PhD & Research Career Clarity Call

Book a private 1:1 video call with me to get honest, experience-based guidance on your research and PhD journey in International Relations, South Asian Studies, and the Social Sciences more broadly.

This session is ideal if you are:

1. Planning to apply for a PhD in International Relations, Political Science, or South Asian/Area Studies (in India or abroad)
2. Unsure whether a PhD is the right path for you, or unclear on its career value
3. Confused between universities, supervisors, or research centres (e.g. JNU, DU, other Central Universities vs international options)
4. Preparing for entrance exams, interviews, or research proposal writing
5. Feeling stuck, demotivated, or directionless midway through your PhD
6. Looking to build a publication record and academic profile alongside your doctoral work

I will help you with:

1. Choosing the right PhD path and identifying the correct specialisation within IR/Political Science
2. How to shortlist universities, departments, and supervisors based on research fit
3. Crafting a strong research proposal and statement of purpose
4. What I wish I knew before starting my PhD at JNU's School of International Studies
5. Navigating fellowships, funding (UGC-JRF/NET, ICSSR, university scholarships) and the JRF-to-SRF transition
6. The reality of PhD life: fieldwork, supervision dynamics, academic writing discipline, and managing stress
7. Building a publication profile early (journal articles, op-eds, conference papers) while still a doctoral candidate
8. Conference participation and networking strategies in area studies and IR.

This is not generic advice. It is based on my own journey: a B.A.(Hons) in Political Science and M.A. in Political Science with International Relations from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, followed by doctoral research at the Centre for South Asian Studies, JNU, on small state vulnerability in the Maldives. Along the way, I have published with South Asian Monitor, Modern Diplomacy, and Manak Publications, conducted fieldwork in the Maldives, and built a research profile spanning peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, and policy-relevant writing on South Asian and Indian Ocean geopolitics.