Exchange Diaries  

Pranali Rahangdale | Agricultural and Food Engineering

University of Florida, USA

Research Area: Deep Learning

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

I did my Foreign training under professor Dr Won Suk Lee from the University of Florida, USA and the topic for research work was “Image-based quantification of Blueberry flowers using Deep Learning Techniques”. My work was to detect and count the blueberry flowers from an image by creating various Deep learning models.

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

A Foreign Internship helps you in getting international exposure, you get to interact with people with different cultures. If you are planning to do higher studies abroad, then doing an FT will increase your chances to get good universities, and also you will already have some experience in how foreign universities work. I guess the only difference is that the foreign universities believe in inclining towards practical work more than theoretical.

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

Yes, definitely. As I said, doing an FT will increase your chances to get good universities and also you will already have some experience in how foreign universities work. Besides, your CV looks good too.

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

I applied through direct mailing and coincidently the professor whom I mailed was already in contact with the IR cell to get the interns from kg. So, the professor mailed me to contact the IR cell heads, and then the whole procedure was taken over by them. Since my internship was virtual (due to pandemics), no such documents were required in my case except my CV and cover letter. But in the case of an offline internship, I guess your traveling docs, itinerary, passport, etc. will be needed.

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

Not as much as I expected. My professor was really sweet and was always there to guide me. He was patient with me whenever I made mistakes. We used to communicate via mail frequently and I was supposed to report my progress every week so he kind of knew what's the progress and where I am getting stuck. But I still hoped for an offline internship, the experience would have been a lot more different. I would not say that it had any positive impact but it wasn’t negative as well.

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

Yeah, I had mailed personally for the project. I guess you have to be very patient with the application process. Sometimes you never get a reply or sometimes professors will reply that you can work under me but you have to manage your expenses on your own. After sending around 50-60 emails, I got a perfect project for myself. So I will suggest don’t give up while applying, this process takes time.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

Every professor considers different criteria to select the student and CGPA is one of them. In my case, I had an above-average CGPA but due to my previous projects and internships, I got selected. CGPA does help you in getting FT very easily but not every time. Your experience and skills also play a major role and make sure you are writing a good cover letter.

FT vs corporate internship?

As far as I am concerned, I guess it is better to experience both types of internships. Both are important in their way and it helps you in deciding what you wanna do in future, whether you want to pursue research work or you want to enter the corporate world.

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

I would say first explore your interest and then decide on which field you want to do your internship in. You can contact your seniors, your professors to get the information. In my case, I already knew some of the famous universities in Agriculture and Food Engineering and then I started mailing the professors from those universities whose projects intrigued me the most. You can also apply through IR cell based on your interest. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to get any info.

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

First, decide your field of interest and learn as much as you can about it. You can do some certification courses, you can take additional courses in your semester as well. Also, you can contact the respective professor from your department or other departments to complete a project under your field of interest. Overall your main aim should be to build your skill sets and gain some experience so that you can add it to your CV and cover letter to make you compatible with the FT. A decent CGPA is also a plus point.

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

Yes, of course. In my case, my professor was already looking for IITKGP students for internships and when I mailed him, I got a positive response from him because of my previous projects. But I guess being from IIT sometimes plays a vital role in your application since it is a prestigious institution well known all over the world.

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

Since in normal situations, we usually apply through online mode only so there was no disruption in the application procedure. Everything went smoothly and it was more convenient for me as the further steps were taken over by the IR cell.

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

Once you have built up your skill sets and your profile, I guess then you can start applying for it. I feel that the second year is an ideal time for you to start your application since you will have a lot of time to explore and learn. For me, the whole procedure lasted for around 3 months till I got the desired project. I had started applying in October and I got a response from prof. Lee in December I guess.