Sophomore Year: Working in a Lab Sounds Interesting!

My story till my freshman year followed that of every other kid in India, who managed to score well in the infamous Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and was awarded a seat in one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) or its cousin, the National Institutes of Technology (NITs). When one gets into an IIT or NIT, their primary motivation is getting a job with handsome compensation, which implies a Software Engineering role. I, like many others, started preparing early for a software job. Now, I cannot say whether I fit a stereotype, but as a Mechanical Engineer, I showed reluctance toward software jobs. I soon realised that I simply cannot sit in a room, stare at a screen endlessly, and code. Can you blame me? Just step inside a plant and feel the machines breathe! Oh, what a feeling that it is! Anyways, this enlightenment was rather heavy, as it meant my job prospects were severely restricted, and on top of that, how will I fare in a job market like India's, where there is severe discrimination between software roles and core jobs (in terms of compensation)?

Just as I was trying to figure out a path for myself, it was time for a summer internship. I reached out to one of my professors (Dr Prakash Kumar Sahu) and told him my dilemma. He was a new professor and was setting up his lab. He tossed the idea of working in his lab this summer. Begin with a reading project, then move on to problem statements in additive manufacturing. I liked the idea and said, Sure! Working in a lab sounds interesting. Then, I began with the reading project on 3D concrete printing. 1 month in, and an opportunity came from an academic unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Simply put, you just don't let go of an opportunity to work with anything ISRO! I approached my professor, told him about the offer, and asked if he would allow me to take a leave. He agreed on the condition that, after I came back, I would work with him for the semester.

A sounding rocket launched from VSSC. Pic credit: Self.

I immediately agreed and flew to Thiruvananthapuram to work with Dr Anup S on a bio-mechanics project (See my project on Nacre). There, I started appreciating life in a lab. I kind of liked the uncertainty of what results we may get or not get any at all. It was also there that I worked on a simulation project that also required some ML (for a sophomore, it was overwhelming). It took a few sleepless nights, endless YouTube videos, and going back and forth on literature to catch up on the basics of Abaqus. Oh! I also witnessed a rocket launch from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre! Truly a magnificent view. Hard to believe that took the same path to the launch site, once trod by legends like Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Dr Homi Bhabha. It was my first exposure to research and working in a lab, and truth be told, I started liking it!

Junior Year: I'm Lovin' it!

Stay tuned.

Thoughts

Fall 2025: Back When I Applied to Graduate Schools

My loved ones

Books I Think are good