Exchange Diaries  

Shashi Kumar | Geology and Geophysics

University of Alberta, Canada

Research Area: Prediction of compressive strength of materials based upon experimental data using ML and AI

What was the University and topic of research that was taken up by you during the FT?
I was acting as an undergraduate research intern at the University of Alberta. My topic of research was related to the prediction of compressive strength of materials based upon experimental data using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Why is an FT important? How would one compare research in Indian universities and foreign universities?
FT is very important and is a very good opportunity to expand one's network and if you want to go for a Ph.D., it is a very good reference point for your application. There is so much difference between when you are interning in India and when you are interning abroad. In general, foreign universities don't interfere much with the research work that you are doing they let the student do all the work and if you need any help then you can go to them.

FT vs corporate internship, what are all the things we are missing out on and what are we gaining more?
Personally, it depends on the individual whether he/she wants to do a corporate internship or an FT. If one is interested in the research then he/she is free to do research. The difference is that in academic research you have some independence, you have your own time and there is no pressure imposed upon you but in the corporate, there is some pressure. I haven't faced any corporate internship as of now

Should BTech students aspiring for higher studies from abroad opt for an FT?
Anyone can opt for higher studies if they want. In Mitacs they preferred pre-final years, whether they are BTech or Masters, they do not discriminate against you based on that.

What exactly is the application process for the FT? Are there any important documents one must keep?
You can apply through various foreign training programs or by mailing. Firstly, you have to choose projects, a maximum of seven projects can be chosen based upon different programs, and also your academic achievements should be mentioned in the registration part. The important documents are your CV and reference letter. The selection is based upon your CV and research work or whatever you have done so far. They will shortlist you based on your CV.

How did the process get affected due to the online nature of the applications?
The registration process remains the same. During my time they were going forward with offline but at the last moment, they shifted to online.

Did you have to mail the professor personally for the project? For how much time did you wait for a reply?
No for everyone who is going to apply or is planning to apply for an FT should not contact the professor personally, only after you get shortlisted for the FT the professor may contact you but first, there should not be any conversation.

When should one start applying for an FT? How long did the procedure last till you got the desired FT?
There are many FT programs and also people start mailing. So, for mailing one need to start early. Ideally, we should start mailing by the end of September because that is the optimal time for mailing the professors.
For a student to get selected for FT depends on the project or research work this is determined by the possibility of getting you an FT and not the year. One of our alumni has bagged an FT in the second year as well.

What is the role of CGPA in the selection process?
CGPA plays a very important role when going for an FT because it reflects your academic performance. A CGPA close to 9 would be ideal but that doesn't mean a student having lower CGPA cannot bag an FT. I know many seniors who interned abroad having CGPA less than 8. But to be on the safer side it should be above 8.

How did the pandemic affect your application for the project? Did the pandemic have any positive impact on the project?
No, the pandemic did not have any positive impact. There was a delay in work.

Where should a student, who is unaware of the entire application process, look up information about professors and their research work for opportunities?
It depends on the university one wants to join. Every university has its faculty page, from there you can look up professors and their field of research. If you want to do work on a certain topic then you can pick up their names in the research paper itself.

How should a first-year student prepare beforehand for his FT application in their subsequent year?
I don't think I will be able to answer this question as in the first year most of the topics are quite general and not specific to a particular field.

Does belonging to IITKGP provide any added benefits for getting your FT?
Belonging to an IIT plays a good role because the professors are aware of the IITs and their calibre but if you don't have a proper skill then there is no advantage in belonging to an IIT.