Srinagar, July 28 -- Fall 2011. Jammu and Kashmir was still recovering from a season of unrest, and Syed Mubarak Hussain, a doctoral student thousands of miles from home, kept circling one question: how does a talented but overlooked generation find its way into science?

His answer started small, a Facebook group called Kasher Scientists, built to connect Kashmiri students with mentors who had already made it out and made something of themselves.

Hartals, curfews, and shuttered campuses had long made education in the valley an unpredictable business. Career paths in science were murky at best, and role models were scarce.

Hussain understood the disparity firsthand, as he had crossed it himself, with help from mentors he considers himse...