Latest news with #HemaThakur

Time of India

Hema Thakur: Journey from Editing to Researching in Academia

When Hema Thakur first stumbled upon the world of academic editing, it wasn't through a job board or a planned career move. It was during a casual chat with a batchmate in a language class. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Oh wow! I had no idea this job existed,' she remembers saying — and that moment sparked a journey that's now lasted over a decade. Hema began as an editor in the business and economics division, polishing manuscripts that would go on to be published in top journals. Over time, she moved into the quality and training side of things, spotting the subtle choices that shaped both client satisfaction and editorial standards. Today, she mentors new editors, drawing from her own winding path. The shift to remote work during the pandemic gave Hema new exposure. She began leading virtual sessions for researchers from institutes like the University of Columbia and Puerto Rico — a first for her. 'That was when I saw how similar our struggles were: researchers were trying to find their voice and editors trying to help shape it,' she reflects. Once travel resumed, Hema began visiting campuses and engaging with early-career researchers. 'I had this image of researchers as distant intellectuals. But in person, they seemed just like me — curious, questioning, and figuring it out,' she says. That experience inspired her to start exploring research herself. She began writing on everything from inflation and income inequality to how AI can help people with cognitive disabilities understand peer reviews. Her essays and research found homes on platforms like Editage Insights, SAGE Social Science Space, and the European Association of Science Editors. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Over time, Hema's perspective shifted. 'I started seeing the world through the eyes of academic authors, our clients. Even small daily observations felt like research questions waiting to be asked,' she says. This mindset helped her reframe her work: more experiment, less outcome-chasing. She also began drawing inspiration from unexpected places. A video about how confirmation bias affected a pilot's judgement led her to explore how similar bias affects editors. A fun trivia fact — that the roll-on deodorant was inspired by the ballpoint pen — sparked a metaphor she now uses in sessions to explain AI: 'Technology is great at spotting patterns and quickly uncovering how ideas have been applied elsewhere, but applying this to our unique situation? That's still on us. ' Now, as someone who has worked, researched, and taught in this space, Hema sees one constant running through it all: curiosity. 'Dots do connect, but only in hindsight,' she says. 'The only thing we can do is stay curious and keep asking questions.'