Continued ….
IF: Was this your first internship?
Radha: Yes, this was my first internship.
IF: Were there any special events during the internships which you would like to share?
Radha: Academically there were no such events held. But at hostel, at a time when many summer interns were leaving, other students residing at hostel had conducted a cultural programme for the first time in CMERI hostel. It is just like giving a farewell to all of us. Every one enjoyed a lot at that special evening.And in that 8 weeks duration we celebrated few friends birthday’s and got many treats from them. We used to celebrate even for small occasions.
This is at a treat of my friend Pooja’s birthday
Apart from all these the funniest thing in CMERI was, every day after coming fromcampus we used to go to CMERI old colony and pluck so many mangoes. Atweekends we had so much fun. I went to Durgapur barrage along with my friends onthe last day of my intern.
IF: What was the guidance provided by your guide? What all support you received from CSIR – CMERI administration.
Radha: He is the best guide I have ever seen. He is highly qualified and talented but never seems to be proud and very casual, is friendly with everyone, humorous, helps and guides every student very nicely, even to those students who were not working under him. It has been his generosity to take out his valuable time exclusively for sorting out my problems and his unvarying guidance that made this internship very nice. His valuable guidance and suggestions led to the implementation of this summer research project. He feels the responsibility for students working under him, that’s why he gave me a chance for another 6 months project.
IF: To whom all people you would, like to thank in context of this internship?
Radha: Firstly I would like to thank all my faculty especially Mr.Ch. Basavaiah Chandu, chemistry faculty inNano-Technology department, who helped me a lot in applying for this project and Dr.G.Giridhar, Mr.M.Syam Sundhar,faculty of Nano technology department in A.N.U for their valuable guidance, encouragement and support. I would like to express my deepest and sincere gratitude to my guide Dr. Rashmi Ranjan Sahoo, Senior Scientist, Surface Engineering and Tribology Division, CSIR – CMERI, who has been my guide and above all the constant source of my inspiration. Without his valuable guidance and encouragement, this project couldn’t have taken shape.I would like to thank the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Indian National Academy of Sciences (INSA) and The National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) for giving me the opportunity to carry out the summer research project at CSIR – CMERI, Durgapur. I wish to express our sincere gratitude To Prof. Gautam Biswas, Director, CSIR – CMERI for making the provisions to work in his esteemed institution as well as providing me with the accommodation during the fellowship period. I am grateful to Dr. Naresh Chandra Murmu, Principal Scientist and Head, Surface Engineering and Tribology Division, CSIR – CMERI, for his kind gesture towards my project for its completion in his laboratory.I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Head and staffs of the HRD division for rendering all possible assistance and support. I also thank all my Senior lab mates and Staff members of this Lab for being there when I needed them most. I thank my family for their constant support and encouragement. Finally, I thank my friends M.Sadhvi, Pooja Das Sharma, Priyanka Das, M.RaviTeja, Tripty Maity, who made my intern enjoyable and memorable.
IF: How much difference this period of 8 weeks made in your intellectual capabilities and mindset. In broad terms what are your gains from this?
Radha: In this 8 week time period I got a clarity of my future plans, learned how to achieve my goals, improved my skills. Before this internship I was much scarred to talk with new people and used to fear for everything, but now I lost all that attitude and can communicate with anyone. The most important thing was I learned about myself
IF: What advice you would like to give to your juniors, which can help them in getting internships in their future college life.
Radha: Internships are a fantastic way to meet new people, and your intention behind each internship should be to learn something new. Choose some relevant projects, find out more by talking to seniors who have done the internship you would like to do, know what is required to get it.
IF: What are your future plans after this internship and how much impact this internship will have on it?
Radha: Actually our last semester will be entirely a project of 6months. My guide said to come back for that project and continue the same work. So, I am going back to CMERI for my M.Sc thesis, at which I may get a research publication. And after completion of my course I will go for PHD. So, for that purpose I will get a recommendation from my guide which would be very beneficial to me.
IF: Any views about this initiative of InternFeel, and how beneficial it would be?
Radha: InternFeel is doing a fantastic job which would be very beneficial to students going for an internship and also help in guiding them to get an internship. This will be greatly helpful for students who are not having any basic idea of how an internship would be, how the environment of an internship is, whether the skills you’ve acquired are applicable or not. You are being just like as a friend for us and making us very very comfortable throughout the interview and it was very nice of you for making us share all our experiences and remembering all memories again.
IF: So Radha, we are at the end of the interview. From the entire team of InternFeel, we thank you for taking out your time and sharing your experiences for everyone and we wish you best of luck for all your future endeavors.
Radha: I am also very thankful to you because you have given me such a wonderful experience by asking me for an interview, which was my first interview and also made me to realise what I learned in this internship.
