Computational Chemistry

Source: https://ircell.iitkgp.ac.in/ftp/blogs/ftp/954f66a9-6718-486d-8d99-b6522cd60177/ Parent: https://ircell.iitkgp.ac.in/ftp/

Kindly explore everything before choosing a career, don’t get into the peer pressure and don’t hesitate to do what you want, be it research, development or entrepreneurship.

Could you briefly introduce yourself along with the university you*completed the internship in and was it a remote or an on-site opportunity?*

My name is Deepjoy Rudra Sarma. I am a 5th year Undergraduate student of the Department of Chemistry enrolled in its 5 year integrated M.Sc. course. I completed my research internship in the domain of Computational Chemistry at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. It was a 2.5-month on-site internship which I got through ThinkSwiss (For Asian and Pacific country students).

*What was the project that you worked on during your time at the University of Geneva?*

So I worked on the computational chemistry domain. My project was to research Antimicrobial Resistance, you know on overuse of antibacterial, the bacteria get immune or resistant to it and the antibacterials don’t affect them anymore, this can be dangerous. So I specially worked on tuberculosis bacteria and studied its molecular mechanism.

What were the selection criteria and do you think CGPA matters for the same?

First of all you have to start cold mailing different Swiss professors who work in a domain you are interested in. Then once you get selected by a prof, you can apply on the ThinkSwiss portal along with the professor's details and your domain of interest, On the portal, you also have to post your CV, SOP, Motivation to apply and other necessary information. There are a few specific domains which are fully funded like the one in which I got into, so you can apply

accordingly as well.

CGPA is an important factor and everyone must have a decent CGPA, but it isn’t the ultimate factor, one should have a balanced profile, Like a low CGPA can always be balanced by a few excellent projects and other important things, I don’t think CGPA should be hyped this much.

What previous experiences were beneficial for your internship?

Some of my previous experiences include a research internship at BITS PILANI, University My name is Deepjoy Rudra Sarma. I am a 5th year Undergraduate student of the Department of Chemistry enrolled in its 5 year integrated M.Sc. course. I completed my research internship in the domain of Computational Chemistry at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. It was a 2.5-month on-site internship which I got through ThinkSwiss (For Asian and Pacific country students). What was the project that you worked on during your time at the University of Geneva? of Alberta (MITACS) and a few research projects in IIT KGP as well. These gave me the confidence to further spend my time in research.

What were the significant challenges you faced while applying?

The most challenging part is the very first step, i.e. Getting accepted by the professors, since emailing several professors is a tough thing to do with a very low success rate. Also, the resources for preparation are very less or scattered so one has to do everything on his/her own.

Can you describe a typical day in your internship and the research facility?

I somewhat had a fixed and good routine. Go to the lab at 9 AM which feels lively and active, then attend lab meets, set up the system and work, run simulations, have lunch with diverse lab mates and other interns, get back to the dorm and finally travel or roam around beautiful Switzerland a bit. I loved each and every day I spent there.

Was it difficult for you to adapt to the cultural environment of a new country and what was the best thing about the host country?

Adapting to a new country wasn’t a difficult thing for me as I've already done an MITACS internship. The only thing was to get into a routine which took a few days. The best part of interning there was meeting various people from different countries and working, eating, travelling and having fun together.

Would you recommend this university or the country to others?

Yes definitely, I had a great time at the university of Geneva and would recommend it. But for me the institute is of lesser priority, more preference is to be given to the domain and the project.

How did you manage your finances there; was there any scholarship you would like to mention?

This was a fully funded opportunity; I just had to stick to my budget and follow tips and tricks to manage my finances.

Did IIT KGP play any role in providing you with this opportunity?

Yes, the IIT tag definitely plays a very important role, I was told that several people went through my CV after seeing the IIT tag. Also, IIT KGP was my first exposure to research and it is for anyone who pursues research.

Would you like to give any tips or suggestions for aspiring students?

I would just say, kindly explore everything before choosing a career, don’t get into the peer pressure and don’t hesitate to do what you want, be it research, development or entrepreneurship. There are plenty of opportunities out there and grabbing it is in your hands.