Moving to North Carolina with an H1B: What career options are available?

Ans: Losing 15 kg in 2 months is a very ambitious goal and may not be safe or sustainable. Generally, a healthy weight loss rate is about 0.5 to 1 kg (1 to 2 lbs) per week. Focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Avoid processed foods and sugary drinks. Be mindful of portion sizes and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Engage in cardiovascular exercises like walking, running, cycling, or swimming for at least 150 minutes per week. Incorporate strength training exercises and sleep well.

Ans: I understand how challenging it can be to maintain a healthy diet with such a busy schedule. Suggestions for morning tiffin can include oats or dahlia upma with vegetables, dal stuffed rotis or methi theplas with curd, etc. Evening snacks can include sprout salad, boiled black chana, Whole wheat wrap filled with grilled paneer, lettuce, tomatoes, and a light yogurt dressing, yogurt with berries or other fruits.

Ans: I’m sorry to hear about the challenges you’re facing with your appetite and weight. Focus on high-calorie, nutrient-dense foods like nuts, seeds, avocados, and dairy products. These can help you gain weight without needing to eat large quantities such as smoothies, protein shakes, or yogurt with granola. Light exercises like walking or yoga can help stimulate your appetite and improve overall well-being. Include strengthening exercises to increase muscle mass and remain well hydrated. Consult a professional dietician who will be plan a diet and exercise schedule as per your requirements

Ans: Managing type 2 diabetes can be challenging, but it’s great that you’re actively working on it with medication, diet, and exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet and regular physical activity is crucial. Since you’ve been doing yoga, you might also consider incorporating other forms of exercise like walking or strengthening exercises and aim at losing fat mass. Many people with type 2 diabetes use insulin to achieve better control. However, it’s important to work closely with your doctor to determine if this is the ideal treatment for your condition.

Ans: Both morning and evening walks have their benefits. Walking in the morning can help wake you up and give you an energy boost for the day. Walking in the evening can help you unwind and de-stress after a long day. Given your blood pressure and fasting sugar levels, regular physical activity like walking can be very beneficial. It can help manage blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, and support blood sugar control. The best time to walk is the time that you can consistently stick to and enjoy. If you have any specific health concerns, it might be a good idea to discuss them with your family physician.

Ans: Height increase after the age of 16 can vary depending on several factors, including genetics, nutrition, and overall health. For most people, significant height growth slows down or stops by the age pf puberty. Regular running and other physical activities can contribute to overall health and development, but they do not directly increase height. For a good height potential, maintain a balanced nutritional diet. Ensure you get enough proteins, vitamins, and minerals, especially calcium and vitamin D. Aim for around 8-10 hours of sleep per night, and exercise regularly.

Ans: Hello;

Your PF+PPF balance you can keep untouched so it may grow into a corpus of 1.6 Cr(7.5% growth rate assumed) + regular contributions over 4 years, at the end of your work life.

At your age I recommend you to resist temptation of dealing in direct stocks or even pure equity mutual funds due to the very high risk of volatility.

I propose you to put 30 L(6 month pay coverage) as emergency fund in ICICI Pru Liquid fund(Best returns on 6M criteria)+ facility of instant redemption upto 50K & balance T+1 working day.

10 L balance from cash in hand + 25 L of stock holdings could be invested in Tata money market debt fund(best returns on 1 year criteria). Both these funds have moderate & low to moderate risk profile respectively. This will serve as your corpus for daughter's marriage and grow for 2 years in the meanwhile.

The 2L investment per month which you have began from Jan-24 is expected to go into MF sip+ direct stocks+ other.

For the other investment you are the best judge but here again I would humbly appeal to you to avoid equity MFs and direct stocks considering your age and high risks associated with these asset type direct exposure.

I propose you to invest in equity savings fund instead which are less riskier then pure equity funds and can yield decent return too. I recommend two funds in this category with best returns on 5 yr criteria & AUM above 1K Cr. Mirae Asset equity savings fund and Kotak equity savings fund.

A 2 L sip into these two funds for 4 years will yield a corpus of 1.16 Cr (Modest return of 9% considered). This will fully cover the cost of education for your son.

The best aspect of your financial planning which I admire and respect is No loans, well covered for mediclaim, term insurance and investment in real estate.

I have given my opinion, ultimately you are the best judge.

Feel free to revert in case of any query.

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*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing

Ans: Biotechnology graduates can apply for various positions in government organizations, research institutes, and labs. Below are some of the key government organizations where biotechnology graduates can find jobs:

Government Organizations:
Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
National Institute of Immunology (NII)
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)
Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL)
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) as technical assistants or lab technicians
Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)
Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
Public sector units (PSUs) like Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited (BIBCOL)

Key Entrance Exams:
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering): Scores in the Biotechnology paper can help you get into prestigious institutes like IITs and NITs for M.Tech with scholarships.
DBT JRF BET: Provides a fellowship to pursue a PhD in biotechnology.
ICMR JRF: For research fellowship and PhD positions.
CSIR UGC NET: For lectureships and research in biotechnology.
JNU CEEB: For postgraduate programs in biotechnology across many universities in India.

Ans: Please file a police case for cheating. Also lodge a grievance with sebi online giving detailed account of your complaint, FIR copy, names of brokerage firm officials and estimated loss.