This time Scientific Bangladesh has interviewed Anica Tasnim Protity about her experience in doing a PhD in 
the USA. Her information and insights might be helpful for present and future PhD students. Here is what she says, what information and suggestions she gives:
1.Scientific Bangladesh: Briefly introduce our readers to yourself, your PhD topic, and the University
Anica Tasnim Protity: Anica Tasnim Protity, graduated from the Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka. Employed as Scientific Officer at the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh(NIB) (currently on deputation). PhD topic: Metabolic engineering for N acetul glucosamine production from E Coli, Northern Illinois University, USA.
2.Scientific Bangladesh: How did you choose your i)Research/PhD topic and ii) Institute?
Anica Tasnim Protity:At NIB, I work in the Microbial biotechnology division. My PhD research topic (gene cloning, fermentation, etc) is related to my work.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: What is the minimum qualification in your university to get admission as PhD student, Bachelor or Master’s degree?
Anica Tasnim Protity: cgpa 2.75, 80 (TOEFL), 6.5 (IELTS)
4.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you have gone for PhD? In other words, why you are doing PhD?
Anica Tasnim Protity: I am doing PhD because I want to gain more hands-on experience in molecular biology research, project development, grant writing, etc.
5.Scientific Bangladesh: If anyone wants to do PhD in your University/country, what are the steps one has to follow?
Anica Tasnim Protity: One has to take the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS, and email individual professors. They also need to apply electronically (application fee is $60), submit an unofficial transcript, resume, statement of purpose, and 3 letters of recommendation (no job experience or MS degree required for application).
6.Scientific Bangladesh: What are mistakes one should avoid when contacting with University or Professor for PhD studentship?
Anica Tasnim Protity:1. The students should not address the professors sir/madam. Instead, they should address them Dr. X(last name) 2. The students’ CV should not be too long.
7.Scientific Bangladesh: How will you get PhD, by submitting a thesis or publishing a certain no of publications (journal articles)?
Anica Tasnim Protity: By submitting a thesis.
8.Scientific Bangladesh: Did you deliberately choose your Supervisor? What were your criteria for choosing PhD supervisor?
Anica Tasnim Protity: No, I did not deliberately choose my supervisor. For choosing the right supervisor, I think publication, citation, grant, etc cannot guarantee a good supervisor. Instead, the best supervisor is the one who can teach you well, and who has empathy for the student.
9.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your key to maintaining a good relationship with your supervisor?
Anica Tasnim Protity: Regularly updating my work, regularly checking on him, and sending him the results of everything, even if the result is negative. Discussing any research related problems with him. Etc.
10.Scientific Bangladesh: What principle do you follow to maintain a good relationship with your labmates?
Anica Tasnim Protity: I do not interfere with their work or research. If they want help, I help them. Other than that, I do not bug them on any kind of personal or research-related issue.
11.Scientific Bangladesh: Doing PhD is a stressful job? How do you manage or release stress?
Anica Tasnim Protity: Yes, it is stressful indeed. I am also a teaching assistant. Together the workload can be burdensome. However, I escape from my work-related stress by praying, meditating, reciting Quran, watching films, listening to Bangla songs, doing yoga, taking a long walk in the woods, maintaining a journal, eating out, driving to the nearest shopping mall, etc.
12.Scientific Bangladesh: How many days in a week you go to the lab? Why?
Anica Tasnim Protity: I usually go to the lab almost every day, but my workload might vary from day to day. Suppose today is Sunday (weekend) and I have to streak one bacterium which will take 24 hours to grow so that I can start my work from Monday. So technically I am going to the lab on Sunday, but actually, I am not doing anything other than this simple streaking.
13.Scientific Bangladesh: PhD is considered as training for a career in Research. What 1. technical and 2. Soft skills you are focusing to develop or developed by this time?
Anica Tasnim Protity: Among the technical things, I am focusing more on genetic engineering (PCR, gel run, gene cloning, RED recombination, transformation, electroporation, etc). Among the soft skills, I plan to improve my adaptability and emotional intelligence skills.
14.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your future plan? Want to go back to Bangladesh or not?
Anica Tasnim Protity: Yes, I would like to go back to Bangladesh and serve my institute.
15.Scientific Bangladesh: What are your suggestions for prospective PhD students?
Anica Tasnim Protity: Start preparing ahead of time, probably in the third year or so. Try to get an advantage from the covid pandemic. As most of the Universities of Bangladesh are closed, pay more attention to GRE based study along with your departmental studies. It is harder for taking the GRE while you are a working professional, so try to take the GRE and TOEFL/IELTS while you are a 3rd/4th year student, so that when you graduate, your scores and academic transcripts will be ready. Learn basic bioinformatics tools online.