How to thrive in science when you move abroad
From Working Scientist by Nature Careers
April 9, 2026 · 36 min
About this episode
Sonali Majumdar discusses the challenges and strategies for international scientists thriving abroad.
Among the barriers faced by researchers who move abroad to develop their careers is a so-called “hidden curriculum,” says Sonali Majumdar, whose book, Thriving as an International Scientist , was published last year. Navigating these unwritten rules that cover social norms and cultural expectations, both in the lab and outside work, can feel particularly daunting to scientists who, like her, were born elsewhere, she adds. In addition, international scientists often have restrictive funding arrangements that tie them to a particular lab or Principal Investigator’s research focus, she says. US visa restrictions can often mean missing family events back home. Majumdar, for example, who gained a biochemistry and molecular biology PhD from the University of Georgia in Athena in 2014, could not return to India to attend her parents’ funerals. “It was probably the biggest sacrifice I’ve had to make in my life,” she says. In the final episode of a six-part podcast series covering books about the scientific workplace, Majumdar, who is now assistant Dean for professional development at Princeton…
People in this episode
Host: Holly Newson
Guest: Sonali Majumdar
Topics covered
- international scientists
- career development
- cultural expectations
- growth mindset
- scientific workplace
Keywords
- hidden curriculum
- visa restrictions
- funding arrangements
- social norms
- mentorship
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Princeton University, University of Georgia
Books & works: Thriving as an International Scientist
Places: India, US
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