Quick recap
This webinar, organized by the American Association of Bangladeshi Pharmaceutical Scientists (AABPS), focused on helping Bangladeshi students understand how to pursue PhD programs in the United States. Dr. Faisal moderated the session with Dr. Faisal Hossain, and the main presenter was Anik Biswas, a Doctoral Research Assistant in Material Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida, who shared his personal journey from Bangladesh to the US PhD program. Anik Biswas explained the key steps for PhD applications, including defining research interests, updating CVs, creating application trackers, writing effective emails to professors, and understanding funding opportunities. He emphasized the importance of professor communication and using AI tools to find suitable programs and funding opportunities. The session included a question and answer portion where participants discussed strategies for different types of universities, email timing, GRE requirements, and negotiation possibilities with professors regarding funding. Additional insights were shared by Paroma Arefin, a current PhD student who discussed her experience and emphasized the importance of staying open to different departments and opportunities.
PhD Webinar for Bangladeshi Students
The meeting focused on organizing a webinar about pursuing a PhD in the United States for Bangladeshi students. Faisal introduced the session, which was organized by the American Association of Bangladeshi Pharmaceutical Scientists, and welcomed participants. He then introduced the main presenter, Anik Biswas, a Doctoral Research Assistant in Material Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida, who would share his personal journey from Bangladesh to the US and explain how he found and enrolled in his PhD program. The session was scheduled to include a presentation followed by a question and answer segment.
PhD Application Journey Insights
Anik Biswas presented his PhD journey from pharmacy to material science engineering, sharing insights on pursuing PhD programs in the US. He discussed key steps including defining research interests, reviewing faculty research profiles, creating application trackers, and effectively communicating with professors through tailored emails. Anik Biswas emphasized the importance of funding opportunities, proper documentation, and utilizing AI tools for research. The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment where participants requested to see the Excel tracking template and shared personal experiences with PhD applications.
US PhD Application Strategies
The meeting focused on PhD application strategies in the US, with Anik Biswas and Paroma sharing their experiences about professor outreach and university admissions. Anik Biswas explained that while top-tier universities primarily use central admission processes, middle-ranked universities (200-1200 range) do consider professor recommendations, making direct communication with faculty important for increasing application chances. Paroma emphasized the importance of being proactive in reaching out to both faculty and students across different departments, and recommended staying open to various departments and research areas. The discussion also covered practical advice about when to email professors (avoiding Mondays and Fridays), the value of including GRE scores even when not required, and the recommendation against negotiating stipend amounts with professors.