IFP Fellow Vishal Singh Negi has recently completed his studies in Molecular Science and Bioengineering at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. In this essay, Vishal highlights his IFP experience -- from his origins as a biotech student with a growing awareness of social justice, to a successful PhD candidate and lecturer who plans to use biotechnology to fight poverty.
CLICK HERE to view Vishal's "Army of Alumni" graphic design, a playful rendering that shows how IFP helps nurture a community of social justice activists worldwide.
The Origin:
I was born in the holy city of Rishikesh of Uttarakhand, in the northern part of India at the bank of the Ganges. My father moved to Ranchi for his job; hence, I was brought up in Ranchi. I studied Biotechnology both as an undergraduate -- and then as a master’s degree student back in Uttarakhand -- because of my passion for the life-sciences and their miraculous potential. At that stage, I was excited about the technology, but didn’t have a profound sense of concern for society. Gradually, I started realizing that – in the words of Stanley Martin Lieber – "With great power comes great responsibility". This newly developed awareness, and the promising potential of biotechnology to fulfill the basic needs of human beings in the most sustainable way, motivated me to sharpen my skills in this area.
After receiving my Masters in Biotechnology, along with three years of research experience in plant biotechnology, I decided to pursue my doctoral studies. I soon came across the International Fellowships Program ad in a local newspaper. Although biotechnology did not appear to be a study area within the application, I thought I should give it a try. After all, it impacts every possible branch of science including botany, zoology, medical science and environmental science.
I was very happy when my application was accepted and I received the call for a regional interview. I was nervous, but one particularly nice woman in the interview panel calmed me down by asking very simple questions. (That woman was none other than Mrs. Neera Handa.) By talking about myself, I developed confidence and became comfortable for rest of the session. I was fortunate enough to get selected for this fellowship. My motivation helped me begin the journey.
The Journey:
Initially, I thought IFP, like other fellowships, only provided financial support to pursue higher education. I was wrong. IFP is not merely a fellowship program. In fact, the journey of each fellow begins way before the actual degree program. IFP prepares its elected fellows to perform well in required exams (GRE, TOEFL/IELTS) by providing short-term training; I can still remember the voice of Mr. Vivek Mansukhani saying that the rigorous training we would undergo would not only help us with our exams, but would also develop our potential to face even more challenging situations without being stressed during our studies. He was absolutely right, and his statement reminds me of a quote by Jim Rohn: “Motivation is what gets you started; habit is what keeps you going”.
Most of the IFP fellows had the motivation to start their journey, but these painstaking trainings helped us develop a work habit which made us stronger when we had to face bigger challenges. I am very grateful to the whole IFP New Delhi team (Vivek, Neera, Akta, Madura and Sirin) for their patience and support throughout the entire journey.
The Challenges:
The sweet fruit of IFP’s final selection came with its own series of challenges, large and small: getting descent test scores in GRE and TOEFL/IELTS; adjusting to a new place with different cultural values; adapting to a new set of performance expectations in a competitive university environment. The IFP family trained us well – and helped us understand the different and sometimes unfamiliar cultural values of a new place. With the help of Dr. Kim Small (IFP coordinator at the East West Center) and other IFP fellows, I adapted quickly. The real challenge then became to perform well at university, and to achieve my academic goals. Persistent hard work and the will power to overcome any challenge helped me perform well; my GPA was a 4.0 out of 4.0. I believe that the difficulties I faced helped me discover who I am, and helped me recognize my true potential.
The Return:
I still remember the very first IFP orientation, when we were asked to talk about ‘who I am’. I was very nervous about speaking publicly. Today, I find I am different from the previous Vishal. I have no fear of public speaking. In fact, I’ve given three lectures in ‘Molecular Biotechnology’ for undergraduates. I presented my work confidently in several meetings before a large audience. I believe that I will be able to publish my research in peer-reviewed journals very soon. Moreover, my understanding of social science has greatly improved by attending Wednesday evening seminars organized by the East West Center.
After finishing my PhD, I would like to work with agencies or research organizations on creating a hunger-free world, with a focus on agricultural issues in the Asia-Pacific region.
I want to convey my sincere gratitude to the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program and the Institute of International Education. By producing an army of fellows at the global level, they have initiated a “chain reaction” for social change worldwide.
CLICK HERE to view Vishal's "Army of Alumni" graphic design!
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