Author: Anupma Harshal

Dr. Anupma Harshal

Short Bio

Dr. Anupma Harshal is a biochemist and science educator at ENTECH Magazine who brings twenty-three years of classroom and capacity-building experience to every article she writes. She holds a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Hindustan Lever Research Centre in collaboration with BYL Nair Hospital, NCCS and Mumbai University. As a Foldscope Mentor at Ashoka University and a Foldscope International Fellow, she travels across India knitting local communities into sustainable development practices through accessible science. She has guided twenty-eight undergraduate research projects — eleven funded by the UGC, the Ministry of Science & Technology, and private sponsors — and has conducted more than five hundred training sessions on research literacy, scientific writing, and STEM workshops for students, teachers, and school leaders.

Extended Bio

Dr. Anupma Harshal is a biochemist and science educator at ENTECH Magazine, where she translates decades of research, teaching, and community engagement into practical guidance for the next generation of scientific minds.She holds a Doctorate in Biochemistry from Hindustan Lever Research Centre in collaboration with BYL Nair Hospital, NCCS and Mumbai University. Her academic foundation in molecular biology is complemented by an equally deep commitment to pedagogy: over the past twenty-three years, she has worked with students, young professionals, teachers, and school leaders to help them navigate and excel in the professional scientific arena.Presently, Dr. Harshal serves as a Foldscope Mentor at Ashoka University and as a Foldscope International Fellow, traveling across India to connect local communities with sustainable development practices through low-cost microscopy and hands-on science education. She is highly skilled in implementing innovative teaching techniques and technologies to enhance learning experiences, and she is dedicated to providing high-quality professional development opportunities that improve teaching practices and student outcomes.Her expertise spans capacity building, science communication, and public engagement with stakeholders; she has designed and delivered customized training programs that develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, leadership, collaboration, and analytical problem-solving skills. She has conducted more than five hundred sessions on topics ranging from how to read scientific literature and write research papers to intensive STEM workshops. In addition, she has authored several coursework modules for MHRD BBA and MBA programs in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WAS), Nutrition, and Waste Management. Her research portfolio includes sixteen gene sequences, publications, blog posts, and research articles co-authored with her students and collaborators, and she has contributed to national initiatives such as the Government of India’s Manav Human Atlas Initiative and the Pune Knowledge Cluster.Her primary beats include:

• Biochemistry & Molecular Research: Gene sequencing, biochemical research methodologies, undergraduate research mentorship, and translating complex molecular science into accessible narratives.
• Science Communication & Public Engagement: Stakeholder outreach, community-based science education, and strategies for making research relevant to non-specialist audiences.
• STEM Education & Teacher Training: Innovative pedagogy, Foldscope-based learning, professional development for educators, and curriculum design that improves student outcomes.
• Capacity Building & Life Skills Development: Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, team leadership, problem-solving, research literacy, and customized training programs for diverse learner groups.

Dr. Harshal believes that scientific literacy is inseparable from community empowerment. Whether she is sequencing genes, training teachers, or facilitating a sanitation workshop in a rural classroom, her goal remains the same: to equip individuals with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to shape a more informed and sustainable society.