Today we have Shashank Pathak from KIIT, having done internship at IIT Indore. Let’s learn more.
InternFeel: Please tell us something about yourself. Where and what are you studying currently?
Shashank Pathak: I am Shashank Pathak currently pursuing my B.Tech in Information Technology. from KIIT University interested in research areas involving algorithm design and analysis. I love to solve puzzles and I am speed cuber also at World Cube Association.
IF: Give us details about your internship – process of application, stipend, duration and place?
SP: I got selected for Research Intern at Indian Institute of Technology Indore, 2018. The duration of the internship was 2 months from May to July. However, if you do a great work as an intern then prof might give you opportunities to work as a visiting research fellow under him.
Joint our Facebook group, to stay updated with all new interviews: – https://www.facebook.com/groups/Internfeel/
IF: How competitive was the selection process? According to you, which qualities have helped you have an edge in the selection process? Also, what were the key things that selectors were looking for?
SP: I applied by mailing to professors at different IITs. I did extreme competitive programming in my second year and got a good grasp at data structures and algorithm, this gave me a great advantage as being from a sophomore year its advantageous to have a strong base of data structures and algorithm. CGPA matters, I was having 9.1 CGPA so it was also an advantage but having above 8.5 is sufficient enough if you have a good CV. I think so the best time to apply is from November to February. I mailed many professors but did not get a reply from many, you have to patient enough, wait for the reply. I applied in December and got the acceptance mail in Feb.It was a great day for me I celebrated happiness with my family.
IF: Could you please highlight the work/research you carried out during your internship period?
SP: Since I did it just after my 2nd year so I was not much aware how research is done. I reached there and was assigned to work with the Ph.D. scholar over there. He guided me and supported me a lot during my whole internship and even after that. My work was broadly in the field of Machine Learning and algorithm analysis and optimization. At the end of the internship, the interns had to give a presentation of the research work and a documented summary of the work. My paperwork was not completed but it’s not an issue, its still going on as good publication at the end is what matters the most.
IF: Can you give us interesting details about your experience – good and bad? (It could be something like the amazing location of your internship, the friends you made for life, a bad senior, accommodation given in case of an outstation internship and something along those line.)
SP: Though IIT Indore is a new IIT and its campus is still under construction but overall the campus life is great over there. The coolest thing I found there was for bikes. Then newly build hostel (APJ Abdul Kalam Hall of Residence) is amazing with a flat system. I made some good friends over there and enjoyed a lot. My prof was very kind and helpful. He always guided and supported at every step(It’s very lucky and important to get a great professor to work under).
IF: How do you think this internship has helped you grow? In other words, what are your key takeaways from the internship?
SP: This internship helped me grow as a researcher and taught me the art of paper reading which was initially very tough to me. I used to be at lab full day and few days at night also. This taught how to be sincere and dedicated enough to carry out research work. Research is just like Test Cricket.
IF: Has this internship had a decision altering impact on your career? Do you now think of a different future path as compared to before doing the internship?
SP: As such not much but yeah it has given me motivation to further pursue my career in research-oriented stuff either in IT MNCs or at good universities abroad.
IF: Lastly, do you have any words of advice or caution for students aspiring for this internship and reading this piece?
SP: My advice to students is that make plans a bit early if you feel like that you want to do research intern. Keep your CGPA as high possible. Try mailing as many professors as you can. It will increase your chances. Further always be careful in choosing a professor under which you want to do your intern. The prof under which I did my intern was very friendly and chill sort of, understood my abilities and helped me out a lot, to put my baby steps in the field of research.
IF: Please rate this internship from the scale of 0 to 10, 0 being really bad to 10 being awesome!
SP: I would rate this internship 9 on the scale of 10.Why 9? because there is always a scope of doing better. But overall I am totally satisfied and happy.
In the end, I would thank InternFeel team for considering me for this interview. A big thumbs up to the team as it helps a lot to get some idea about the internship program.