How I Secured a Fully Funded PhD at Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany Through the DAAD Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany

I am Gerin Prince, and I am from Kerala in India. I am currently doing my third year of Ph.D. in Hematology and Oncology under the supervision of Dr. Sivahari Prasad Gorantla at Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck in Germany. During my Ph.D., I aim to understand the regulation of fusion kinases in leukemic models. My motivation to pursue my research topic was to make an impact in the field of cancer research. My motto was always that “If I can improve even one person’s life with my work, my goal as a researcher is fulfilled”. I hope I can fulfill my goal through my Ph.D. journey.

DAAD Research Grants Details

I am receiving the ‘Research Grants - Doctoral Programmes in Germany’ from Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, which funds my Ph.D. in Germany. DAAD is one of the biggest scholarship organizations that funds research in Germany. The scholarship amount started at 1300 euros per month when I started my Ph.D. in October 2023. Recently, they have increased the scholarship amount to 1400 euros per month. The scholarship holder does not need to pay any taxes. They also provide an annual research allowance of 460 euros. DAAD also provides health insurance for your stay in Germany. Additionally, DAAD also reimburses the ticket price for the first trip to Germany and the final trip back to the country of origin.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I wasn't offered a scholarship; however, in India, I had qualified for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Biotechnology with All India Rank 491 and life sciences with All India Rank 1093. This made me eligible for Ph.D. programs in institutions across India, including the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology. Additionally, I was offered a Ph.D. position in the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research after clearing the JGEEBILS examination and interview. Both of these options offered a monthly stipend of 37,000 rupees per month.

Educational Background

I completed my secondary education and higher secondary education at Vivekodayam Boys H.S.S., Thrissur, India, with 94% and 95.6% respectively. After that, I joined the 5-year integrated M.Sc. Systems Biology degree at the University of Hyderabad, India. I secured 8.89/10 CGPA in the 5-year course duration. The curriculum had physics, chemistry, and mathematics at an advanced level along with biology. This helped me to understand biological processes in a multifaceted manner. Additionally, a major part of my course was computation and programming languages. These helped me adapt to the hybrid environment of my lab. Finally, my master's thesis was done under the supervision of Prof. Bramanandam Manavathi at the University of Hyderabad, India, during which I worked on understanding the role of RNF43 in breast cancer. This experience still helps me during my Ph.D., and the practical knowledge gained during my thesis helped me answer many questions during the DAAD Interview round.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein?

How Did You Find Information About the DAAD Research Grants and Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein?

After my master's programme, I was searching for a Ph.D. through multiple channels like LinkedIn and PhD Finder. During this time, I came across the work of Dr. Sivahari Prasad Gorantla and was interested in his research topic. I emailed him expressing my genuine interest and asked him if he had any openings for a Ph.D. position. He was very kind and told me he would like to offer me a Ph.D. position. However, he was unable to provide me funding and suggested that I apply to the DAAD scholarship program.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the English proficiency test TOEFL and scored 102/120. This is a good score that is acceptable by the majority of the universities in the USA. The language of instruction throughout my schooling and degree was English, and that prepared me for the test. However, taking practice tests regularly and improving my typing speed for the writing section would have improved my score even more.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the DAAD Research Grants?

Dr. Sivahari Prasad Gorantla introduced me to my topic, and after thorough discussion and with both of our inputs, we wrote a research proposal, which was the key determining factor for the selection of my application. The next round was an interview round, and a panel of experts interviewed me thoroughly regarding my research proposal. They also asked me questions on how to troubleshoot potential problems that I might face while performing my experiments. For the interview, the most important thing is to know the research proposal and the experiments in great detail. Additionally, troubleshooting experiments during my master's dissertation helped me to answer practical questions.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing German?

One does not need to learn German just for pursuing a Ph.D. in Germany. However, it was soon apparent to me that learning at least the basics of the language can improve your quality of life by a lot. Everything from groceries to the post you receive is all in German, and in a smaller city like Lübeck, not many people speak English. I have even had trouble in some offices at the university where the person behind the counter doesn't speak English. Therefore, it would be better to learn German to whatever level possible before coming to Germany, as it might be difficult to attend German lessons when you are busy with your work.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe that the research proposal was very good and showcased its importance in the clinic very well. Additionally, I also think I was able to answer the questions in the interview with accuracy and creativity. I had the opportunity to meet one of my interviewers at an event that happened a short while after my interview. She told me that she remembered my interview and was happy with the way I was able to give multiple solutions to tackle some of the troubleshooting questions that were asked during the interview.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

One of my biggest regrets I had was that I was underconfident in my abilities and restrained from applying to some places because of this. Eventually, I realized that some of these places were definitely reachable with a little more effort. However, I do not have this regret anymore, as my supervisor is very supportive and I believe that this is the most important thing for a healthy Ph.D.. But I would still advise every potential applicant to aim higher even if it might seem unreachable at that moment.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Explore every option while applying for a Ph.D. position and while searching for funding opportunities. Putting in strong effort during your initial search makes the following steps much smoother, turning the process of landing your dream position into a breeze.