Vidita Vaidya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vidita Vaidya
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	St. Xavier's College, Mumbai Yale University
Awards	Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, 2015 National Bioscience Award for Career Development, 2012 Fellow, Indian National Science Academy Infosys Prize in Life Sciences, 2022
Scientific career
Fields	Neuroscience with a focus on studying the neurocircuitry of emotion
Institutions	Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
Doctoral advisor	Professor Ronald Duman at Yale University

Vidita Vaidya is a famous Indian neuroscientist. She is a professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. Her main work is about how our brains control emotions. She also studies how brain changes can lead to mental health issues.

Early Life and Inspiration

Vidita grew up in a family of scientists. Her parents, Dr. Rama Vaidya and Dr. Ashok Vaidya, were both scientists. Her uncle, Dr. Akhil Vaidya, studied malaria. Their work inspired her to become a researcher.

She also loved reading about two famous primatologists. These were Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall. Their stories made her want to learn more about science.

Her Education Journey

Vidita started her studies at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. There she earned a degree in Life Sciences and Biochemistry.

She then went to Yale University in the United States. She earned her PhD in Neuroscience there. Her mentor, Professor Ronald Duman, helped shape her career. After Yale, she did more research in Sweden and the UK. She worked at the Karolinska Institute and the University of Oxford.

What She Studies

Vidita Vaidya joined TIFR in 2000. She was only 29 years old. She leads a research group that studies the brain.

Her team looks at how brain circuits control our feelings. They want to know how life experiences affect these circuits. They also study how medicines like antidepressants work.

One big focus is understanding mental health problems. For example, they study how depression affects the brain. They also research how early life events can change behavior later on. Her group is very interested in a brain chemical called serotonin.

Vidita's lab uses rats and mice for their studies. They want to find out why some people handle stress well. They also want to know why others might develop mental health issues.

Featured in Books and Talks

Vidita's work has been recognized in many ways. She was featured in "Lilavathi's Daughters." This book shares stories of Indian women scientists.

In 2015, she gave a TEDx talk. She spoke about how stress can change our brains. She also appeared in TIFR's "Chai and Why" series.

Amazing Achievements

Vidita Vaidya has received many important awards. In 2012, she won the National Bioscience Award.

She received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 2015. This is a very respected award in India for science. She is also a Fellow of several top science academies in India.

In 2022, she won the Infosys Prize in Life Sciences. This award recognized her work on mood disorders. It highlighted her discoveries about how serotonin affects the brain. Her research helps us understand anxiety and depression better.

Personal Life

Vidita Vaidya was supported by her late husband, Ajit Mahadevan. They have a daughter named Alina Vaidya Mahadevan. When she's not doing science, Vidita enjoys traveling, reading, and dancing.

See also

• TIFR