In conversation with Shiblee Ratan Barua, a 28-year-old currently getting his PhD in Quantum Chemistry at University of Georgia in Athens, GA, USA.
Tell us a little about your educational background.
I went to three schools in my life in Bangladesh. I started in Little Jewels in Katalgonj, Chittagong; after the fifth grade I moved to Ispahani Public School which is also in Chittagong. I had to struggle a lot in the Bengali medium school initially. After two weeks,
I had to switch back to my previous school. I completed my O’ Levels from there.
What subjects did you do for O’ Levels?
Physics, Chemistry, Math A, Bengali, English and Human Biology. For my A’Levels I got into Scholastica.
So you were a science student from the start?
Yes, pretty much. I had physics, chemistry and pure math in A’ Levels and completed it in 2002. I continued to study SATs for a year or so before plunging into anything. During this time, I tutored lots of students.
What was your next plan?
I got admitted into Berea College in Berea, KY USA in August (for the fall semester) 2004 for my undergrad programme. I double majored in physics and math.
Tell us about the application process?
In Scholastica we had a high school counsellor specifically meant to help students in applying abroad; my counselor was the first one to introduce me to Berea College. Its biggest strength was that it offered full tuition scholarship to every student that gets admitted. They admit thirty students each year from 4000-5000 applicants. It’s very competitive.
Did you apply for scholarship or financial aid?
Yes I did. It is merit based; they look at your academic successes and your extracurricular activities. I learnt classical music – Nazrulgeeti, Rabindrashongeet etc until my O’ Levels and won several prizes; my extracurricular was covered.
How did your four years go by?
Undergrad in Berea was probably the best four years of my life. I made some wonderful friends from different countries all around the world. The education was top class. Student to faculty ratio was small so I think we learnt more efficiently.
Tell me about your transition from undergrad to grad school?
How did you apply?
After my undergrads were done in May, 2008 I started a summer internship in the Quantum Chemistry department at the University of Georgia (UGA). I was actually thinking about taking a year off and working after my undergrads before applying for grad school, but I was lucky that my mentor liked my work at the summer internship and offered me a PhD position immediately; I took the offer. I actually never applied for grad school.
So what sort of financial aid did you get for your PhD program?
I got full tuition scholarship which means I didn’t have to pay for my classes. I got a teaching assistantship as well. I had to teach freshmen general chemistry as part of my job. The semesters that I was not teaching as a TA I was being paid as a research assistant.
You don’t really have to apply for those assistantship positions separately; when you apply for admission they automatically consider you. If you got good results in your undergrad and did well on your GRE, they usually offer assistantship positions automatically.
What is your future plan once you complete your PhD?
Currently I’m no longer working as a TA. I’m working as an RA which means I am getting paid by the University for doing my research. It is kind of like getting paid for studying, which is pretty cool I think!
I plan on graduating in May, 2014. Currently I’m looking for some post doctorate positions as well as professorship in other colleges and universities.
Eventually I want to be a professor and teach in some four-year college or university and probably do some research on the side. I love teaching and I have a great passion for it.
