The thesis should not be the ultimate aim; it is the base. Moreover, with proper strategy, even a small idea can grow to become something effective, meaningful, and most importantly, publishable.

In order to know what it takes to start a thesis that can eventually become a publishable paper, I talked to my own supervisor, Professor A.K.M. Rashidul Alam, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, whose advice transformed the way I looked at research and he is the reason why my own thesis work was able to be considered for publication.

Understanding the difference

“Even a simple idea can become great with a lot of work and the right methods chosen. You should not only make a project, but feel a duty to solve real crises people face, with your work being creative, economical, and applicable in various situations,” the first advice Professor Rashidul Alam gave.

When he is asked about his experience with the difference between a typical undergraduate thesis and a publishable research paper, he clearly defined it saying:

“A typical undergraduate thesis always means new learning and scope of application, but a publishable research paper must be something precise and impactful to the world.”

He also added:

“To have a thesis worth turning into a research paper, the critical thinking should start from the beginning, before choosing a topic.”

According to him, converting thesis work right into a publishable paper is realistic with strong guidance and clear novelty. But there are some misconceptions among students that a completed thesis can be automatically published without significant correction and novelty, which is totally wrong.

Choosing a topic

Most students tend to pick their topics based on convenience, what is available, or what seniors have already done in the past.

I asked Professor Alam about the criteria for an undergraduate research topic. He clearly defined that:

“The undergraduate research topic should be depth-oriented, not overly ambitious. The topic must contain a clear research gap, with relevance, novelty, and quantifiable contribution beyond the academic world. So the research topic can be ‘publishable’ rather than just ‘acceptable’ for a thesis.”

He also added that students can find some replication studies or slightly modified existing studies, yet these are also publishable only if they offer novel context, data, or methodological improvement.

When asked about the red flags, as a professor of Environmental Science, he shared a realistic example:

“The topic should be specific and detailed. For example, a weak topic: Treatment of Water Pollution in Dhaka, and a strong topic: Phytoremediation of Urban Leachate Using Multi-Stage Biofilm Raft Systems with Epipremnum aureum.

And the red flags I think are a topic with no clear gap, outdated, a lack of measurable results, and no proper use of methods.”

Literature review

There is virtually no publishable thesis that does not have at least one thing in common with relevant research currently ongoing in the world.

According to Professor Alam, the work should ideally intersect with environmental sustainability, public health, engineering efficiency, and socio-economic feasibility.

Professor Alam stressed that the idea of research must not be limited to the lab. It should travel to communities, to industries, to policymakers.

When he was asked about the difference between a basic literature review and a strong, publication-ready one, he replied:

“Basic one is only a summary of existing topics, but a strong review identifies gaps and critiques, so literature should be from the last 5–10 years.”

I also asked for his suggestion about the credibility and number of review papers an undergraduate student should study. He suggested:

“35–60 high-quality papers are sufficient for students, and credible sources include peer-reviewed journals and reputable publishers.”

Wanting to know about the procedure through which students can critically analyse papers instead of just summarising them, and common mistakes by Bangladeshi students in this phase, he replied:

“They should compare methods, identify gaps, and try to link findings with those gaps. In this way, they can critically analyse papers. Avoid common mistakes such as poor citation structure, over-trust in weak sources, and use of old literature.”

Designing a strong methodology

Methodology is the next important aspect after having set your topic. It is here that most dissertations fail in terms of publication.

An effective methodology must be: clear and reproducible, innovative but practical, well-grounded and supported by literature. A statement precisely echoed by Professor Alam.

When he is asked about the level of statistical or technical sophistication expected for publication and the robustness of their methodology enough for peer review, he shared that proper methodology with clarity and justification must be aligned with research questions and variables.

He also added: “Weak experimental design, unclear variables, poor statistical justification can lead to rejection for a strong topic also.”

The difference between simple research work and a publishable one is consistency.

I asked Professor Alam about the challenges Bangladeshi students typically face when collecting data and if small sample sizes are acceptable for publication. He explained, “Small sample sizes are also acceptable for publication only if properly analysed and justified with limitations acknowledged.”

It is not only the data that makes a paper.

“Use of standardised procedures, calibration, replication, and proper sampling can always ensure data reliability and validity, so publication-worthy analysis includes interpretation, comparison and linking results to literature.”

He also added that during the interpretation stage students always make some mistakes. They ignore limitations and misinterpret statistical significance.

Writing the thesis as a paper

“A journal paper is concise and focused, but a thesis is broad and detailed.”

Inquiring about what makes an abstract strong and publishable, he clearly stated that literature review, results, and discussion require the most refinement always, and a concise description of the problem, method, key results, and contribution can make an abstract strong and publishable.

Professor Alam also added that copying text, ideas, or structure without proper attribution is known as plagiarism, which is a crime. So by using tools like Mendeley or Zotero students can avoid it.

Journal selection and submission

When the writing is completed, students have to select a journal. It is vital for students to know what they should choose for submission.

“Students should ensure scope alignment, impact, and previously published similar work when choosing a journal. Predatory journals lack credibility, but indexed journals are peer-reviewed. So by checking the indexing and publisher reputation, students should avoid predatory journals.”

When he was asked for some recommendations about a journal, he replied:

“Any mid- or lower-tier indexed journals that match the study’s scope alignment. Novelty, clarity, and proper formatting with the journal always increase the chances of acceptance.”

He added, “Expert evaluation, constructive criticism, and multiple revision rounds should be expected by students during the peer review process. So they should be polite and supported with clear revisions or justification to respond to reviewer comments like they may request clearer methodology and deeper discussion.”

I asked how common rejection is, even for good papers. He replied: “Very common. Scope mismatch, lack of novelty, weak methodology, and poor writing are the main reasons here.”

Role of a supervisor

In the last part of the session, I asked Professor Alam about the role of being a good supervisor.

“A good supervisor should provide direction, critical feedback, and help align research with publication standards. It’s his responsibility,” he replied.

He ended his interview saying:

“Thesis is not just an obligation, but it is an initial contribution for a student to the world of knowledge. One has to do so, and a good thesis will pay back the student much more than just the degree.”