Louis-Marie Ngamassi, a third year PhD student of IST, is looking for a NGO job after graduation and is hard working with academic project and publication. I am happy to share his thoughts and experience in his office.
1. His project and dissertation
Guided by his advisor Carleen Maitland and other professors of IST, Louis is diligently working on the COHORT project. This is a perfect project for him, a combination and extention of his previous work in UN and research interest in NGO. Stemed from this project, Louis is thinking of narrowing down his final dissertation topic, which is assumed to be fulfilled in the end of this semester. Louis has passed through the tough first PhD year which we are all experiencing now. However, he said he's still under certain stress from time to time, thinking of how to turn project and report into high valued papers. "You have to find specific things from these reports and make them deeper and researchable", he said, "and it is very important to get feedback from faculties in the project. Work hard and their guidance will keep pushing you forward."
2. His conferences and papers
Based on the COHORT project, Louis came up with several publications which can been seen on his personal website www.personal.psu.edu/lxn141. Apart from the project, he also published papers on his own interest about ICT and HIV issues. As to the conferences, he has joined ISCRAM, TPRC, IFIP, ICT AFRICA and so on. To him, attending conferences with his advisor is a very interesting experience. Dr. Maitland will show him around, meet different people, happy and sweet.
3. His view of academic life
Located on the third floor of IST building, Louis from time to time has talks with first year graduate students. He also experienced the tough beginning of PhD life, especially the first semester. Going through all this, Louis now thinks the first year is a good accumulation for future research and all students can survive with unnoticed progress finally. Finishing all the courses and assignments, Louis now is in a new stage of PhD life, in which research and publications become the most important thing. Although he is looking for a non academic career, he still work hard in research for two reasons: one is publication is vital for every PhD students, the second is by publication and joining conferences, he will get acquaintance with people in the particular area he will work with.
4. His view of himself
Louis describes himself as an "Outlier". Why? He has a long work experience, much longer than other students in IST. He thinks he has limitations, like slow reading and should work harder. He has a family, lovely children and has more responsibilities. These reasons make him think himself as "outlier". I am happy that Louis and I have the same advisor, which gives me more chances of talking with him. Louis has set up a very good example to me, no matter in study or in life. Compared with Louis, my experience are simpler and my life are simpler. And our research interests are different. However, there are two things I think we all should possess, a diligent attitude and calm mood. Louis has possessed both and I'm still searching in the way.
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