NIPER AAPS Student Chapter

By Aarzoo Thakur (webmaster), Sheena Sharma (event coordinator), Vishrurth Reddy (treasurer), Dilip Kumar Singh (secretary), Samarth D. Thakore (vice president), Sumit Mukesh (president-elect), Mayur K. Ladumor (president), and Arvind K. Bansal, Ph.D. (faculty advisor)

Established in 2007 under the recommendation of Raj Suryanarayanan, Ph.D., the AAPS National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) student chapter in Punjab, India, has seen 10 years of excellence coupled with growth and expansion. Starting with 24 members, the chapter now has more than 90 members. The chapter portrays the ideology “of the students, by the students, and for the students.” It strives to fulfill the needs of the students by organizing talk sessions on diverse topics, from scientific advancements to professional development. Driven by a committed and zealous executive student body, the chapter provides hands-on experience of event management and an opportunity to communicate and build relationships with professionals of the field. It works for the betterment of students, both on and off campus, by organizing community outreach drives and interactive sessions.

The chapter has organized informative talks on varied topics delivered by eminent professionals in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. The chapter had the privilege to invite Nair Rodriguez-Hornedo, Ph.D.; Rodney Ho, Ph.D.; Raj Suryanarayanan, Ph.D.; Bhagwat Prasad, Ph.D.; Gautam R. Desiraju, Ph.D.; Changquan Calvin Sun, Ph.D.; Eric Munson, Ph.D.; and many other renowned academicians from distinguished worldwide universities. These talks helped students to learn about recent advancements and cutting-edge research throughout the world.

Sessions encompassing diverse topics like professional enrichment, career building, entrepreneurship, and consultancy opportunities were delivered by outstanding industrial professionals like Umesh Banakar, Ph.D.; Sandhya Mandlekar, Ph.D.; Michael Sinz, Ph.D.; Joydeep Kant, Ph.D.; and Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Ph.D. The chapter expounds globalization and scientific awareness by inviting experts from all over the world, thus students experience social and scientific cultural diversity.

The chapter has co-ordinated industrial tours to various pharmaceutical companies to provide students with first-hand experience of industrial operation. Recently, we organized an industrial tour to Fresenius Kabi Oncology Ltd., Baddi, India, which helped students gain valuable insights into manufacturing facilities.

Working in closely with the AAPS aim to spread scientific awareness, the chapter has organized multiple community outreach programs to colleges and schools, making people aware of the achievements and advancements in the pharmaceutical sciences. In the near future, the chapter also plans to organize career counseling. Among the many other events lined up is the Medicine Collection Drive, wherein collected medicines will be used for charitable health services. The chapter is active on all social networks (Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn) and the chapter website. It regularly updates its activities to generate awareness.

The chapter is flourishing at an ever increasing pace, doing multiple activities to embody the purpose of an AAPS student chapter. Working in collaboration with BMS, India, the chapter is organizing a one-day symposium in September, where neighbouring institutions will participate in various activities. This is the first time the chapter is organizing such a huge event, and we look forward to organizing more of such events in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies. With more high-value events in queue, the chapter is growing in reputation as a driving force for knowledge-based awareness.