চট্টগ্রাম বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থী উচ্ছাস সিকদার পিএইচডি গবেষণার জন্য পাড়ি দিচ্ছেন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে
Photo Collected
Uchchash Sikdar, a 2018-19 academic year graduate of the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology department at the University of Chittagong, is set to depart for the United States this Saturday to pursue a PhD. He has been awarded a five-year, full-ride scholarship at the University of Miami, where he will conduct research on “human gut microbiota.” His work will focus on identifying and preventing risks associated with complex diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, potentially playing a critical role in developing personalized medical treatments based on individual physiological profiles.
The path to his doctoral studies has been defined by extraordinary personal discipline and resilience. A native of Banshkhali who grew up in the Andorkilla area of Chattogram, Sikdar maintained a stellar academic record throughout his schooling, achieving a Golden GPA-5 in both his Secondary and Higher Secondary examinations. During his undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Chittagong, he maintained a CGPA of 3.96.
Starting in his first year of university, Sikdar financed his own education by tutoring, often balancing his rigorous class and laboratory schedule—which ran from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.—with multiple tutoring sessions. He typically earned 20,000 BDT per month, half of which he contributed to his family. The remaining funds were meticulously saved to cover IELTS examination fees and university application costs, which totaled approximately 40,000 BDT across five institutions.
His academic journey included a 15-day internship in 2023 at the National Institute for Physiological Sciences in Japan, where he gained expertise in testing drug efficacy on animal models. However, the most significant challenge emerged in early 2024 when his father, Kanu Sikdar, was diagnosed with cancer. As his two older sisters were married, the burden of care fell heavily on Sikdar and his mother, Krishna Sikdar.
For two years, Sikdar navigated an exhausting routine: conducting university research, completing his thesis, managing his father’s medical care—which included a month-long stay in an Indian hospital—and finalizing his overseas applications. Even as he faced his father’s passing in October 2025 during his final master’s examinations, he remained steadfast. His department eventually postponed one of his exams to account for the personal tragedy.
Reflecting on these hardships, Sikdar noted that the support of his teachers, friends, and juniors was instrumental in his success. Professor Adnan Mannan, his research supervisor, praised his unwavering dedication, citing Sikdar as a unique example of someone who maintained his goals despite profound grief and immense pressure.
Upon arriving in the United States, Sikdar will receive a monthly stipend of 2,674 USD, and his first-year tuition fee of 29,566 USD has been waived by the university. While he prepares to move with a mix of personal savings and family support, he remains committed to returning to Bangladesh after completing his studies. Offering advice to aspiring students, Sikdar emphasized the importance of clear goal-setting, continuous engagement with research, and self-confidence, noting that with the right preparation, academic success is attainable regardless of perceived limitations.
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