Exchange Diaries  

Saloni Jain | Mathematics

CNRS Grenoble Alpes, France, France

Research Area: Application of machine learning in EEG data

Duration: 2 Months

Why do think foreign training is important for a student's life?
Foreign training is important for exploring, exploring how people outside your place are working because there is cutting edge research going on and this way you will also have contact with the foreign research papers and everything. So you get to know about your interests and about people with whom you would like to work. In this way, you build your connections for your own development.

How was your experience?
I liked the place and I feel blessed to have such a mentor. My professor was very good and understanding. Since he was a full-time researcher, there was no inconvenience in the matter of time. As he didn't have any teaching commitments, his whole focus was on the interns who were working under him.

How did you manage your finances?
CNRS is actually a government based laboratory, there are policies according to which they hire an intern on the stipend basis. The amount which I got actually covered my living and transportation. Accommodation, I found it on my own, but it wasn’t a big problem.

How did you apply for FT?
I was looking for researchers who are working in this particular field, playing with EEG data and then I started mailing. I did not do much of it, as I had plans for corporate internships in India as my backup. But, then I got the call from CNRS and so I went ahead with it.

How was your stay in France?
As the place is beautiful and I could travel places nearby, it was fun overall. I went around the nearby countries, visited all their historic and tourist places. The stay was amazing. I loved Switzerland and the chocolates there were just yum. Food was a big problem as I am a pure vegetarian and France is not a place for vegetarians. So I had to cook for my own, which was a bit hectic for me.

Role of CG in FT?
I was really lucky in this fact as my professor did not consider my CGPA not even once.
As I was already involved in this kind of field, so it may have attracted him. But a decent CGPA may work sometimes, and as a college student CGPA should always be the top priority.

Any advice for your fellow kgpians regarding FT?
I think it's a good opportunity if you have it and it's not a tough task. Everybody can have it, It's just that you need to work smartly. Professors only see your work and your inclination towards the field, and anyone can have it, just be patient. Don’t get frustrated if you are not able to achieve it. We have good researchers in India also, you can easily contact them and work under and attain the knowledge.