Exchange Diaries  

Kaushiki Dixit | Electronics and Electrical Communication Engg.

University of British Columbia, Canada and Technical University of Munich, Germany

Research Area: Non-Invasive Diabetes Monitoring; Machine Learning and Remote Sensing

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

This year I got to be a part of two foreign training internships. From May to July, I worked as an intern at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Since August, I have been working as a DAAD WISE Scholar at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The topic that I was researching at UBC Canada was the feasibility analysis for non-invasive diabetes monitoring. My research topic at the Technical University of Munich is related to machine learning and computer vision in remote sensing.

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

You get to interact with students pursuing higher studies. Even if you don’t plan to go for an MS or PhD abroad, this interaction always helps. Foreign training gives you multifaceted exposure. I am not the right person to present an accurate comparative analysis because I did not get an opportunity to complete an in-person internship at a foreign university. I would say that things are pretty flexible and, at the same time, well-structured. We have the complete freedom to experiment with the topic and put forward our ideas. Even though I was the youngest member of my team, my opinions were heard and valued.

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

It is solely based on the interest of the person. You have to try different things and then go for the one you like. Do what you love to do. Working in a specific domain implies that you will miss out on things offered by other fields, but this is okay if you are happy working in your current area.

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

If one wants to go abroad for higher studies, having research experience at an international university/lab always helps. You may get a chance to publish a paper and may find out your potential supervisor. Above all, you get to know the functioning of international research labs.

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

That depends on how the person wishes to apply. There are specific FT programs. However, some people prefer personally mailing the professors. For my training in Canada, I applied for the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship. You need to fill out a form at their portal and submit documents, including your CV, transcript, and recommendation letters. Some questions about the research rationale and motive for opting for research in Canada have to be answered. The portal is very well-structured. You need to select a minimum of three projects and a maximum of 7 projects. The deadline is around 20 September. Later, Mitacs declares if you are being considered for the internship. This is followed by interviews by the professors and final results. Interviews may or may not happen depending upon the choice of the Project Supervisor.
For DAAD WISE, one needs to find a German Host ready to supervise the project. This requires sending emails to the Professors working in your areas of interest. The deadline for the DAAD-WISE application is in early November. You need to submit the letter of acceptance from the German Host, your CV, academic transcript, research proposal, NOC from the Institute, along with the official DAAD WISE form available at their portal. A hard copy of the application summary generated at the portal has to be sent to the DAAD Office in New Delhi.
In general, one must have their CV, academic transcript, and at least a structure of the letter of motivation or statement of purpose ready for applying for an FT.

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

The process of application is always online, but the internships are in-person. This time we missed out on hands-on training that helps in learning the intricacies of the process.
Results too were delayed due to the pandemic, leading to last-minute changes in the projects.

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

Mitacs lists the projects at their portal, and therefore no emailing to professors is required. On the contrary, one needs to get an acceptance from a German Host before applying for DAAD-WISE. I started emailing the Professors in late August and received an acceptance around mid-September. Most of the professors were reluctant to admit interns due to the pandemic, and thus it took time to get a positive reply.

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

I started emailing the Professors in Germany in late August and received an acceptance in mid-September. So, starting mailing in August worked for me. The DAAD-WISE results were pretty late and came out in May. I came to know about my selection in Mitacs GRI in December. The FT programs follow a timeline that must be considered before starting the application.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

A good CGPA undoubtedly helps, but it is not the standalone parameter. Many factors like your work experience, skills, letter of motivation, recommendation letters, and the way you present yourself in the interview collectively influence the application. The eligibility criterion in terms of CGPA for MITACS is 7/10 for Shastri-Indo Canadian Institutes, of which IITKGP is a member institution, and for DAAD-WISE, it is 8.5/10.

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

I don't think it had any positive impact. If it had been a non-pandemic situation, I would have visited the labs and gained hands-on experience. The only silver lining is that I was able to work on two projects. If it had been an in-person project, I would have chosen one between them.

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

You have to first list out the universities/labs where researchers work in your areas of interest. Check out their official websites. You will find complete information about different departments and people. Google to know about the FT programs. There are many resources available online. Keep on discussing with your batchmates and seniors to ensure that you do not miss out on something important.

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

Try to find out the research areas associated with the course/topic you find interesting. Talk to the Professors, PhD scholars, and students working in those domains. Start upskilling yourself according to the requirement of the field. Ask professors for some projects so that you can gain relevant experience. And then apply for an FT in the subsequent years. You may or may not receive immediate acceptance, but you will find your way and get to learn a lot.

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

MITACS and DAAD release a list of Institutes whose students are eligible to apply to their programs. IITKGP is a part of these lists. Thus, belonging to IITKGP helped.