NishantThakar ,Graduate Researcher, Assistant Professor (Head of Department), Shri
Satsangi Sakethdam "Ram Ashram" Group of Institutions
It's my pleasure
to be in your interview. I am Nishant Thakar. I have a postgraduate degree in
thermal (mechanical) engineering. Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in
Mechanical Engineering from KSV University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. I am
serving as an Assistant Professor (Head of Department) in the Shri Satsangi
Sakethdam "Ram Ashram" Group of Institutions, Vadasma, Mehsana.
Basically, I belong to Mehsana, a city in North Gujarat, India. I have been
living in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, for the last 5 years now. I stay here with my
family. Besides my parents, I have 2 kids in my family, a daughter and a 1
year old son.
Not only am I
passionate about the field in which I graduated in Mechanical (Thermal
Engineering), but I am also inclined towards creative activities such as
searching for new things, cycling, listening to music, etc. I have always been
an active student in school and college. I have participated in many cultural
events during my school and college days and have won many rewards.
In my free time, I
enjoy going out with friends and exploring new places. I also enjoy watching
movies, listening to music, reading, working out, and going on road trips.
Work
experience and responsibilities as an academician
I have 10 years of
academic teaching experience and 1 year of industry experience in the field of
mechanical engineering. I have taught and guided UG students during that
period, and since the last 5 years, I have been given responsibilities as head
of the mechanical engineering department at SRI Campus, Vadasma. In my
experience, I worked in a college environment, and I enjoyed the challenge of
being at the forefront of students educational futures by supporting them
through their curriculum activities. I'm confident my experience working in
higher education would be valuable as a department head. My ultimate goal is to
improve my knowledge and skills to enhance education for the faculties I
supervise and the students they support. I have published more than 10 research
papers in national and international journals. In some journals, I worked as a
reviewer too. Working as a Research assistant, I have been acquiring various
knowledge and skills that are most important to the academic system.
I have various
memberships in engineering societies and am a life member of International
engineering societies.
Higher
education in mechanical engineering
I obtained my
Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gujarat Technological
University, Ahmedabad. Where I specialised in thermal engineering. One of my
most notable experiences was a final-year project where I had to develop a
solar desalination system from scratch. This allowed me to apply my theoretical
knowledge in a practical way and further deepen my skills in thermal analysis,
which are integral to this role. I also took additional courses in user
experience design, as I understand the importance of developing applications
that are not only functional but also user-friendly. I am currently pursuing a
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kadi Sarva Vishwavidhylaya University,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
Curiosity that led to my future as an engineer
I hated
engineering so much when I was in 12th grade. I was not interested at first,
but gradually I wanted to know how this thing worked. I have always been
curious about understanding how things work. Plus, I was very good at math and
physics in school, so I believe that gave me extra motivation to go into
engineering.
Any engineering
degree gives a person a different way to view things, plans, and problems in
life. I guess you start thinking more logically, which makes you think more
about the consequences that certain actions can lead to.
What motivated you to become a professor?
There
are many things that motivated and led me to be a professor. Some
of them could be
- Passion for teaching
- Passion for student supervision
- Motivation for leadership in
academia
- Interested in the transfer of
knowledge-based technology
- Interested in increasing
national and international collaborations
- Interested in outreach
- Interested in scientific
research and publication
Keeping
updated on advancements in engineering
Staying up-to-date
with the latest technological advancements in their field is critical for
engineers to remain competitive, innovative, and effective in their work. Here
are some ways for engineers to stay informed and up-to-date with the latest
developments in their field:
Attend
Conferences and Workshops:
Engineers can attend conferences, workshops, and seminars related to their
field. These events offer an opportunity to learn about new technologies and
trends and to network with other professionals in their industry.
Participate
in Professional Organisations: Joining professional organisations in their field can
provide access to industry news, research papers, and other relevant
information. Many organisations also offer training programmes and
opportunities to participate in technical committees and projects.
Read
Technical Journals and Publications: Engineers can subscribe to technical journals and
publications that focus on their area of expertise. These publications offer
articles on new technologies, research, and industry news.
Take
online courses and webinars:
Online courses and webinars offer a flexible way to learn about new
technologies and trends. Many professional organisations offer webinars, and
there are also many online learning platforms, such as Coursera and Udemy, that
offer courses on engineering topics.
