In Jena, there is a lecture series called “Noble Gespräche”, which invites distinguished scientists to speak. Most recently, Prof. Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan captivated his audience with a talk entitled “My Adventures in the Ribosome.” (https://www.beutenberg.de/veranstaltungen/noble-gespraeche).
For several years now, the invited speakers have also met with doctoral candidates and postdocs the following day for a seminar-style interview on scientific career paths. On October 24, 2025, Prof. Ramakrishnan likewise answered all questions patiently and humorously, openly acknowledging that his career also included steps that were not always successful.
His full biography can be found elsewhere; here are just a few highlights: he first studied physics in India and earned a PhD in physics in the United States before studying biology for two more years. After around 20 years of research at various U.S. institutions, he moved to Cambridge in 1999, where he still works today. In 2009, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research achievements.
His advice to the participating early-career researchers contained several key messages that may be of broader interest:
1. Developing a scientific question
Prof. Ramakrishnan emphasized the importance of working on a question that truly matters—and sticking with it. Presentations at conferences and publications should consistently revolve around this one question so that the researcher becomes associated with it, and vice versa.
2. Choosing and applying for a postdoctoral position
The right postdoc position should be productive, promotive, and relevant. Applicants should ask themselves—and others—whether the position is part of a research group that publishes frequently and in high-impact journals, and whether junior researchers in that group receive support and mentorship. Finally, one’s own topic should make a meaningful contribution to the group’s overall success. This, he noted, is also the most convincing argument in any application.
3. Grant applications
For those applying for research funding, he advised beginning with one’s core question, explaining clearly why one is the right person to pursue it, and outlining a realistic and specific plan for achieving results.
Perhaps his most valuable long-term piece of advice was that science is a marathon, not a sprint. For those who want to stay in academia for the long haul, it is essential to maintain a private life—including family and hobbies. This balance, he said, allows researchers to gain perspective and refocus their energy.
Our sincere thanks to Prof. Ramakrishnan for sharing such deep insights into an extraordinary career.