Meet Parmvir Bahia
Parmvir Bahia is a neuroscientist trained in pharmacology, founder of Artha Science Media, chief executive officer of Scientists Inc. and a member of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Science Outreach and Communication Committee.
What is your research focus?
The role of sensory nerves in respiratory diseases.
What is the broader impact of your work?
The vagus nerve is essential to respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive system function. Mapping its reach and studying its physiology is key to helping us understand what goes wrong in diseases ranging from asthma to heart disease.
What have you learned from your work that applies to the rest of your life?
One facet of science that we all experience, but don't talk enough about, is failure. I have had several experiments that resulted in dead ends, or worse sent a project down completely the wrong track due to one false result. We can find parallels in life outside the lab, and, while it's not easy to admit when you're wrong, I think it's an important part of learning and being better.
How has being a member of the ASBMB helped you along the way?
Due to a change in personal circumstances, I recently stepped away from the bench to focus on doing scicomm and outreach work full time. Serving on the SOCC and attending the annual meetings has given me so many incredible opportunities to meet people and learn about work that allowed me to make that switch. In short, I would say that being a member has been fundamental to my current career path.
What are you watching or reading outside of work?
I've just finished watching “David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet.” And on a more lighthearted note: “Welcome to Wrexham” — an underdog story about a Welsh football team bought up by actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
What music or podcasts have you been enjoying lately?
I'm living out my heyday listening to ‘90s bands from the north of England, including Elbow, The Stone Roses, Mansun and the Kaiser Chiefs. And I like The Bugle for an irreverent look at the news.
Watch the interview
Parmvir Bahia talks about her career in science outreach and the successes and challenges of a recent project designed to put the needs of sensory sensitive kids first. Through this work, Parmvir exemplifies what it means to work with a community instead of for a community. Her advice to outreach practitioners is to treat your outreach like you do your science: research, evaluate and iterate.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreFeatured jobs
from the ASBMB career center
Get the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles
Amacher, Pollock named Henry Dreyfus scholars
They were recognized for their outstanding research scholarship and a deep commitment to undergraduate education and each received $75,000 to fund their research.
Trainee mentorship as immortality
Suzanne Barbour will receive the ASBMB Sustained Leadership Award at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, March 7-10 in Washington, D.C.
Life in four dimensions: When biology outpaces the brain
Nobel laureate Eric Betzig will discuss his research on information transfer in biology from proteins to organisms at the 2026 ASBMB Annual Meeting.
Fasting, fat and the molecular switches that keep us alive
Nutritional biochemist and JLR AE Sander Kersten has spent decades uncovering how the body adapts to fasting. His discoveries on lipid metabolism and gene regulation reveal how our ancient survival mechanisms may hold keys to modern metabolic health.
McRose awarded Packard fellowship
She will receive $875,000 in research funding over five years.
Redefining excellence to drive equity and innovation
Donita Brady will receive the ASBMB Ruth Kirschstein Award for Maximizing Access in Science at the ASBMB Annual Meeting, March 7–10, just outside of Washington, D.C.