Global Leader Scholarship Scholar Dirgha Raj Joshi from Nepal Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded PhD at the Yonsei University, South Korea

My name is Dirgha Raj Joshi, and I come from a rural part of Nepal. My journey started in a village near Dhangadhi, where I first went to school at the age of 7. At that time, government schools had very poor infrastructure. I studied in an open ground without proper classrooms until grade 5. There were no labs, no exposure to science practically, only textbooks and determination.

Growing up in such conditions, I didn’t have clarity about careers early on, but I had curiosity—especially about how medicines work and how they can change lives.

Early Motivation & Education

After completing my School Leaving Certificate (SLC), I chose to study pharmacy. This decision was driven by my interest in medicine and healthcare, even though I had very limited exposure to the field.

I completed my undergraduate degree in pharmacy in Nepal. During this period, I built a strong theoretical foundation, but like many students in developing regions, practical exposure and research opportunities were limited.

Professional Experience Before Scholarships

After graduation, I worked as a marketing manager for a pharmaceutical company. This role gave me a unique perspective—I traveled across Nepal, interacted with doctors, pharmacists, and patients, and understood the real healthcare challenges of the country.

This experience was crucial. It shifted my thinking from just “studying pharmacy” to wanting to create medicines and contribute to drug development.

Master’s Scholarship – South Korea

I then applied for international opportunities and received admission to Wonkwang University for an MS in Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry).

Initially, I received a 50% foreign student scholarship. The remaining financial support was managed through a stipend from Bioway Pharmaceutical, where I was associated during my study.

This phase was transformative. For the first time, I had access to real laboratories, advanced instruments, and hands-on research in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. I was able to publish a USA patent for my Master’s research work.

PhD Journey – Advanced Research Training:

After my master’s, I secured a fully funded PhD opportunity supported by LG Chem at Korea University.

Later, I transferred to Yonsei University under the prestigious Global Leader Scholarship. I need to do IELTS twice to get good scores. This move further strengthened my research exposure, collaborations, and academic growth.

During my PhD, I worked extensively in medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and drug discovery-related research. This period shaped my identity as a researcher. I got 2 Korean patents and 11 peer-reviewed scientific papers throughout my PhD Journey and got the highest publishing award from Yonsei University.

International Research Experience (USA)

After completing my PhD, I got the opportunity to work as a research scholar at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. I worked on coronavirus drug discovery there.

This was a fully funded research position that provided exposure to one of the world’s most advanced biomedical research environments. It helped me refine my scientific thinking, research design, and global collaboration skills.

Return to Nepal & Current Work

Despite having opportunities abroad, I chose to return to Nepal. Currently, I am involved in pharmacy education, research, and academic development, especially in remote regions like Jumla.

My focus now is on:

• Strengthening pharmacy education in resource-limited settings
• Developing a research culture among students
• Exploring natural products and locally available medicinal resources
• Building laboratory infrastructure where none existed before

What Made My Application Stand Out

Looking back, I think a few things helped me:

• Consistency despite limited resources
• Clear motivation to work in medicinal chemistry
• Real-world experience in the pharmaceutical sector
• Strong willingness to return and contribute to Nepal

I didn’t come from a privileged background or top institutions, but I had clarity and persistence.

What I Would Do Differently

If I could redo the journey:

• I would apply earlier for international opportunities*
• I would seek mentorship sooner
• I would focus more on publishing research during the early stages
• Networking really matters, and a strong recommendation

Advice to Future Applicants

• Your background does not limit you—your consistency does
• Start with whatever resources you have
• Build strong fundamentals in your field
• Don’t wait for “perfect conditions.”
• Exposure changes thinking—go out, learn, and come back if you want to create impact

Most importantly:
Students from villages, government schools, and low-resource settings can reach global platforms—I am a simple example of that.