Hardik Makkar

      As a curious teenager, I remember being fascinated with the world under the microscope. Visualizing how cells divide and differentiate made me realize that even a singular life form can be so intricately complex. The biology classes at school were intriguing enough to motivate and shape my naive mind to delve further into the subject of life sciences.
     Almost two decades later, with academic and professional experience in the field of oral health sciences, I believe there were three primary learnings that led a clinically trained dentist like me to venture into an exciting track of research and innovation.
     The first learning was realizing the importance of academic and research rigor on the path to attain professional excellence. The second learning centered around the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork. Finally, my third learning was the realization that the end goal of research should lie in its ability to impact lives positively.
     Despite my previous professional roles and engagements, I soon came to realize my academic limitations, especially in a thorough understanding of concepts and techniques in basic research. My determination to contribute meaningfully in the field for a larger cause cannot be achieved without an advanced research degree. Via a careful examination of my abilities and passion to bring about a change, I aspire to fill these lacunae by gaining knowledge, experience, and mentorship through my PhD here at NUS.