Jagannath University Student Tilottoma Roy Wins Fully Funded PhD Scholarship in the United States

Staff Report: PNN

Jagannath University (JNU) Microbiology student Tilottoma Roy has secured a fully funded PhD opportunity in the United States. She has been selected for higher studies at Wayne State University in the state of Michigan.

According to university sources, she achieved this success through long-term dedication, strong academic results, and deep interest in research, which has created an atmosphere of pride and joy among teachers and students of Jagannath University.

Tilottoma Roy completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Microbiology from Jagannath University. She achieved a CGPA of 3.94 in her bachelor’s degree and 3.83 in her master’s degree. She also obtained a 6.5 score in the IELTS English proficiency test.

However, her journey to success was not easy. Alongside her studies, she had to manage employment and research responsibilities simultaneously. During her master’s studies, she worked as a microbiologist at a pharmaceutical company while also participating in thesis research at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). Later, she continued working in another organization while preparing for higher studies abroad.

In 2024, she initially applied to several universities and received partially funded offers, but she declined them in pursuit of better opportunities. After further preparation, she reapplied and eventually received a fully funded PhD offer from Wayne State University.

Tilottoma Roy said that her academic performance, research experience, professional skills, and a strong Statement of Purpose played key roles in her success. She also mentioned that balancing job, classes, exams, and research helped her become more prepared.

She has already published one research paper in an international journal, with another under review and a new project currently ongoing. Her current research focuses on a potential oral vaccine for pneumonia, which has attracted interest from researchers at Wayne State University.

Expressing her feelings, she said: “This was a personal challenge for me. Many people said it would be difficult to reach the international level from Jagannath University. I took that challenge as motivation.”

She added that in the future she wants to contribute to the welfare of people in Bangladesh through innovative research.

University officials believe that her achievement will serve as an inspiring example for students of Jagannath University. It demonstrates that international success is possible through dedication and planning, even with limited resources and challenges.