- Scientific Bangladesh: Please briefly introduce yourself, your M.Phil / Master research, and, you’re University to our readers?
Shahzad Shoukat: My name is Shahzad Shoukat. I did my Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology from the Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology (COBAM), University of Peshawar (UOP). Right now I am pursuing my Master’s in Immunology (M.S in Immunology) from the Department of Immunology, Postgraduate School, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Surabaya, Indonesia.
2. Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you have gone for M.Phil / Master? In other words, why are you pursuing M.Phil and what’s plan about Ph. D?
Shahzad Shoukat: Well if you want to pursue your education and top have quality education your vision about career must be wise and clear you should decide what suits you best do not go for money just get the quality education and always Believe in ALLAH and we should not lose our hopes anytime. After my Master’s Degree IN SHAA ALLAH I want to apply for my Ph. D studies in the same university as well as to other countries like, Europe, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea USA and Japan as well. As a student we should not focus just on one option because remember when there is no way ALLAH will makes a way and indeed he is the perfect planner ever. So to me as a student we should learn new techniques during our studies and to get use to the culture as well because learner another country culture is also the part of your education.
3. Scientific Bangladesh: How did you choose your i) M.Phil / Master Topic and ii) Institute?
Shahzad Shoukat: I choose UNAIR because it is really a reputed University and its ranking is 521-531 according to QS World Ranking and it is ranked on number 3rd in Indonesia and 20th in Southeast ASIA. My master topic is to check the D-Dimer level in Covid-19 Patients.
4. Scientific Bangladesh: What is the minimum qualification in your university to get admission as PhD student, Bachelor or Master degree?
Shahzad Shoukat: For Master’s the applicants must have Degree and transcript and your CGPA should not be no less than 3.00/4 for Master’s and 3.5/4 for Ph. D admission including Publications for Ph. D
5. Scientific Bangladesh: If anyone wants to do Master/ M.Phil, PhD in your University/country, what are the steps one has to follow?
Shahzad Shoukat: There are two different scholarships’ which government scholarship and University scholarship the Government Scholarship is (KNB Scholarship) which is already announced and (Airlangga Development Scholarship) (ADS) this is the university scholarship. You should Universitas Airlangga Website (https://www.unair.ac.id/) and keep checking it.
6. Scientific Bangladesh: What are mistakes one should avoid when contacting with University or Professor for Masters / Ph.D studentship?
Shahzad Shoukat: The most important thing is to avoid the plagiarism like when it comes to contact any professor you must behave as a professional because the professor do not know anyone in the beginning and once you are done with a proper email by attaching your CV you should for his/her response at least one week because professors are always busy so before going to do anything you should read about the professors research interest and directions as well. (Do not copy anyone else email be genuine and authentic)
7. Scientific Bangladesh: How will you get M.Phil, by submitting a thesis or publishing a certain no of publications (journal articles)?
Shahzad Shoukat: For Master’s applicant after completing your coursework and research an applicant must have one publication to complete the degree requirement and for Ph. D applicants should have two publications in Q1 journal
8. Scientific Bangladesh: Did you deliberately choose your Supervisor? What were your criteria for choosing M.Phil supervisor?
Shahzad Shoukat: I directly applied to the University and the criteria is the same as I discussed it previously if an applicant is having IELTS then the applications can be more strong in terms of selection.
9. Scientific Bangladesh: What principle do you follow to maintain a good relationship with your lab mates?
Shahzad Shoukat: You need to have the abilities of working in a group because that is how you can learn different things from other labmates and in Lab everyone is living and consider as a family. So the friendly environment with other researchers, Professors really plays an important role.
10. Scientific Bangladesh: Doing M.Phil is a stressful job? How do you manage or release stress?
Shahzad Shoukat: For this I would say that, sometimes you need to go out wither friends like for a cup of coffee and to hangout or you can relax in your room but going out with friends is really important to refresh your mind so you must be socialize with other people as well.
11. Scientific Bangladesh: How many days in a week you go to the lab? Why?
Shahzad Shoukat: Well right now I still have coursework so I rarely go to the Lab because of the pandemic but usually students spend like 7-10 hours during working days for conducting their research.
12. Scientific Bangladesh: M.Phil 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?
Shahzad Shoukat: Well for me you to learn different softs kills like in Bioinformatics you need to learn how to search different Data bases etc and technically you should learn about research methodology like how to write a good quality research and methods which could give you an edge in your publications
13. Scientific Bangladesh: What is your future plan? Want to go back to Pakistan or not?
Shahzad Shoukat: Yes, for sure Pakistan is my homeland so yes I will come back and IN SHAA ALLAH will be keep applying to and to seek further studies opportunities as well.
14. Scientific Bangladesh: What are your suggestions for prospective M.Phil students?
Shahzad Shoukat: I would suggest to the prospective students that Just focus on your studies nothing is difficult in this world if you have a strong believe in ALLAH and to have strong believe in yourself as well.
15. Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to share more stories with us?
Shahzad Shoukat: Yes, sure I would love to share my stories with you just stay safe, healthy, happy and blessed with all of us Ameen and keep remembering me in your precious prayers. Thank you.