Dr. Sharmila Shirodkar on Scientific Writing, Peer Review & Career Growth | Insights from a Editor

Decoding Phase Transitions - the DPT Podcast || Ep.16 || Guest: Dr. Sharmila Shirodkar 🇮🇳🇺🇸 In this episode of the Decoding Phase Transitions (DPT) Podcast, we speak with Dr. Sharmila Shirodkar, a theoretical and computational physicist and Associate Editor at Physical Review Letters (PRL) — one of the most prestigious journals in physics. This conversation goes beyond a traditional academic journey. It is about self-awareness, clarity, and making intentional career choices. From choosing physics as a student to narrowing down into condensed matter physics, transitioning into computational research, and eventually stepping into the role of a journal editor — her journey highlights the importance of understanding yourself deeply. One key takeaway from this episode: 👉 Sometimes, knowing what not to pursue is what helps you find the right path. Highlights from this Episode: ✨ How family and teachers shape early scientific curiosity ✨ Choosing the right specialization: Astrophysics vs Condensed Matter ✨ Experiment vs Theory: making the right decision for yourself ✨ How to prepare for PhD interviews and research careers ✨ Why writing is a critical skill in academia (and how to improve it) ✨ Transitioning from research to becoming a journal editor ✨ What editors actually look for in a paper ✨ How PRL handles peer review and conflicting referee reports ✨ The importance of soft skills and learning on the job ✨ The role of AI in scientific publishing ✨ Why being open to change is essential for long-term success 🎙️ About The Guest: Dr. Sharmila Shirodkar is a theoretical and computational physicist currently serving as an Associate Editor at Physical Review Letters (PRL). She completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics from the University of Pune, followed by a PhD from JNCASR, Bangalore, where she specialized in condensed matter physics and computational materials science. She has held prestigious international research positions, including postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard University and Rice University, and has also worked as a Research Scientist at Howard University. Her contributions to research have been recognized through awards such as the Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Award and the Malhotra Weikfield Foundation Nano Young Scientist Award. Today, through her role at PRL, she plays a key part in shaping the direction of cutting-edge research in physics. Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=B6z6dvkAAAAJ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharmila-shirodkar-274aab146/ 🔗 Resources & Links: University of Pune, India: https://beta.unipune.ac.in Fergusson College, Pune, India : https://fergusson.edu : Dr. Raka Dabede : https://www.linkedin.com/in/raka-dabhade-047842385/ Prof. Waghmare : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umesh_Waghmare Dr. Pratibha Dev : https://profiles.howard.edu/pratibha-dev JNCASR, Bangalore, India : Harvard University, USA : Rice University, USA : Howard University, USA : 🔔 If this conversation resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:29 – The first spark in Physics: role of family and teachers 07:10 – Qualities of impactful teachers 10:47 – Choosing Physics for undergraduate 12:51 – Experience at college 13:35 – Exposures during Bachelor’s 16:26 – Why there was a Plan B 18:47 – Master’s experience at Pune University 21:54 – Preparing for PhD entrance exams and interviews 25:48 – Visiting Singapore for research after Master’s 28:25 – Choosing between Astrophysics and Condensed Matter 31:19 – Choosing between experiment and theory 33:50 – PhD research questions and projects 42:56 – Exposure and soft skills gained during PhD 47:12 – Tips to improve scientific writing 51:57 – Postdoc at Harvard 53:47 – Cultural differences during postdoc 58:24 – Research during postdoctoral studies 01:02:18 – Applications of her research area 01:05:23 – Transferable skills for an editor 01:07:04 – Current role as a journal editor 01:10:01 – What do journal editors actually do? 01:13:45 – Views on emerging research fields 01:15:40 – Handling conflicting referee reports 01:17:57 – Learning on the job 01:20:53 – What to check before submitting your paper 01:22:47 – AI in research: an editor’s perspective 01:25:26 – Most rewarding part of the editorial role 01:26:05 – Fun trivia about her 01:30:32 – Biggest challenge in her career 01:33:33 – Final thoughts The DPT Podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser, Amazon Music and all other major podcast streaming platforms. 👋 Connect with Sananda Biswas (Host): YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@SanandaBiswasPhD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sananda-biswas-PhD/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sananda.biswas.phd #DPTPodcast #ScienceCareers #PhDJourney #AcademicCareers #WomenInSTEM #CondensedMatterPhysics #ResearchLife #PeerReview #ScientificPublishing #CareerInScience #STEMPodcast #LifeAfterPhD