Exchange Diaries  

Pranav Teja | Aerospace Engineering

The Arctic University of Norway, Europe

Research Area: Artificial Intelligence -Aerodynamics

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

I did my Foreign Training at the Arctic University of Norway and my topic of Research was implementing deep learning in Medical Image analysis.

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

FT is really helpful when it comes to deciding whether one would like to follow research or go with corporate life. One would understand what kind of work-life he/she would be living if they do a Ph.D. in the future and undertake research. In my field of computer vision, research in foreign and Indian universities is not very different but as there’s better funding in foreign universities, one can do better and detailed research.

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

As I have done a few corporate internships, and according to the discussions with my mentors who have done corporate internships, there they first introduce you to the kind of work they do and then assign you to a project where we need to give our contribution. It is a more rigid structure with achievable targets whereas in an FT such as mine, initially, the professor gave me the topic and resources, and after some time of initial implementation of the code, I had the freedom of exploring the paths that I can go in this topic. Hence flexibility is the main difference one could say.

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

Yes definitely! It is a good idea to take an FT before opting for higher studies abroad. Foremost the student will understand if they want to do higher studies as foreign professors look for candidates who are good at research and they get a flavor of academia through FT. Also if possible they can publish a paper as it would help in gaining admission to a foreign university.

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

I applied for the FT through IR Cell’s portal in May. As for the documents, IR Cell has a platform where we can upload the necessary documents such as the resume. The most important thing for an FT that showcases how relevant you are for the project would be your Statement of Purpose (SOP). This showcases how much you are interested in the topic and how you will help them to develop new methods to solve problems.

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

I had started applying for the FT in December and through IR Cell’s portal, I received my FT in May. I would recommend applying for an FT every time the portal through IR Cell is opened and it generally takes 2-3 weeks for the confirmation. If you’re mailing professors, the recommended time to start mailing would be October to November. However, in general, foreign professors take in students any time if they’re interested.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?

I would not say CGPA is a very important criterion but having a decent CGPA is a plus point. Lower CGPA is not exactly a deal-breaker as one can counter this by producing experience and a good skill set.

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

No, The entire process was done through IR Cell’s portal. But after the approval, we had to mail the professor and attend an interview of sorts where we had to discuss our skill sets to see how we could help the professor in his research

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

The FT being online, communication was a major difficulty although we used zoom and other platforms for communication. However, since my area of research was based on computer vision and required mostly the use of computers, my research was not highly affected but definitely, research would have been better if it was offline and I could have used their facilities for my work.

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

The first step would be to find out your area of interest. After that, go to google scholar and then search for your topic name. You would get a list of research papers that you can read and pinpoint your preferred area of research. You can th4en contact the professor to see if you can contribute to their research

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

The first importance would be to maintain a decent CGPA. Concentrate on the core subjects too. You have to explore your interests and maintain a good connection with the seniors. Explore the research work undertaken by your department’s faculty and request them if it would be possible to do a small project under them. These projects are helpful not only for the future but also to secure an FT.

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

Definitely! I think IITKGP was a major reason why I received an FT. It was also because I had applied through the FTP Portal of IR Cell, IITKGP. IIT KGP is renowned at a global scale for its research and since it has numerous MOUs with top colleges abroad, people realize how the students from IITKGP are. So, being a KGPian was a huge plus.