I am Sayantan Bandyopadhyay, a Doctoral Research Scholar (UGC-JRF) at the Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. My doctoral research examines economic, environmental, and political vulnerability in small island states such as Maldives through the lenses of small state theory, dependency theory, and institutional capacity frameworks. I completed my B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in International Relations at Jadavpur University, Kolkata, before qualifying for the UGC Junior Research Fellowship and joining JNU. My academic interests span Indian foreign policy, South Asian regional politics, Indian Ocean geopolitics, and maritime security, with a continuing focus on the Maldives as my primary case study. Alongside my doctoral work, I write and publish for outlets including South Asian Monitor, Modern Diplomacy, and Manak Publications, and I have presented at academic conferences on themes ranging from India's foreign policy to religious politics in South Asia. I am currently preparing for fieldwork in Malé, Maldives, building on interviews and institutional engagement with policymakers, academics, and civil society contacts in the region. Having navigated JNU's admission process, the NET/JRF examination, and the early uncertainties of doctoral research myself, I now mentor students preparing for PhD applications to JNU's School of International Studies, Centre for Political Studies, and Centre for Studies in Law and Governance, as well as those preparing for NET/JRF in Political Science. I offer honest, experience-based guidance grounded in my own academic journey, not generic templates. If you are navigating similar questions, whether about choosing a research path, preparing a proposal, or simply finding your footing in academia, I would be glad to help.