Manzar Sohail

PhD student, Faculty of Science

Chemist Manzar Sohail regards research as a full-time job. The kind of job where the outcome is always satisfactory.

Since the earliest days of his education, the Monash PhD student and graduate of Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan has never thought of doing anything other than research. "I always wanted to do my PhD at one of the world's best universities," he said. "When I was lucky enough to win a scholarship from Monash it was like a dream come true."

He has seized his chance to work with what he regards as some of the "top scientists in the discipline of chemistry".

He has already received positive feedback from his academic supervisor and his peers. He presented a paper at a recent international conference in Perth, and while he impressed some of the world's top scientists, the hard work remains Manzar's reward.

"Research is a full-time job," he said. "It needs patience and dedication. You need to sacrifice some other opportunities which come your way during the period of doing a PhD. But in the long run you know the outcome of these sacrifices will be rewarding and satisfying."

Manzar said he hoped to find a research position at a leading institution when he finished his PhD. "I want to find somewhere I can apply my ideas and where I can develop my own research group."