Exchange Diaries  

Abhinav Japesh | Electrical Engineering

Deakin University, Australia

Research Area: Anomaly Detection using Variational Auto-Encoder

What was the University and topic of research that was taken up by you during the FT?

The university was Deakin University, and the topic of research was “Anomaly Detection using Variational Auto-Encoder”.

Why is an FT important? How would one compare research in Indian universities and foreign universities?

The problem that is discussed in an FT or research intern is new so the solution has to be out of the box. You have to think about the problem in a new way that has not been tried and tested yet. In normal projects or internships, you generally know the desired result of the project and follow according to achieve that result. In FT you write your own paper and devise a new method so have to do mostly yourself guided by the professor. So, FTs are very helpful as it shows your own work.
There is not very much difference between Indian universities and foreign universities as such. Both are equally good.

FT vs corporate internship, what are all the things we are missing out on and what are we gaining more?

Incorporate, a large group/team is working on a problem statement that is more likely to be a real-world problem like making an app for creating some features. If it's a large company you have to go through multiple processes, think collectively, and do what the boss says.
In a research internship, it is very dynamic: you can have your thoughts, go in any direction, for the main objective is to solve your problem statement and have your new solution to that by writing a paper. If your paper is published in a journal then it is quite a big achievement.
Corporate training makes you a team player and in FT you are more focused on yourself and your personal development.

Should BTech students aspiring for higher studies from abroad opt for an FT?

If a student’s main aim is to go for higher studies then obviously FT or any research intern is a must, because when you apply for MS or PhD, the professor is mainly looking for previous experience, compatibility, how many papers you have published, and how good you are and if you'll be an asset to their project. If you write a research paper under a good university and professor then it will show that you are a bright student in terms of research.

What exactly is the application process for the FT? Are there any important documents one must keep?

If you apply through the Cell the portal is open from october. Your SOP and resume are very important. The SOP has to be project-specific, not general. If your state to the professor that you have done these things in your project and would like to learn these things specifically, then you would stand apart from other students and he would be interested in you.
If you apply through personal mailing, create a shortlist of the projects you are interested in and a shortlist of professors and start mailing. The SOP should be very precise and show how you can be important to the project. The resume should be very strong. Most of the time the professors don't reply to your emails but you should keep trying.

How did the process get affected due to the online nature of the applications?

The application process was affected positively as the professors prefer online internships. We have changed the way of working according to the situation and it is good.

When should one start applying for an FT? How long did the procedure last till you got the desired FT?

If you are personally mailing and have some professors in mind, you should try early, in October or November. Other portals like MITACS will end in September. If you apply later seats would already be full. Applying beforehand would be better; it would be a plus point, as at that time the professor will need interns and he will definitely go through your CV and will look forward to contacting you. I had tried personal mailing but did not receive much response. I secured my FT through the IR Cell and the process took about a month.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

High CGPA indicates that you take your work seriously and can be trusted. But if you have a low CGPA, it is not a negative point if your SOP and resume are appealing. CGPA won't matter then. Getting a project does not completely depend upon your CGPA.

Where should a student, who is unaware of the entire application process, look up information about professors and their research work for opportunities?

If you have a topic in mind and a particular university, you can go to the university or department webpage, look up the professors researching that topic and mail them.

How should a first-year student prepare beforehand for his FT application in their subsequent year?

You are not expected to learn a lot in the first year. Senior professors don't even take second years as interns because they think they are too young. You can join clubs for things like Data Science or start studying yourself through Coursera or YouTube. If you are interested you can write to a professor. You should have basic knowledge of the topic.

Does belonging to IITKGP provide any added benefits for getting your FT?

Yes, the IR Cell helps IIT KGP students and has given out a lot of projects in the last two years. IIT KGP gives you a platform because it has a very good reputation and ranking.