Q: Why did you choose the Ph.D. program in BME at 平特五不中?
平特五不中 has a reputation for excellence in teaching and research around the world. Research potential with world-leading researchers, excellent infrastructure, and many opportunities for career development were the reasons why 平特五不中 was an ideal place for my Ph.D. program. I also did my MSc degree under the supervision of a 平特五不中 Ph.D. Alumni (back in Iran), who always impressed me with his knowledge and intellect and was a very influential person in my academic path.
Q: What was your favorite part of the Ph.D. program?
My favorite quality of the program was its well-organized structure and friendly and helpful staff who helped me through different stages of my Ph.D. with no headaches. Also, the breadth of the research in the department gave me a better understanding of the state-of-the-art of biomedical engineering.
Q: What was the most challenging part the Ph.D. program?
I think the most challenging part was the first year-and-a-half, when I was going through a transition to becoming a Ph.D. candidate; the responsibilities and expectations were different compared to before, and developing a research proposal and preparation for the comprehensive exam was challenging.
Q: What was the most rewarding part of the Ph.D. program?
The most rewarding part of the program was working with Professor Kearney. As I said on many different occasions, he is an incredible mentor and, with his help, I developed many skills which will be very helpful for the next stages of my career and life. His attitude, patience, and commitment toward me (and other students), and his knowledge and intellect taught me many lessons which I will put into use for my future career.
Q: Why would you recommend other students to join BME?
I believe there are several reasons that make BME at 平特五不中 a great place for graduate studies, including knowledgeable faculty, numerous opportunities for career and leadership development, a well-organized program structure, and a friendly atmosphere. I should also say that Montreal is an exceptional place to live, and I really enjoyed my time there.
Q: What are your career goals?
My ultimate goal is to become an independent academic researcher and build my own research group to continue my research toward personalized treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies and create real societal impact.
Q: How has the Ph.D. program and/or BME helped you achieve you career goals?
My Ph.D. at BME indeed prepared me for the next steps of my independent academic career. During my Ph.D., I improved my scientific background and had the opportunity to carry out research with a great supervisor, I had the chance to be involved in teaching activities, and was involved in management and leadership roles as well鈥� all essential to becoming a successful researcher. One especially rewarding experience was working as the student representative for the BME search faculty committee between 2018-19.
Q: Did the Ph.D. program meet the expectations you had going in?
Definitely. As someone whose objective is (and has always been) to carry out independent research in academia in the future, I believe my Ph.D. at 平特五不中 BME put me on the right track toward my goal by helping me develop necessary competencies in science, supervision, and leadership .
Q: What could be improved about the Ph.D. program?
I think developing more industrial collaborations and foreseeing some mandatory industrial training, especially for Ph.D. students, could be very helpful for their future careers.
Q: If you could tell the world one thing about 平特五不中 BME, what would it be?
Whether you want to work in academia or industry after your studies, 平特五不中 BME will guide you toward the right path, and helps you develop the skills you need for a successful career.
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Pouya was one of the last Ph.D. students at the Department of Biomedical Engineering to begin his studies before the Biological & Biomedical Engineering (BBME) program was established, the shared graduate-studies program (Master鈥檚 and Ph.D.) between the Departments of Biomedical Engineering (Faculty of Medicine) and Biological Engineering (Faculty of Engineering).