For Saiful Islam Saad, securing a fully funded PhD position in the United States took more than academic credentials. It required months of preparation, persistent outreach and more than 600 emails to prospective research supervisors, many of which went unanswered.

A graduate of the 45th batch of the Department of Textile Engineering Management at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX), Saad has secured admission to the PhD programme in Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Southern Mississippi. His offer includes a full tuition waiver and a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), allowing him to pursue research in a field beyond his undergraduate specialisation.

Saad began preparing for higher studies abroad during his third year at BUTEX. He gradually built his academic profile while balancing undergraduate research, coursework and preparations for standardised tests.

His research on carbon nanotubes eventually led to a publication in a Q1-ranked international journal. He also achieved an overall IELTS score of 7.5, further strengthening his application.

Beyond academics, Saad remained actively involved in extracurricular and leadership activities. He served as vice-president of the BUTEX Youth Development Club, organising secretary of the BUTEX Debating Club, programme manager at the BUTEX Career Club and associate director of communications for the Hult Prize at BUTEX.

He also contributed to Bunon, a textile-focused digital platform, and gained industry experience as an innovation intern at Textile Today.

After graduation, Saad began contacting professors at universities across the United States whose research interests aligned with his own. He eventually reached out to more than 600 prospective supervisors, facing repeated rejections, unanswered emails and uncertainty over funding opportunities.

His persistence finally paid off with the offer from the University of Southern Mississippi, where the research assistantship will support his doctoral studies in polymer science, advanced materials and their industrial applications.

Reflecting on the process, Saad said strong academic results and language proficiency alone were not enough to secure a fully funded PhD position. He emphasised the importance of research experience, publications, a well-targeted Statement of Purpose (SOP) and strong letters of recommendation.

He also advised prospective applicants against sending generic emails to professors. Instead, he recommended studying their ongoing research projects and explaining how their academic interests and experience align with the professor’s work.

For students planning to pursue higher education abroad, Saad suggests getting involved in research well before the final year, maintaining a competitive CGPA and aiming for an IELTS score of at least 7.0.

He also encourages undergraduates to explore interdisciplinary fields such as polymer and materials science, develop relevant technical and software skills, and seek research or teaching assistantships and fellowship opportunities.

Saad credited his achievement to the continued support of his family and the guidance of his teachers at BUTEX. He is now preparing to begin the next chapter of his academic journey in the United States, taking his research interests beyond the boundaries of his undergraduate discipline.