Debashis is in the third year of his PhD and is part of the Tribology Group.

"I like the balance between being able to work independently and having support when it is needed."

When did you decide to do a PhD and why?

I was inspired to consider a career path in higher education by the Director and Principal of my college in the final year of undergraduate studies. The Director asked “If all good students go to work in multinational companies, who will be teaching our next generation of children?” I then went on to complete a Master’s in Tribology and Maintenance Engineering. My supervisor at I.I.T. Delhi encouraged me to find a PhD position in Tribology where I could do practical work as well as run simulations with no funding constraints. I specifically decided to do my PhD at Imperial because it is an institution dedicated to STEM and located in a capital city. These two factors result in increased opportunities for meeting renowned guests, industry-inspired project work, and visits –all favouring a holistic and exciting career growth.

What is your PhD research about?

I’m working on tribo-emission: it is the emission of ions, electrons and photons from rubbing surfaces. I am interested in understanding how these are produced and what effect they have on the system. The PhD project itself is very academic but also has industrial application.

Can you describe your experiences studying a PhD here?

I’m now just starting the third year of my PhD, and I would describe my experience at Imperial in two words; luxury and a triumph! Things generally work pretty well with planning and supervision, and there are always opportunities for further exploration in my PhD. I presented my work at two international conferences during my second year and got excellent suggestions.

As part of my PhD, I get to work in a very inter-disciplinary way, as we have collaborations with both other Departments and industry. This is great as it means we have information from different perspectives and backgrounds which really supports our research.

My supervisor is very enthusiastic and always here to help. I like the balance between being able to work independently and having support when it is needed.

I also get involved with Departmental life. I’m a Graduate Teaching Assistant here, and I attend guest lectures on topics that fascinate me. The good thing about doing a PhD at Imperial is that it encourages and facilitates integrated growth of the individual – development of research skills, professional skills as well as academic teaching skills.

Have you participated in the activities offered by the Graduate School for PhD students?

Yes, I’ve found the Graduate School to be a supplement to my PhD experience. I’ve done a few courses for developing professional skills, all of which were informative, and handy for learning the facilities available and how to make the best use of them. I have also witnessed some cool stuff such as Chemistry show (Bigger Bang Reloaded) and 3 minute Thesis competition. Attending such events brings in fresh inspiration to keep on going.

What has been the highlight of your time at Imperial so far?

In the first year of my PhD, I had an amazing experience when I participated in the ‘Imperial-Tsinghua University Collaborative Research Skills Development Course’. This is a collaboration run between Imperial and Tsinghua University and we travelled to Beijing to team up with PhD students from Tsinghua for a 5 day residential course. It was a particularly valuable opportunity to work with other students from other engineering disciplines. I was also very fortunate to spend three more weeks in China afterwards, doing a research placement which my supervisor helped arrange for me. In the weekends I visited historical places and cities like Shanghai and Xian.

How do you spend your free time when you are not doing your PhD?

I like to play badminton at the College sports centre with colleagues. I also go swimming and indoor wall climbing. I enjoy trips run by the International Student Support team, to places like Brighton, Canterbury, Dorset & Warner Bros studios. I met most of my friends at Imperial through trips like these.

Do you have any thoughts about where you might like to go in the future?

I think I would like to do Postdoctoral research for a few years, with the eventual aim of becoming established as a reputed researcher in a scientific organization while increasing my understanding in Tribology of materials solving related problems. I think this is my chosen path towards contributing to the society.

What advice would you offer to students considering applying for a PhD at Imperial?

I would say it’s a good thing to have a higher degree – we all face ups and downs in anything we attempt for the first time in our life. Consider it as a challenge, accomplish small tasks, and with all the help and advice available when you seek, you shall succeed –just make sure you keep the big picture in mind and work hard.