Ghanshyambhai Khatri with the Rector of the Jagiellonian University Prof. Wojciech Nowak and the Vice-Rector for Research and Structural Funds Prof. Stanisław Kistryn

Photo: Anna Wojnar

As we reported last week, a doctoral student of the JU Faculty of Physics, Astronomy, and Applied Computer Science, Ghanshyambhai Khatri from India, won the Interstudent 2014 competition for the best international student in Poland in the PhD studies category. Here is the interview with the winner.

Why did you choose Kraków and the Jagiellonian University for your doctoral studies?

First of all, you have a great research team in the field of nuclear physics, including the group of Professor Kistryn, who is responsible for the experimental part, and the group of  Prof. Witała, who supervises the theoretical part. Besides, I have been interested in physics since childhood. As a child, I used to read about Nicholaus Copernicus and Maria Skłodowska-Curie. This is what has always inspired me – Poland as a country of famous scientists. And why Kraków? Because during my previous research stays in different parts of Europe, including Belgium, France, and Sweden, I met some Polish people, heard about Kraków, and saw its pictures. I found the city beautiful and realised that it would also be the best choice from the academic point of view. Then I applied for the PhD studies and was selected through tough competition in the project by the Foundation for Polish Science.

Can you tell us a few words about your doctoral research?

My field of research is experimental nuclear physics, mostly aimed to explore basic, fundamental interactions between nucleons. We do this by performing scattering experiments between deuterons and protons. In these experiments we use a BINA detector, which was brought from Holland and installed here in Kraków in Cyclotron Center Bronowice. I take active part in these experimental activities in Krakow.

You have expressed an opinion that the support for scientific research is very strong in Poland. What kind of useful support have you received during your PhD research?

First of all, it is about the infrastructure to conduct the experiments. The Jagiellonian University and the Polish Academy of Sciences have developed new infrastructure with modern devices and facilities to carry out research. When I came to Poland about four years ago, a new cyclotron centre was being built in Kraków, and by now I have already performed experiments there. Besides, there are two main sources of funding of our research: the Foundation for Polish Science and the National Science Centre. These institutions offer a lot of programmes which can attract foreign researchers. I find this support very valuable. 

Have you faced any major cultural differences, or maybe a cultural shock after coming to Poland?

I obviously have, as I come from a country that is completely different, both in terms of cultural background and geographical conditions. For example, the weather is much colder here – you have snow every year, sometimes even for several months, and where I come from I have never experienced snow. And from the cultural point of view, the differences are equally sharp. However, after having spent four years here, I feel almost integrated with the Polish society. I have a Polish girlfriend and spend a lot of time with her family. So there is a merging of the Polish and Indian culture at a family level. 

Do you find the Polish language difficult?

Extremely difficult – but I can say it in Polish: Tak, ja mówię po polsku, ale to bardzo trudny język. Uczę się polskiego i liczę, że za rok będę mówił po polsku na tyle dobrze, żeby prowadzić zajęcia ze studentami. (Yes, I can speak Polish, but this is a very difficult language. I am learning Polish and I hope that in a year I will speak this language well enough to teach classes to students).

What are your plans for the future?

For now, I am still working to finish my doctoral thesis. In a few months I am supposed to submit the thesis and defend it. After that, I am going to continue my work as a member of the experimental research team in Kraków. As an expert on how to operate part of the experimental equipment, I am already an important member of the team. This is a medium-size experiment, at least 10-15 people have to be involved, and each of them needs to have some special expertise. So they want to keep me, and at the same time I am willing to stay with them. My plan for the future is to apply for a position at the university or to obtain some grants from the funding agencies, which, as I have already mentioned, offer a lot of opportunities.