Internships & Jobs

In recent times, for most scholars, including myself, social media platforms like Facebook have become an important tool with which to "bring research out of the ivory tower". They enable us to reach the general public and foster a spirit of research for the common good.

However, I have recently learned a salutary lesson: that such an approach can be so easily undermined, with a platform's own community standards weaponized against the very academic debate it claims to protect.

This article is my personal account. I often post about academic materials on my Facebook account: my own research, discussions of relevant studies, and critiques of educational issues.

The context is Vietnam's foreign language education sector, which is growing very fast and is a lucrative market. For example, to attract students, many private language schools promote what they call 'unique language learning methods' - which often are more of a marketing device than a genuine scholarly innovation. It was a post on this topic that led to my account’s removal.

In one posting, I commented on a newspaper article in which a teacher from a well-known language school promoted their method while criticizing the supposed lack of systematic teaching in Vietnam. Believing that the claim was neither academically sound nor for educational purposes but rather for marketing ones, I referred to it as questionable.

A few hours later, my post, along with others containing the word 'IELTS' - the International English Language Testing System - was reported for violating intellectual property rights. The agent reporting was listed as 'the University of Cambridge', though the claim was linked to a domain registered in India, strongly suggesting that the profile was a fraudulent impersonation. My account was soon disabled. Appeals to Facebook have had no effect.

A system open to abuse

My own experience is a stark illustration of how an academic debate can be shut down through the weaponization of a non-human content control system, and it was accomplished with alarming ease. In this instance, I believe the fake identity of a real brand was utilized, and Facebook's unsophisticated system appeared to identify a violation where there was only legitimate academic discourse.

This was a turning point that made me reflect on how easily academic voices can be silenced the moment they raise concerns about pseudoscience being used as a marketing strategy. This is not a new problem.

Businesses have always invented 'scientific stories' for their products. Those who have practised real science have persisted, but often they are ignored or silenced.

It is an unfair game. On one side, science often sits in the ivory tower, where ‘impact’ is measured by h-indexes instead of lives improved or generations educated. On the other side, those that try to bring knowledge to the public are forced onto for-profit social media platforms which lack the infrastructure necessary to protect them.

An uneven fight for resources

But what it comes down to is one simple question: who's more resourceful? Who has the power and means to fashion tools that can easily exploit the weak security systems of platforms like Facebook?

A malicious actor can silence a critic with minimal time and money investment. The victim, meanwhile, is left facing a faceless, automated system that is designed without nuance, context or even fairness in mind. While I doubt Facebook has ever taken its responsibility for free speech seriously, to say the least-the fact that its weak system is susceptible to fraudulent claims that suppress legitimate debate-is a worrying one. It becomes a passive agent of censorship. Absent of that, the call to leave the ivory tower is little more than an invitation into a digital wilderness where the loudest or wealthiest voice prevails, not the most truthful one.

The Hindustan Times is seeking experienced desk professionals to join its Nation desk in New Delhi. This would be a huge opportunity for a mid-level editor to step into one of India's leading newsrooms, with the organization looking for 4–5 years of newsroom experience and a very strong print production background.

This is an on-site role, based out of the newspaper's NFC office; remote or hybrid work is not possible. The ideal candidate will possess excellent editing skills, news judgment, and knowledge of national affairs. Applicants must be able to work efficiently in a fast-paced, print-focused environment.

According to the announcement, the selection process may include a writing test for shortlisted candidates. This is intended to test not only editing abilities but clarity of language, precision, and adherence to the publication's editorial standards.

All applicants are requested to clearly mention 'Nation desk role' in the subject line while sending in their CVs. Applicants who fit the bill may apply directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

They are going to decide our fates without us having any say in the matter-as if we were their subjects or dependents. The Hindustan Times call for applications comes amid a time when print media still depends highly on strong desk editors to ensure accuracy, speed, and quality. This makes the opportunity an important one for journalists seeking experience in national news coverage.

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence calls for applications from qualified individuals to fill several faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor, currently available in its rapidly growing Department of Machine Learning in Abu Dhabi. Reference: 137965 - The recruitment forms part of a major drive to establish the university as one of the world's leading institutions in the provision of artificial intelligence education and research.

The selected candidates, upon appointment, are expected to teach at the highest levels, mentor graduate and undergraduate students, actively engage in curriculum development, and conduct state-of-the-art, high-impact, interdisciplinary research. Among some of the important current areas of focus within the department are large-scale machine learning models, trustworthy and explainable AI, deep learning, reinforcement learning, optimization, representation learning, theoretical machine learning, and causality. 

MBZUAI was established in 2020 as the world's first university focused entirely on AI and quickly gained international renown. The university currently hosts over 80 faculty and 330 graduate students, placing it among the top 10 AI universities in the world. MBZUAI further plans to grow its academic departments from the current 8 to over 20 by 2030, with an aim to increase faculty strength to 300. This year, the university will introduce its first undergraduate programs along with new specializations such as Statistics and Data Science, Computational Biology, and Human-Computer Interaction. 

The successful candidates will be offered globally competitive salaries, generous research funding, and the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art AI laboratories. Benefits include health insurance, life insurance, and relocation support. Located in Abu Dhabi, a city ranked consistently as one of the safest in the world, successful candidates will also enjoy a high standard of living along with rich cultural and professional opportunities. 

