Dr. Muhammad Tayyab received his Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering with a major research direction in Magnetic Optoelectronic Materials from Nanjing Tech University, China in 2021.  Recently he has been working as a postdoc under the supervision of Prof. Gao Deqing at NanjingTech. His expertise and interest are in Energy Generation, Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs), Piezoelectric Nanogenerators (PENGs), Sensors & Actuators, Optoelectronics, and Flexible Electronics and Capacitors.

Four years transferring a student to a researcher

“I first set foot in China on September 18, 2018, when I landed at Guangdong Airport. I had the impression that I had arrived on another planet when I arrived at the airport since it was so large and constructed of crystal-clear glass, the people there were so different from one another in terms of appearance and language, and neither the internet nor the foreign ATMs worked. I had the impression that I was seeing a movie about a scientific base. Unfortunately, I was late for my flight to Nanjing. However, after much difficulty, they offered me a reservation on another aircraft to Nanjing. A Bangladeshi student holding a poster for Nanjing Tech University was present when I arrived at the Nanjing airport. I then understood I had not arrived on another planet, but rather in China. He drove me to the university bus where I met other foreign exchange students. From Nanjing airport, a one-hour journey brought you to NanjingTech. At about nine o'clock at night, my group of foreign students and I arrived at the university, where we were immediately welcomed by senior international students and enrolled by the university administration. They gave me the key to my room, which felt like a lovely, clean hotel even though it was a fantastic dorm. In the following day, the international office escorted us all to their location and issued us with student ID cards. Additionally, they provided us with a detailed introduction to the various schools and departments and offered us a tour of the entire campus. Additionally, I was transported there by university shuttle bus because my department's institute for advanced materials was located on the Dingjaqiao campus, another campus of the university. I have been given a lovely, opulent apartment with all the required amenities here. where I began my doctoral studies.

In the coming days, we had a departmental inauguration ceremony and some refresher courses. I was handed out a three-year plan for my Ph.D. that included details on the classes I would be taking, the exams I would be taking, and even the defense of my Ph.D. thesis. That demonstrated the academic capability and capable leadership. I met my incredibly happy and gracious Ph.D. supervisor after a month, and I began my Ph.D. coursework and lab work, and for the first month or so, I and some of my other international friends had a hangover around the entire city of Nanjing. We used the metro and internet-connected buses, e-cash, e-bikes, extremely fast internet, Wi-Fi, large buildings, skyscrapers, stunning and enormous lakes, tasty and rich foods, and nearly everything else. This was practically all new to me. It was fascinating for everyone to experience new things, not just me. The instructor for the course was pleasant and approachable. There were only 4 courses total during my Ph.D., 2 of which were about language and 2 about the topics of my major. The Jiangsu government granted me a talent scholarship, which began after three months. The time went by so quickly, and I finished my coursework in just six months. After that, my only concerns were eating, sleeping, and studying, and it's the ideal setting for learning.

My Chinese classmates and research assistants were always eager to assist me with my research. The Chinese teachers and management were always at your door to assist you, so I never experienced any documentation hassles while I was studying there. It would be accurate to state that I have never experienced the level of respect I did in China. The fact that the surrounding people worked so hard and had strong work ethics were another noteworthy finding. During duty hours, I never noticed anyone gone from their chair. I practically stopped communicating with all of my friends, family, and social media during my doctoral studies; I still chatted with them occasionally, but not because I intentionally wished to have less social interaction. When the Ph.D. reached the halfway point of its length, it occurred automatically. After a year and a half, I published my first research paper, which made me extremely happy because I could then see other academics using my name on Google Scholar. Ph.D. is a "pressure bearing capability," in my opinion. The Ph.D. will involve pressure and frustration, which is unavoidable. The time passed quickly, and I realized that my Ph.D. defense date was the same as the one listed in the brochure for the inauguration ceremony. I recalled the three days I went without sleeping leading up to my defense on June 5, 2021, because of my thesis and responsibilities. Next few days I slept with excitement and joy due to passing my Ph.D. defense. After the defense, I had forgotten about all the difficulties I had encountered. I suddenly felt relieved of all my Ph.D. burden, and I was given the title of Dr. Muhammad Tayyab.

I received my doctorate degree and certificates exactly one month later. Currently, I have a postdoctoral researcher job in the same department with a new supervisor, which is really exciting and demanding. I believe that practically every student hopes that the university from which he graduates would offer him a job there. My ambition has come true, and I began my postdoctoral research position at NanjingTech on August 1, 2021. My student visa was converted to a work visa after just 15 days of the job application process. It has been a year since I started working as a postdoc, and everything about it—the pay, the workplace, and the behavior of my coworkers—is really encouraging.

In conclusion, after four years of living in China, I no longer feel as though I am abroad; rather, I feel as though I am at home in my own country. This impact occurs when you are able to speak the local language and are fully assimilated into the culture. Additionally, because of the pleasant environment and behavior those folks gave. In a graph of my 30-year life, the four years I spent studying and working in China stand out as being particularly pleasant, bright, and youthful. NanjingTech gave me a chance that changed my life and helped me morally, educationally, and financially. I would like to repay NanjingTech and China whenever I have the opportunity to do so in my life. Without exaggeration, I frequently remark to my overseas colleagues about how much NanjingTech and China care. I never experienced unkind treatment inside or outside the university. Thanks to NanjingTech and everyone I met.