Nationality: India
Current Job: Research Fellow, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Graduation: Faculty of Engineering, Year 2016
Undergraduate: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India
"Balance research and extra curricular activities. Do not over-do either of them. Work hard and smart."
In retrospect, would you still have chosen to do a PhD? Why?
Since my childhood, I always wanted to be an entrepreneur and be my own boss. Therefore I never wanted to work for an MNC. I’m also a very studious person who tops the class and I believe in education as a life-long process. Combining my passion for entrepreneurship (to be my own boss, through all the risks and commitments) and my inherent love for nano-biomedical research, I felt PhD is the right step forward to fly as a technopreneur. I also wanted to be a leader in my field as I was a student leader from my school days.
Though I’m happy being a catalyst entrepreneur, I always wanted to spin-off a technology that I developed. For this I needed a PhD. I was clear about this from the very beginning. Becoming a technopreneur in biomedical field is and was my ultimate destination. Publishing high impact factor journals is good to reach to scientific and academic community. But having made a tangible product that benefits the community is where I will find peace with myself. I also wanted to horn my leadership skills through PhD programme.
On hindsight, would you still have chosen NUS to do your PhD?
I first came to know about NUS, while I was browsing for research done at NanoCore@NUS. NUS being the top-notch university close to home, I couldn’t ask for a better university to horn my research, entrepreneurship and leadership skills.
Singapore and NUS have a very encouraging ecosystem for entrepreneurship. I got on board NUS Entrepreneurship society, even during my first semester of PhD.
Also, I’m a very firm believer of giving back to the community through mentorship and community leadership. For this, I became a student leader with Graduate Students’ Society and served for 2 years in the core Exec team. I was also a Graduate Fellow in Tembusu College, Utown.
My PhD gave me the flexibility and the right platform to finely balance my research, entrepreneurship and leadership skills. It is only possible in NUS ecosystem. No other university gives such a launchpad for an aspiring technopreneur, who wants to pave the way and lead. Bottom up, labmates, PI and NUS help me realise my dream, passion and my aim.
I’m forever grateful for NUS and that’s why even now, after I have graduated, I’m an alumni mentor with the FoE.
On hindsight, would you have chosen the same research topic for your PhD?
My research was on my passionate topic- Nanomaterials for cancer theranostics. I loved every bit of my research. Day in and day out, I was working with passion to fabricate metal oxide nano-biomaterials that can be used not only for diagnosis but also treatment of cancer, the killer disease. I had a purposeful and passionate PhD under Prof. Ding Jun.
On hindsight, would you have chosen the same research supervisor for your PhD?
Prof. Ding Jun is the best PhD supervisor one could ask for. As I mentioned, I was very clear in my end goal technopreneur and leader, from the beginning. He allowed my to be a student leader with GSS, NES, Tembusu and pursue my research. I used to work all night and day balancing and my research and extra curricular work. He let me pursue them with a smiling face.
He also supported me through my rainy days, when I had CAP issues. He ensured all research resources are available on-time
How did NUS prepare you for your career?
I used to work very closely with Centre for Future Ready Graduates while I was with GSS. The CFRG, helped us refine our resume and industry talks and career fairs, helped us gain insights into the world out there.
On the soft skills side, I made use of every organisation available, to horn my skills- eg: NES for Entrepreneurship skills.
How did your experiences as a graduate student shape and guide you in your current career?
Today, I’m with GRIP RUN 4 and JUMPStart cohort-6. The point exactly where I wanted to be even 15 years ago as a school girl. I’m admist spinning off my own medical device company by licensing out the technology I developed during 3 years of my postdoc in NUS. I’m a proud innovator. NUS ILO, my postdoc PI Dr. John. HO and my mentors are helping in this journey.
And easily the resources that was made available to me to develop these skills is what has made me where I’m today. Technical, Leadership and Entrepreneurial skills..all that I developed during my PhD days in NUS, to use it today. I’m still learning.
Also, for a fitness freak like me, the campus provides fitness facilities and clean good food and housing for a peaceful graduation. Parents back home don’t have to worry about us a single minute.
Suggest 2 or 3 things that graduate students should do to prepare for their professional careers?
I’m a person, who made use of every available platform and opportunity in NUS, depending on what I wanted to become. I didn’t limit myself to a research lab, just because I came for a PhD. PhD to me is beyond research.
1. Research is clearly your calling as you want to pursue PhD. But identify what you want to be after the 4 years? Where do you see yourself beyond a research Lab. Once you identify this, you have umpteen societies and student organisations in NUS to develop those skills.
2. Dont feel shy to take part. Your life is outside your comfort zone. Leverage on the resources to come out of your coccoon.
Name 2-3 things you wished you had been told when you started graduate school?
I had CAP problem and had to fight to bring my CAP from 2 to 3.8. People asked me to give up and quit but the fighter in me, fought till i came out successful after 1 full year of struggle.
Being a topper always, I thought it will be a cake walk here too. I never had maths/physics based modules back home. The grading system here is different as back home there was no bell curve system and it was only absolute grading.
Students, especially foreign students should be aware of this system work hard and smart accordingly. As I saw this to be problem in many foreign students too. Smart brains make it to NUS, but you need to work hard and smart as everyone around you is smart and know the system in which you are and set your battles right.
What advice would you give someone considering doing his/her PhD at NUS?
Balance research and extra curricular activities. Do not over-do either of them.
Work hard and smart.
Briefly share something fun in your graduate journey at NUS that you remember
While I was in the core Exec of GSS, I travelled to ETH, EPFL and few other universities in Switzerland and Germany. The trip was my gift to self, after I successfully cleared my CAP. The memories set travel goals n today I’m a travel freak, who travels once a year to every continent with my parents, sister and husband. Just to show them, the world, they showed me through let me pursue my PhD in NUS.
Any other words of wisdom to share?
Be open minded
Look for opportunities
Grab opportunities
Here you don’t have to wait for your research resources (like chemical, equipments etc.,) and amazing library resources. make use of them
Make best use of the fitness facilities
Indulge urself in the multi-cuisine campus food
Immerse yourself with multicultural ecosystem
Research-Entrepreneurship-Leadership-Academia-Best campus life. If you are looking to balance all these, do not look BEYOND NUS. Because only NUS will let you grow BEYOND