Applicants for this position should have a Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related discipline with a substantial record in research and teaching. A cover letter must be included, along with a detailed CV and contact information of three referees. Please apply through the MBZUAI careers portal. With strong industry-government collaborations, MBZUAI has constantly fostered AI innovations to address challenges in real-world applications related to healthcare, sustainability, and emerging technologies.

Chevening journey that moulds way more than an academic achievement; it moulds the way we envision being leaders and mentors.

This postgraduate year was full of supportive networks, collaborative learning, and global views that served to enhance my leadership insights. Upon graduating from my Chevening Scholarship, I knew the need to pay this spirit forward through the mentorship of people who have stood where, at one point in life, I did.

Following are five of the key lessons on mentorship and growth that I learned after postgraduate study.

Your international experience is one that deserves to be shared across the world.

It was studying abroad that brought me for the first time into a new academic framework, culture, and way of thinking. Only much later did I realize how valuable such experiences are when shared.

I started giving informal sessions to potential scholars and early-career professionals on unpacking what I learned abroad and translating that knowledge into local contexts.

This way, mentorship allows a kind of multiplication of impact: many building on the blocks laid by one.

Storytelling can be a means of instilling confidence. Most talented people usually doubt whether they are eligible to apply for various scholarships and leadership positions. That is why telling one's story is important to others, all the way from successes to times when there has been uncertainty. When people listen to a story about someone with the same fears who, nevertheless, succeeded, reframes what's possible for them. Storytelling turns teaching into an enabling practice-a pedagogy showing that confidence is not an innate characteristic but an acquired one. Where the way is not clear is where guidance matters most. Success in postgraduate applications, interviews, and academic transitions requires clear guidance. 

Personal experience of the Chevening application process has taught me that the best support I can give is very clear, step-to-step guidance. This stems from fine-tuning the applicant's personal statement, getting ready for the interview, and understanding what awaits within the international academic environment. 

Many times, all someone needs is that right piece of advice at the right time to move them forward. Inclusive mentorship builds strong leaders. Among the key things I took from my postgraduate experience was the important realization that diversity indeed empowers any learning environment. Further, this gets translated into my mentoring because I welcome people coming from different backgrounds, disciplines, and lived experiences.

Moreover, I encourage peer-to-peer circles wherein mentees learn from one another. Inclusive mentorship does not only expand opportunities, but it also creates leaders who understand and value diversity. Success after postgraduate study is not to end with securing a degree but is a sustained process through lifelong mentorship. For this reason, I build long-term relationships with previous mentees, celebrating successes and advising as their careers progress. Through this, the values of Chevening are reflected in ongoing leadership, service, and community engagement. Mentorship is not a moment; it's a commitment. These five lessons taught me a simple fact: true postgraduate success is not measured by personal achievements alone but by the doors we open for others. By sharing our experiences, building confidence, and committing to inclusive, long-term mentorship, we enrich the global Chevening community, giving rise to a new generation of leaders.

Manhar Bansal, a final-year BA LLB (Hons) student at the Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University, or NLSIU, is among six Rhodes Scholar-elect from India for 2026. By this, Bansal has joined the hallowed ranks in NLSIU along with 25 others who received the prestigious academic honours in years past.

Commencing in October 2026, Bansal will join over 100 scholars from around the world to take up fully funded post-graduate studies at the University of Oxford. He will study MSt in Comparative Literature and Critical Translation at Oxford.

"I believe the Rhodes Scholarship is a great opportunity that allows me to develop my academic and intellectual interests further. NLS has increasingly been an interdisciplinary university and my degree is not just in law but also the social sciences and humanities," Bansal said.

"From the very first year, as I sat in classrooms, I understood the extent of possibilities which humanities offer; it gives one access to consider the human condition in all its terror and beauty; that's what draws me to it."

His academic writing has appeared in various venues and has been recognized with awards from the Society for Humanistic Anthropology and the South Asian Studies Association of Australia.

He was the chief editor of a student journal at NLSIU, led a student-run academic support programme, and co-convened a theory reading group. He aims for a public-facing academic career with the express intention of bringing humanistic education to young people.

NLSIU's Vibha Swaminathan had bagged the scholarship last year.

IIM Bodh Gaya has signed an agreement with the Government of Bihar to act as the academic and knowledge facilitator of the Chief Minister's Fellowship scheme, approved by the then Bihar cabinet on September 9, 2025.

The partnership is being implemented by BPSMS - Bihar Prashasnik Sudhar Mission Society.

The project aims to induct 121 professionally prepared young Bihar residents as fellows to support policymaking and administrative decision-making for development efforts at various levels of the state government, according to an official release from the institute.

Under the agreement, IIM Bodh Gaya shall design and deliver the academic components of the Fellowship. Curriculum development, selection assistance, classroom instruction, immersion programs, mentorship, and frequent assessments are included here.

Deployment, administrative processes, and financial support for the fellows will be provided through the government of Bihar.

These fellows will be working in several government offices at the district level, divisional offices, and higher departments such as the Chief Minister's Office.

The initiatives, according to the institute, have been helpful in enhancing the managerial competencies in ministries pertaining to subjects such as Water Resources, Transport, Planning, Panchayati Raj, and several technical wings of the state government.

These fellows will be joining the Government in April 2026, with induction training completed, on a monthly fellowship of Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs a month.