FLEET alumni Dr Dhaneesh Kumar
FLEET node : Monash
FLEET supervisor: Agustin Schiffrin
FLEET project/theme: Towards 2D organic topological insulators
Date completed PhD: May 2021
Dhaneesh Kumar was one of the original cohort of FLEET PhD students when the Centre was launched in 2017. We interviewed Dhaneesh about his career path after leaving FLEET (he completed his PhD in May 2021), and how he has used his technical and collaboration training at FLEET in his new position as a postdoc at the Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart.
Questions are by FLEET training coordinator Jason Major and Communications Chair Kirrily Rule.
FLEET: What role did you take after you completed your PhD in FLEET?
Dhaneesh: I wanted to further pursue a career in research. With this, I managed to secure a postdoctoral research position overseas. Currently, I am working at the Max-Planck Institute for Solid State Research based in Stuttgart, Germany.
FLEET: How do you think the training and knowledge you received in FLEET has set you up for your current role?
Dhaneesh: I appreciated getting plenty of opportunities to talk about my research at FLEET events. Giving talks in front of FLEET members really helped build my confidence in presenting research talks in other settings. Practice makes perfect. Continuing in a research capacity, giving talks is vital and I thank FLEET for helping me build this skill.
FLEET: What is your fondest memory of your time in FLEET?
Dhaneesh: I really, really enjoyed our annual workshops! I always associate it with fun times! It was great to wind down the year with a recap of everything that has been done scientifically in FLEET and reflect on what can be done in the following year. It always really struck a balance between a work event and a sort of holiday. It is at these workshops where I would often be able to think stress-free about interesting ideas with fellow FLEET members.
Thanks Dhaneesh for sharing your experiences! FLEET is extremely proud of those members who have moved on to great careers, making use of skills developed in their time at FLEET. Ultimately it will be FLEET alums as much as research outputs that define the success of the Centre. See other FLEET alumni at FLEET.org.au/alumni