Follow
Industry Leaders and Influencers: Following thought leaders and influencers in their field
on social media, blogs, and other platforms can provide engineers with insights
into emerging technologies, trends, and best practices.
Collaborate
with Peers:
Collaborating with peers, either within their organisation or through
professional networks, can provide valuable insights into new technologies and
trends. By sharing knowledge and expertise, engineers can learn from each other
and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field.
Things to keep in mind as an
engineering student
- Attend all lectures:
Unless you have something important to
do other than classes, which you think will help your self-growth indirectly,
never skip classes. (Good for attendance also; end-semester papers are made by
professors who teach you; they often hint during class on the topics on which
they will put more weight in exams.) You never know when that lecture might
give you an opportunity to jump-start your productive thinking.
- Take Notes:
Be it a single sentence in a whole
lecture or pages for a few minute lectures. Do note them down in your notepad.
Trust me! During exams, you will always find a point that will prove to be
extremely beneficial for end-of-semester preparation.
- Maintain a good CGPA:
The above three points will add up to
give you a good CGPA. and it will help you in your placements as well.
- Collect previous-year papers:
Studying the previous year's papers at
your college will prove to be extremely beneficial, as many times questions are
repeated due to the limited syllabus and paper setters inability to put in the
effort to frame new questions every year.
- Never spend on something
unnecessary
I have seen many students in my college
who, out of peer pressure, purchase things they never needed in life. A few of
my friends brought a $2,000 gaming keyboard just because most of their friends
had it. They thought it was important and ended up putting them in storage,
never to be used again.
PS:
Not everyone uses keyboards for studying and typing too often.
- Your First Impression is the
Last:
Many people in India still have the
perception that engineers are filthy. Stay well-groomed and hygienic since the
start of your hostel days. Listen to podcasts and read about the latest news
and happenings across the world. People find it attractive when you are
knowledgeable and have such good general knowledge.
- Public Relations:
College life is about changing and
improving yourself. Don't confine yourself to your room, hostel lobby, or
batchmates. Try to connect with your seniors and juniors as well. Seniors will
always guide you at every point during your college life. Communication with
the juniors will make you confident and an extrovert. Seniors will help you
participate in competitions and college festivals. Extracurricular activities
build up your resume.
- Relations with Professors:
Maintain a strong bond with your
professors and keep communicating with them on a regular basis. Try to attend
as many lectures as possible. Don't be hesitant while asking your doubts and
raising queries. Never miss your practical hours in laboratories.
- Be Active:
Explore fields outside the college
curriculum. Explore the latest technology and startups; watch Shark Tank (trust
me, it teaches you many things about entrepreneurship and businesses). Set your
future goals and participate in outside competitions, events, hackathons, and
competitive programming events even when you think you are not ready for them.
The aim is not to win, but to gain experience and knowledge about the real
world.
- Do not Smoke, Drink, or Get
High:
As cool as it might seem, the most
life-ending habits are getting into partying all the time, drinking, and
smoking. You will always be offered ways to drink and get intoxicated by some
of your friends. Even if you try it once, do not get addicted to it.
- Communications Skills:
Improve your confidence by practicing in
your free time. Stand in front of a mirror and talk to yourself. If you find it
hard, write down a few basic questions and answer them to yourself in English.
It will improve your fluency. One of the easiest ways I learned this was to
stay in touch with batchmates who did not know my native language (they were
some buddies from Telangana, Hyderabad, and Chennai), and the only common
language we knew was English, so we got used to it.
- B.Tech/BE Project/Final Year
Project:
Stay active in your final-year project
with your group. Some people avoid actively participating in their project work
as it consumes more time, but giving time to such activities is always preferable
to wasting your time on social networking sites. Believe me, completing
projects on our own will result in gaining more technical knowledge than any
other technical activity in college, and it will give you the upper hand in
personal interviews during placements.
- College Trips:
Everyone should go on at least one trip
in those 4 years of engineering. Many will think that their group of people is
not ready to go. Hell! Even if your batchmates are ready to go with you, just
go! Trust me, you guys will get along eventually and make the most memorable
days out of those trips. After a few years of graduation, you will remember
these trips, not those lousy classes and hostel room 5-minute gratifications.
- Never sit idle
Just don't waste your time on social
media and binge-watch; always try to do something productive. Read anything in
your free time, learn a new skill, go and play outdoor sports, and most
importantly, apply for internships during your breaks or holidays. Make
hands-on projects that will contribute to your resume's building.
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