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The Power of Starting Again | Dr. Yogeshwar Nath Mishra | TEDxKPRCAS
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Key Moments
Despite multiple setbacks including depression and rejection, Dr. Mishra pursued photonics, eventually developing world-leading imaging technology at NASA and Caltech.
Key Insights
Dr. Mishra's early curiosity about light, stemming from a village school experience, foreshadowed his future career in photonics.
He chose to study photonics, a field with long-term scope despite not being conventionally profitable, driven by passion over security, and traveled from Uttar Pradesh to Kerala for one of India's few programs.
Despite facing depression, self-doubt, and rejection from NASA, he persevered, eventually securing a fellowship and contributing to groundbreaking research.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Mishra pivoted from NASA research to Caltech, collaborating on ultra-fast imaging to solve problems like soot formation and protein-drug interactions.
He developed the world's fastest light imaging technology, capturing processes at the nanosecond scale, and a microscope capable of viewing tiny molecules in real-time.
Dr. Mishra emphasizes that innovation is built on resilience, collaboration, the courage to ask for help, and the power of simply choosing to keep going.
From a village school to a passion for light
Dr. Yogeshwar Nath Mishra's journey began in a modest village school in Uttar Pradesh, lacking basic facilities like a roof. Despite these limitations, a childhood curiosity about light and colors, sparked by observing a kerosene lamp and a filament, laid the foundation for his future scientific pursuits. This early fascination, though unanswered at the time, would eventually shape his entire career path, demonstrating how fundamental questions can lead to profound discoveries later in life. This innate drive to understand 'the unseen' became a recurring theme throughout his life and work.
Overcoming personal tragedy and finding inspiration
A significant turning point in his life came after high school with the loss of his mother and best friend within a few months. This period of intense grief and self-doubt led to academic struggles and a feeling of being lost. However, during this dark phase, he found hope and inspiration in the stories of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Kalpana Chawla. Reading 'Wings of Fire' and learning about their journeys instilled in him the belief that one's starting point does not define their destination, provided they pursue their passion with perseverance. This realization empowered him to 'start again' and begin anew.
Choosing an unconventional path in photonics
When deciding on his career, many advised him to pursue conventional fields like Information Technology or Computer Science, which promised job stability. However, Dr. Mishra opted for photonics, the technology of light, a field he was deeply passionate about. He recognized its long-term potential, understanding that it powered technologies like optical fibers for the internet, LEDs for lighting, and LASER systems used in space exploration by ISRO and NASA. Although this field required long-term investment and wasn't as established in India at the time, his decision was driven by curiosity rather than the pursuit of immediate security. This led him to move far from home to Kochi University of Science and Technology in Kerala for an integrated master's program in photonics, one of the few available in India.
Navigating new environments and mentors
Moving to a new place with a different language and culture presented challenges, but Dr. Mishra found exceptional mentors at Kochi University. These teachers not only imparted subject knowledge but also taught him critical thinking, self-improvement, and learning strategies. They provided him with the freedom to explore and experiment, allowing him to spend more time in the lab than in his room. This supportive environment fueled his curiosity and led to opportunities like summer internships abroad and research projects, allowing him to explore the world.
Balancing passion with financial responsibility and resilience through depression
While pursuing his passion, Dr. Mishra also grappled with the need to financially support his family. Despite this pressure, he chose his passion again, securing a PhD position in Sweden. However, after a few months, he felt disconnected and decided to start over once more, finding a new PhD position at Lund University. This role, though related to aerospace engineering and requiring new skills, initially felt promising. Unfortunately, personal circumstances led him to develop severe depression, marked by fear, low confidence, and a constant sense of unease. Drawing on his learned principle of 'not stopping' and 'keeping on moving,' he managed his condition and completed his PhD with high honors, earning numerous awards and fellowships. This period underscored his immense resilience in the face of profound mental health challenges.
The pursuit of a NASA dream and unforeseen challenges
With his PhD completed, Dr. Mishra turned his attention to his lifelong dream of working at NASA. Despite intense competition, he applied for fellowships, only to face rejection. This disappointment was significant, leading him to question his adequacy. He reapplied without much hope, considering a move to the industry and even securing a well-paid job offer in Denmark. However, just before accepting, he received an email accepting his NASA fellowship. Walking onto the NASA campus was a surreal moment, yet shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic led to lab shutdowns and campus closures, bringing a new wave of uncertainty and inactivity. This setback forced him to confront negativity and question what his future held.
Pivoting to Caltech and developing ultra-fast imaging
During the pandemic-induced downtime at NASA, Dr. Mishra reached out to Professor Li Hong Wong at Caltech, a renowned optics and photonics expert with a biomedical focus. Professor Wong believed in his vision, providing him with an opportunity to apply his expertise in lasers and photonics to new problems. Working on challenges such as understanding the extremely rapid formation of soot particles—a process occurring in a billionth of a second that current cameras cannot capture—and visualizing the interaction of tiny proteins with drugs, Dr. Mishra aimed to develop technology that could 'see the unseen' in real-time. This involved creating cameras capable of capturing billions of frames per second and microscopes that could resolve structures smaller than nanometers.
Breakthroughs in imaging and the power of perseverance
After six months of initial struggle, Dr. Mishra and his team achieved significant breakthroughs. They developed the world's fastest light imaging technology, capable of visualizing processes at the nanosecond scale, and an ultra-fast light imaging microscope that can observe the tiniest molecules in real-time. These innovations garnered widespread media attention, from national radio in Sweden and Germany to newspapers in the US and India. Dr. Mishra concludes his talk by emphasizing that innovation is not a linear path but is built through resilience, collaboration, the courage to ask for help, and asking the right questions. He encourages others to follow their curiosity, trust their journey, and, most importantly, never give up on themselves, as the smallest decision to keep going can be the most powerful.
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Common Questions
Despite growing up in a village with limited facilities and facing personal tragedies like the loss of his mother and best friend, Dr. Mishra was inspired by stories of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Kalpn Chavala. These stories instilled in him the belief that passion and perseverance could shape his destination, regardless of his starting point.
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Mentioned in this video
Mentioned in the context of spacecraft landing systems using laser technology.
The speaker's ultimate dream was to work here, and he eventually received a fellowship.
The speaker pursued an integrated master's program in photonics here.
The speaker found a new PhD position here after resigning from his previous one.
The speaker contacted a professor here for research collaboration during the pandemic.
The speaker's work with Professor Li Hong Wong was covered by media outlets, including mentions related to Caltech.
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