Why FSU?

I was interested in working in the Biostatistics domain; in particular, neuroimaging and statistical genetics have aroused my curiosity since my master's days. There is some great research going on in the FSU Department of Statistics in this field. I found that there is a brilliant match with my research interests and the research work currently going on at FSU.

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

Since my childhood, I always had a thirst to know more. Pursuing multiple projects on epidemiology and public health since my master's days increased this thirst even more. And then I made the decision that instead of going into the corporate world and working 9 to 5, I have to know more about what is happening in the world around me. This eagerness was the first step in my decision to continue with higher studies.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My current work focuses on neuroimaging. Studying the human brain makes a significant contribution in the field of medicine. It helps determine the presence of any carcinogenic substance and also helps in determining the cognitive behavior of the person.

Career aspirations

My only aspiration at the moment is to become efficient in using different statistical tools, particularly related to the field that I am working in. Also, I would like to continue my research work further and maybe pursue a postdoctoral position in my domain.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

The keys to pursuing a graduate degree are patience and hard work. More importantly, you should love what you do and do what you love. You will not get good results the day you start working, but you can't lose hope either; perseverance is a must if you want to go for a graduate degree. Also, you should have the urge and eagerness to know more.

Accomplishments during graduate career

Currently I am the president of the Indian Students Association of Tallahassee (INSAT), a leading RSO at FSU. Working here has enabled me to connect with a huge number of people, and it feels great when everyone applauds the INSAT for noble work.