This time Scientific Bangladesh has talked with PhD student Modhusudon Shaha. His insights might
be helpful for other current and future PhD students. Here is what he says.
1.Scientific Bangladesh: Briefly introduce our readers to yourself, your PhD topic, and University
Modhusudon Shaha: Myself Modhusudon Shaha, did my undergrad and MSc in Microbiology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I also pursued my second MSc in Medical Virology from The University of Manchester, the UK funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship. At present, I am pursuing my PhD on the molecular insight of host-pathogen interaction focusing on H. pylori at Monash University, Australia.
2.Scientific Bangladesh: How did you choose your i) Research/PhD topic and ii) Institute?
Modhusudon Shaha: Surfing the website of different universities and emailing to the lab head of my research interest made my days to come up with scholarship application and admission.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: What is the minimum qualification in your university to get admission as PhD student, Bachelor, or Master degree?
Modhusudon Shaha: Four years Bachelor with a Significant research component. Bangladeshi students usually does not get enough research experience. Hence a Master’s degree with a thesis is required.
4.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you have gone for PhD? In other words, why you are doing PhD?
Modhusudon Shaha: Simply to say, doing research is my passion, as well as profession and PhD, is likely to be the base of stairs to reach the goal to be a researcher.
5.Scientific Bangladesh: Tell us about your pathway to manage scholarship or funding for PhD.
Modhusudon Shaha: There is no shortcut for getting a scholarship. My previous publications in relatively quality journals as well as academic results might have played important roles.
6.Scientific Bangladesh: How will you get PhD, by submitting a thesis or publishing a certain no of publications (journal articles)?
Modhusudon Shaha: That’s not confirmed yet. It depends on the number of publications and I am now at too early to decide.
7.Scientific Bangladesh: Did you deliberately choose your Supervisor? What were your criteria in choosing PhD supervisor?
Modhusudon Shaha: As I mentioned before, web searching for particular research interests may end up with getting multiple groups and PIs, from which one may decide to go. My current supervisor got the research projects that of my interests.
8.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your key to maintaining a good relationship with your supervisor?
Modhusudon Shaha: It depends on the circumstances and understanding of what the supervisors are expecting. In my view, better communication is the key to maintaining a good relationship with the supervisor. Besides, a student must be proactive in performing experiments and should be seeking attention for the opinions of the supervisor after each major experiment. Further, active participation in lab meetings, for instance, critical responses to the presentations, may help to give a positive outlook to the supervisors. Moreover, identifying problems in a particular experiment, and presenting these to the supervisors with possible solutions may help.
9.Scientific Bangladesh: What principle you follow to maintain a good relationship with your labmates?
Modhusudon Shaha: Research is always teamwork. Generous help to other lab members may end up making a good relationship with other lab members. Respect to all, even younger in age, may help to build up a better image in the lab.
10.Scientific Bangladesh: Doing PhD is a stressful job? How do you manage or release stress?
Modhusudon Shaha: To be honest, PhD is always a stress. Managing self-stress varies individually and at this stage of PhD, a student should already be tolerant to tolerate stress. The rest is luck.
11.Scientific Bangladesh: How many days in a week you go to the lab? Why?
Modhusudon Shaha: For me, there are no bound time limits to visit the lab. It also depends on the experimental plans. But more generally, at least 6 days a week.
12.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?
Modhusudon Shaha: In the lab, different experimental methods and design skills can be developed. Further, some mandatory courses for professional development one have to go through. Altogether, PhD is a complete package to learn technical (lab works), managerial (time and stress) as well as professionalism (communication and collaboration).
13.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your future plan? Want to go back to Bangladesh or not?
Modhusudon Shaha: I am currently with the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIB). I have a plan to further implement my learned skills and knowledge for the betterment of my beloved country, Bangladesh.
14.Scientific Bangladesh: What are your suggestions for prospective PhD students?
Modhusudon Shaha: Stay focused on your research interest and try communicating with prospective supervisors, even several times. Pay attention to the research lab and supervisor profile. Do not copy-paste emails to contact them. Invest time with each application that will bring you a positive response. Present as you are the best, indeed you are.
15.Scientific Bangladesh: Would like to share your weekly story with other PhD students? If yes, register at www.scfbd.net
Modhusudon Shaha: Yes
Scientific Bangladesh: Thank you. Readers will be waiting for your regular story.