Exchange Diaries  

Jasmine Jerry | Aerospace Engineering

Carnegie Mellon University, USA

Research Area: Robotics

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

This summer, I interned at Carnegie Mellon University as a part of the Robotics Institute Summer Scholars Program.

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

Firstly, an international internship would provide you with exposure to know how research is handled globally. Also, there is a lot of interaction with the senior Ph.D. students and professors in different labs. The third point would be that even undergraduate students are given equally challenging research topics to study on, which provides one with exposure to how research is conducted abroad.

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

An internship in a university provides you the core research topics that you have to investigate and implement solutions on your own. In contrast, I think in corporate work, you utilize the published research and tailor it to your needs and requirements of the project, based on what I have heard from my peers.

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

Definitely! It would provide you with exposure to how research is conducted in universities and labs around the world and also give you insight into whether or not this is your chosen path. It will provide you with a clearer picture of whether or not pursuing higher studies is suitable for you.

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

I had applied through their portal that opens every year on their website. After I was selected, the professors looked at our profile and conducted interviews to know more. I attended three interviews, got offers from all three, and I picked one from them. The important document required at every step of your application process is your resume. It is beneficial to get some prior research experience in your field of interest to make a strong statement of purpose.

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

It was announced early on that this internship would be held online due to the ongoing pandemic. So there were no newfound difficulties in my application process.

Did you have to mail the professor personally for the project? For how much time did you wait for a reply?

I hadn’t mailed the professor before the application as the whole process was centralized. The deadline to apply to this program was January, and I got my confirmation in February.

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

The best time to start applying for the FT would be around September-October. Many programs such as MITACS and DAAD open up around this time and you can mail professors and request for an internship that matches their research interest till the end of January.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

I would not say CGPA is a very important criterion but having a good or decent CGPA is a plus point. You might have to justify your reasons if you have a low CGPA, at the same time showcasing your research skills or having a person vouch for your research abilities is also beneficial and balance out if you have a low CGPA.

How did the pandemic affect your application for the project? Did the pandemic have any positive impact on the project?

The pandemic was a small setback for my training due to the whole training being in an online mode in a different time zone which meant at times, there was asynchronous communication. I believe I could have gained some more through one on one interaction with my peers and professors in an in-person setting. In terms of the work that I had done, which was mostly mathematical and computational, there weren’t many hindrances.

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

IRCell has a pretty good newsletter that mentions the different scholarships and opportunities available that get published every month. So, I would recommend following IRCell’s newsletters, social media, and events. Also, official news bodies of Kgp have compiled resources that can be referred to. Apart from this, there are third-party websites that also provide similar resources. There are also Facebook groups that can be checked out for the same.

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

I would say that, start by approaching professors of Kgp itself to work on a project under them that would give you good experience and exposure on how to start your research work. Apart from this, one can also look for good research labs within India for project opportunities there.

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

Some Indian students along with me in the internship program were not from IITs. So, I would say that being an IITian was not the only big factor, but it was advantageous compared with the other applicants. You can also reach out to the vast alumni network of our institute pursuing research in foreign universities for guidance. The reputation of our institute is surely an advantage that will help in securing an FT.