you meet these challenges?
Women in India are faced with multiple challenges in taking up research. While economic resources and parental support are crucial for early researchers; once in employment, the challenges are of securing the support from the employers and colleagues, family support, lack of sufficient funds and resources to carry out research, access to resources and the infrastructure needed. I was very fortunate to have the support from family and colleagues, which were blessings.
Which aspects have changed in your work and life when you transitioned from an Assistant Professor of Textiles and Apparel Designing to a Research Consultant and Coach?
The most crucial aspect that has changed is that work is 100% online. I can now cater to a diverse group of Ph.D. aspirants and research scholars from multiple disciplines such as Chemistry, Social Science, Peace Studies, Education Management, Journalism, Media studies, and home science.
Is your career as a Research Consultant and Coach going well? What are the most fundamental propositions you convey to your students regarding researching?
Yes, the research consultancy took a year to pick up with no advertising, only referrals and word-of-mouth publicity. Initially, I was alone, and now we have a team of experts from various disciplines, including statisticians, to support researchers.
The most basic propositions that I would convey are to rekindle curiosity, keep interest sustained, have faith in oneself, be open to learning, accept mistakes and suggestions from others, and not underestimate yourself.
How many papers have you published so far? Which one is the most impressive? Please recall the history of its publication.
I have published 36 papers and presented 29 on the reuse and recycling of textiles, finishes on textiles, costumes, waste management, and product development. I have been a late entrant into the research and publication area for 48 years.
My Ph.D. research on ‘Sourcing and Reuse of Post-consumer Clothing Waste for Technical Textile Products’ generated several papers. Research on the development of nonwoven from discarded clothing for technical textile products led me to four sustainable products.
One of them was on reusable packaging material for packing household gadgets and furniture while shifting home when the paper was sent for approval to my supervisor, Dr. Ela Manoj Dedhia, a Researcher. Life Ambassador. She saw the novelty and great potential. She asked me to apply for a patent immediately. Just one day before disclosure, we applied for a paper on ‘Flexible Cellulosic Nonwoven Packaging Material from Fibres Reclaimed from Clothing Waste’ at the Research Conclave- World Packaging Congress 2015 organized by Indian Institute of Packaging. The paper bagged the second prize. The abstract of India- Patent No. 3825/MUM/2015, dated November 8, 2015, was published in the journal, and the patent was awarded in March 2022 –https://ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_467_1/Part-1.pdf
Certification from the Biodiversity Association of India was granted in March 2022. The product is ready for commercialization.
What is to be impressed upon is a typical example of researchers often underestimating the value of their research. People saw value in the research more than myself!
You have published a book regarding choosing a research topic. Could you briefly introduce this book？What is its core takeaway?
‘Zeroing in on a Research Topic’ is a guide for first-time researchers in sourcing, narrowing down, and selecting a research topic. It gives early researchers the mindset and skills to be mindful of before starting.
The core takeaway from the book:
- Utilize the compilation of databases and resources for researchers, to begin with
- Follow a step-by-step process to the selection of the ‘right’ research topic
- Get over all the hurdles that come in the way of an early researcher
In your writing process for decades, what do you think is the most important thing to do when you are working on an essay or a book?
The most important thing to do is focused, free writing a pre-decided number of words without being distracted; at a specified time and daily. In writing, we often tend to stop to review the previous sentence. This breaks the chain of thoughts that the brain is tuned for. The errors can be corrected later while proofreading. Research is the next important element for an author. Understanding the viewpoint of other authors certainly helps in putting down our own. The third element is being in a constant search for new ideas.
What is your dream regarding your new career?
My dream is to be a source of motivation and inspiration for researchers. Someone they can turn to at anytime from anywhere – 24/7/365 support in research, without feeling the roadblocks in their research journey.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope and wish to mentor at least 100 Ph.D. Scholars to complete their Ph.D. program or at least seek admission to the same.
