This time Scientific Bangladesh interviewed Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur. He has just obtained his PhD 
degree from Incheon National University, Republic of Korea. He has shared very useful information and insights for PhD in South Korea. Here is what he says
1.Scientific Bangladesh: Please briefly introduce yourself, your PhD topic and, your University to our readers.
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: I am Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur, recently (last 28th December) I have been awarded PhD degree from the organic material synthesis lab, Department of Chemistry, Incheon National University, Republic of Korea. Currently, I am working as a post-Doctoral fellow in the same laboratory. My current research is focused on renewable and green energy production using fuel cells and electrolyzer applications. More specifically, the development of a novel polymer electrolyte (proton/anion exchange membrane) membranes. I completed an MSc degree in synthetic organic chemistry from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh in Feb 2016 and BSc in chemistry from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh in October 2015.
2.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you have gone for PhD? In other words, why are you pursuing PhD?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: I would like to say it’s a kind of hobby, that drives me to seek knowledge. I love to explore knowledge and surfing into the ocean of knowledge. Pursuing a PhD is one of the best ways to do that. I cherished this as a dream from secondary education by the motivation of my headmaster Mr. Khurshed Alom. He brought me here today with his profound guidance and continuous suggestions. Finally, after completing my MSc class, my MSc advisor Dr. Harendra Nath Roy influenced me a lot to pursue PhD.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: How did you choose your i) PhD topic and ii) Institute?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Frankly speaking, I did not have those options, my friend offered me to join this group as a PhD fellow under the supervision of my current professor. He joined just a semester before me, and the professor was hiring another PhD student for his new project.
4.Scientific Bangladesh: What is the minimum qualification in your university to get admission as PhD student, Bachelor or Master degree?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Although there is not any specific result score, the previous academic excellence has a good impact on creating a nice perception about you to the professor. The minimum CGPA of 3 out of 4 is enough for admission. Both degrees are possible to enroll as PhD students, if anyone has completed BSc, he can be enrolled as a master’s leading to PhD or directly to PhD.
5.Scientific Bangladesh: If anyone wants to do PhD in your University/country, what are the steps one has to follow?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: There are three ways of admission to any of the Korean universities:
- Self-funded admission,
- Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP), and
- Professor-managed-funded admission.
I would like to tell you about the professor funded admission because this is the major process of admission for foreign students. English language proficiency test result (IELTS/TOFEL/TOIEC) is the first and foremost criteria. Depending on the (IELTS/TOFEL/TOIEC) relevant test scores, Korean universities waive their tuition fees in a certain percentage. Secondly, the students need to manage a professor as an advisor for PhD in his relevant field of interest, who are interested to supervise a PhD student.
6. Scientific Bangladesh: What are mistakes one should avoid when contacting with University or Professor for PhD studentship?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: I do not know about the university outside of Korea. But, before choosing any Korean University do not need to be worried about the university ranking. The University ranking has a very low impact on your future career. Here each university has lots of resources to utilize, and if you have the potentiality you could do whatever you want.
Usually, the prospective candidate aggressively sends emails to each and every professor in a department with a common forwarding letter. This is a mistake that should be avoided. Before contacting any professor, the prospective candidate should study well about the professor’s research activity, yearly output, influence on that research field.
7.Scientific Bangladesh: How will you get PhD, by submitting a thesis or publishing a certain no of publications (journal articles)?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Depending on graduate school, department, and university, the graduation requirements little bit different. But, most of Korean University rules to graduate with a PhD, you must have peer-reviewed publications, although the number of publications is different. I would like to say about my department and graduate school, it is three Science Citation Index(SCI) published articles, which you need to submit to the graduate school before the final defense presentation.
8. Scientific Bangladesh: Did you deliberately choose your Supervisor? What were your criteria for choosing PhD supervisor?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Although I have mentioned before, I had no other options. But, I would like to suggest them, those who are interested to pursue PhD.
Please have look before choosing any professor, especially, 1) research area of interest and expertise of the professor, 2) Professor’s Ph.D. research and current research focus (if different, please look forward and try to figure out his influence on the current research, if the influence is not good, then avoid that professor to contact), 3) How often he published articles in a year, 4) Is he, a full professor or an Assistant professor? The assistant professor is preferred as he has more drive for publications for his own career growth and you will also grow simultaneously.
9.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your key to maintaining a good relationship with your supervisor?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Trustworthiness, Hard work, and Discipline- three important criteria needed to maintain good relations with the Supervisor.
10.Scientific Bangladesh: What principle do you follow to maintain a good relationship with your labmates?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Well behaved and co-operative manner with each other is mandatory to survive in a research lab.
11.Scientific Bangladesh: Doing PhD is a stressful job? How do you manage or release stress?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Obviously, it is a stressful job, during this tenure each and everybody feels stressed. A good way of release stress is to share your issues or problems with someone, either he is your mentor, fellow labmates, good friends, Parents. The most significant things you could do either exercise/meditation or offering prayer.
12.Scientific Bangladesh: How many days in a week you go to the lab? Why?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Six-day a week, it is our lab rules, although it depends on the professor and work.
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?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Yes, you are right, it is a learning period to prepare oneself for surfing the scientific world. Based on the research field and expertise it is good to know the instrumental handling and the relevant data processing software as much as possible. Designing a new idea and making a proposal, as well as developing the writing skills to communicate with the scientific world.
14.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your future plan? Want to go back to Bangladesh or not?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: Obviously, I will get back to my country. But, before that, I would like to gather much more experiences and expand my knowledge by doing a few years of a research-oriented job abroad.
15.Scientific Bangladesh: What are your suggestions for prospective PhD students?
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur:
Those who have the huge mental strength and eagerness to keep themselves to an uncomfortable zone,I would like to request them to make this journey for global humanity.
16.Scientific Bangladesh: Would like to share your weekly story with other PhD students? If yes, register at www.scfbd.net
Md. Abu Zafar Al Munsur: NO
Scientific Bangladesh: Thank you for your time and insights. We hope, these will be helpful for future PhD students.