Rifat Bin Sultan, a B.Sc. graduate from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) is starting a full-funded PhD at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), USA in Fall 2024. This is a remarkable achievement, as it is uncommon for undergraduate students to receive direct funding for a PhD program.

He will commence his doctoral work on September 23, 2024, conducting research with the Integrated Nanodevices and Nanosystems Research (Inano) Group. At UC Davis, a US public university ranked 59th in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, Rifat aims to contribute to advancements in photoconductors and optical communications as part of his doctoral studies.

Rifat started his undergraduate studies at IUB with a 100% merit scholarship in 2019 and completed his BSc in EEE in 2023 with a CGPA of 3.80. Before joining IUB, he attended Milestone School and College, Rajuk Uttara Model College, and Notre Dame College, all in Dhaka. Born in 1998 in Dhaka, he is the middle child between two sisters. His father is a civil engineer and his mother a homemaker. His wife is also an IUB graduate.

“My passion for Physics and the practical applications of EEE propelled me to get involved with the IUB Photonic Simulation Laboratory (IUBPSL), where I conducted research on multi-junction thin-film solar cells and plasmonic nano-structures, which could be play instrumental roles in the proliferation of green energies in the future,” Rifat said.

At IUBPSL, Rifat’s research under the supervision of Dr. Mustafa Habib Chowdhury, Associate Professor and Head of the EEE Department, led to several peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. His research work on designing novel high efficiency solar cells using nano-grating structures earned him recognition at the Bangladesh regional final of the Falling Walls Lab competition. Rifat’s research work at IUBPSL was performed primarily using the FDTD Solutions and CHARGE software’s in the Ansys-Lumerical software package. Additionally, his internship at semiconductor technology company Ulkasemi Private Limited provided valuable industry experience, further shaping his skills in the semiconductor field.

Dr. Chowdhury stated, "Rifat's exceptional research profile, substantial number of publications, strong academic performance, high CGPA, and active involvement in extracurricular activities were key reasons for him being awarded the PhD grant immediately after completing his undergraduate degree."

After graduation, Rifat also worked at IUB as a Research & Development (R&D) Officer under Professor Mamun Bin Ibne Reaz, PhD, Dean, School of Engineering Technology and Sciences.

Rifat's advice to current students is: “Chasing CGPA should not be the ultimate goal. It is important to be able to utilize available resources and embrace research opportunities. Also, one should be able to balance academic and personal life, for which, the biggest credit goes to my wife.”