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Dibyaranjan Mekap

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Dibyaranjan Mekap

Research Associate

Fraunhofer LBF

Job Profile:

Research Associate in the Plastics Division Plastics, Department of Material Analytics at Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF.

Job description - Characterization of complex polyolefins

Degrees That Matter:

Atleast Masters or better PhD level in Polymers/chemical eng/material sci/chemistry.

The Decisions That Matter

1) Dropping 1 year after class 12 to prepare for IIT JEE entrance examination inspite of having other good opportunities.

2) Coming to Germany for for my PhD instead of US because of excellent Industrial projects and opportunity to get additional work experience in Fraunhofer LBF.

My brief description

Until now I have been developing my skills to fulfill my dreams of becoming a top-level researcher in Polymer Industry. So everything I have done has been to move towards that goal..

After Class 12 I dropped 1 year to get into IIT as that gives an excellent boost to my profile.Then in IIT based on my Rank I chose Polymer Science and Technology.In IIT I did two research internships abroad to gain experimental know how and hands-on experience.After IIT I immediately joined my PhD because that is essential if you want to succeed in a specific field like polymers.I am part of a group in Fraunhofer LBF who are leader in polymer analysis and characterization. I have no leadership role as such but since we analyse samples from different industries so one has to lead various industrial projects. I lead such a research project however I can't disclose anymore because of my contract.

Also along with working in Fraunhofer LBF I am also doing my PhD in Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt).

Challenges in job

The challenging part is making the right choices. Many times you have to plan and allocate resources and one has to be very careful that you don't incur heavy losses. Being a part of industrial research also entails that I have to be extremely goal oriented. Although this reduces opportunity of doing fundamental research but making a product that is industrially applicable is extremely satisfying too. Because of this along with getting my PhD I am also getting industrial experience too which will hold me in good stead when I join any industry later.

Job made easy

Adaptability & Fast Thinking, work ethics and Patience - these are 3 things that I found essential in doing research.

Adaptability & fast thinking. During the course of my project I have many instances when I have to make decisions whether I should proceed further on certain ideas or not. Then I have make correct decisions.

Work Ethics - To succeed in research I learned very fast that I have to be extremely disciplined and be prepared to work hard. There is absolutely no substitute to hard work no matter from where you come from.

Patience - Throughout my course there are many ideas but I can only to some extent predict their outcome. So I have to be extremely patient and not get frustrated. In research there is no bad results, sometimes the results which are considered actually help me get better ideas that results which can be easily explained.

Upcoming trends

Due to more exposure good students have started getting interested in research. Also now a days there is good opportunities as researcher. Due to networking sites like yours there is good advices/suggestions for upcoming researchers. However one also should only take these advices only as options and make their own decisions, i.e. one shouldn't get influenced by others. Just take all the advices think out a plan for yourselves and stick to it.

My point of view

That is because of lack of experimental facilities. You can't do top-of-the-line research on outdated instruments or technologies.

There is no long term planning - there is too much focus on short term solutions to make a quick profit to boost one's own character. So when the risks taken during making these quick profits backfire you have already moved up and you can put all blames upon the next new guy who then again doers the same.

And promotion is not based on performance - if you perform well doesn't mean you get the credit , its usually the one who has other qualities. There is no integrity, no credibility. So all good minds go out of India and then invent , discover all the tech products that are dominating the world market. Just look at the number of Indian researchers in research group through out the world which are responsible for all these tech products. So actually we are the one who are producing them

My goal

I am in my 2nd year PhD now. I will complete my PhD in 3 years. Then I am going to get into polymer industry. In industry my goal is to build a good reputation. My goal is to do some good work that contributes to the poymer indistries.

family background

I hail from a middle class brahmin family from the steel city Rourkela, Odisha. My father Mr. D. K. Mekap is Sr. Technician in Rourkela Steel Plant and my mother Mrs. Ranjeeta Mekap is a housewife. We are two brother my elder brother Mr. Somioranjan Mekap works as Business Analyst in TAT Consultancy Services in Mumbai.

Advice to professionals

Start building you CV very early and be prepared to work hard. There are no short cuts in research since one has to show case his/her work to some of the more brilliant and experienced minds who would absolutely not compromise with mediocrities.

Advice to students

1) Don't go for short cuts or easy solutions.
2) CGPA/Grades are important
3) Choose your goals as soon as possible and build your CV accordingly
4) Don't waste your vacation times - go for short term internships better abroad if not in good research facilities in India
5) Good recommendations always come in handy.
6) Extra curricular activities and good communication skills vital for getting through interviews. Your english should be good if you want to work abroad.