Meet KAUST prospective student: Dhanu Chettri

About

-By Taruna Rapaka

Dhanu Chettri holds a master’s degree in electronic and communication engineering from Manipur University, India. Before joining KAUST, he worked as a senior project fellow at Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI). Dhanu will join KAUST this fall as a Ph.D. candidate and member of the Advanced Semiconductor Laboratory under the supervision of Professor Xiaohang Li.

What was your main subject during your master’s degree? Why did you choose it?

My specialization during my master’s degree was microelectronics and Very-large-scale integration (VLSI). I choose this field because of my interest in microelectronics device technology and its impact on the world.

Why have you chosen to pursue a Ph.D. at KAUST?

I choose KAUST because it has many state-of-the-art research laboratories equipped with the latest tools in my area of research. Moreover, the KAUST faculty are renowned, with an excellent student-faculty ratio. Furthermore, KAUST also provides startup funding for outstanding research ideas, which would allow our team to transform our research work into commercial products.

When did your interest in electrical engineering arise? What are your research interests?

My interest in electrical engineering arose as a high school student after I attended a science exhibition fair in Imphal. Following which, I took part in various science fairs and competitions (my first experimental demonstration was the concept of the Curie point).

I am interested in semiconductor materials, devices and nanofabrication.

What do you do in your spare time? What are you passionate about?

I like to listen to music, podcasts, write songs and play video games. I also like videography and skateboarding and am passionate about learning about different places, cultures and histories.

What is your future outlook?

I envisage myself as a productive scientist working to develop solutions to practical problems faced by humanity.

Can you give a piece of advice to students who plan to pursue a M.S./Ph.D. at KAUST?

As the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day.” The students who want to join KAUST should work steadily in advance. Having a piece of strong fundamental knowledge of your field is vital, and non-native English speakers should have a strong command of the English language before joining. But most importantly be sincere, honest and responsible.