Kilangsungla Yanger
Dimapur, June 8 (MExN): Kilangsungla Yanger, a PHD candidate at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine on Cell & Molecular Biology (Cancer Biology Focus) from Nagaland was recently on the front cover in the cover article of Genes and Development. Her article titled “Robust cellular reprogramming occurs spontaneously during liver regeneration” received accolades and positive reviews. Genes & Development is a scientific journal covering molecular biology, molecular genetics, cell biology, and development.
Daughter of Imtiwati and Toshimenla J. Yanger, Kilang has numerous research experiences. A science scholar, in 2012 she co-authored an article titled “Notch signaling is activated in human hepatocellurlar carcinoma and induces tumor formation in mice”, and another one titled “Facultative stem cells in liver and pancreas: fact and fancy” in 2011. She also holds several awards and honors. In May 2012, she received the president Guttman leadership award, and traveled to Germany in August 2012 for the International Travel award to present her research at the European Molecular Biology laboratory. She also received the Biomedical Graduate research travel award to present her research at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases conference in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA in September 2011.
Kilang received her High School Diploma from the Woodstock International School, Mussoorie in 2002 after which she graduated with cum laude honors at the Carleton College, Northfield, MN, USA from 2002-2006 majoring in Biology. During her study, she also received many awards and was also rewarded with several fellowships. She then worked at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark International Studies) at Copenhagen, Denmark from 2005 and after that as Research Associate from 2006-2008 at the Cornell University (Weill Medical College) at New York, USA.
Kilang will be completing her PHD in December 2013.
Currently home in Dimapur, Kilang held an informal interaction with media personnel. On receiving massive reviews for her published article, Kilang shared, “It’s one thing to have your work published in a top science journal but to hear people cite your work is a big deal. It means other people are validating your work and I’m very excited about it,” said the young scientist, who is just 28 years old.
Leaving home and staying away from her parents since she was nine years old, Kilang expressed immense gratitude to her parents for sacrificing ‘so much’ for her. Stating that she was influenced by a number of factors in choosing medicine as a career, Kilang accounted the impression created on her when she was very young by her hometown in Nagaland. Kilang recounts how her father would teach her brother and her about nature. “My interest might have stemmed from there” she said. Kilang also felt that her father falling ill pushed her more into learning more about medicine. Always an inquisitive child, Kilang shared that Science also ties in well with her nature. Besides, Kilang said she always wanted to make a positive impact and give back to the society.
Passionate about Science, Kilang feels that one needs not only an intellectual capacity but an emotional capacity as well, which she said she inherited from her parents. On her future plans, Kilang said, “To be honest I never thought I would be in a PHD programme. I take one day at a time. But I have a clear idea now on what I want to do”.
Besides her first love for science, Kilang said, “As a true blooded Naga, music is something I love”. When asked on whether it’s a possibility to come back home and work, Kilang said, “Hopefully I’ll look to a possibility of working in India in the future. To come home and work, I haven’t ruled it out” she smiled and said. She also adds, “I’m just at the cusp of starting something. I’m trying to arm myself with all the knowledge I can learn, so that when time comes I’m ready”.
For now, Kilang hopes to be an inspiration to younger students who are pondering on whether or not to take up science as a career. She shares, “You don’t have to go to the best schools to get to that level. Nowadays with internet everything is possible. So young people make good use of the internet to see what’s out there”. Take it from her. Hard working, dedicated, passionate about the study of science, and with a firm belief in herself, Kilangsungla Yanger inspires us all.
