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Faculty of Science, Mahidol University

GradExpo 2009 MUSC Graduate Research Exposition 2009

Palpasa Kansaka ตัวแทนจากภาควิชาจุลชีววิทยา

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Please introduce yourself... I am Palpasa Kansakar, from Dept of Microbiology and I am a Ph.D 4th year student. I am from Nepal. In brief, tell us about your research… I am working on a bacterial pathogen called Acenitobacter baumanii ; it is emerging as an important cause of hospital acquired infection among ICU patients and is highly prevalent in Thailand as well. My research focus is to characterize the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in these organisms.

Why do you study at Faculty of Science, Mahidol ?

It is a reputed university in Asia and one of the top universities of Thailand. It has a good infrastructure for research and academics. In addition, I got a partial scholarship support and my research interest also matched with my PhD project. Another reason is I wanted to be near my home country (as I am a family person) and the application procedure was very fast and welcoming.

Why do you love research?

I feel that more than the titles and degrees, research makes us to be able to think, be a lot patient and above all it teaches us never to give up and in life as a whole this sense of never to give up drives us to go ahead. GradExpo 2009

Research sometimes can make you feel down, how would you handle such situation?

I first try to look for solutions – search for papers related to the work and approach my advisor. At times, I give myself a good but a SHORT break and look out for a support from my close friends…it becomes easy when you share and listen. Some times the problems are not as big as they seem to be and I get more regular in my prayers! Even science seeks GOD.

If you receive a Nobel prize, who will be the first person you would share this good news with ?

Needless to mention my lab and my advisor here and then my family.

If you have a million baht, what will you do with it?

I will use a part of it to spend quality time with my family, take my parents and my daughter out to some tour. Save some money in a bank for future security, and also would like to make some contributions for encouraging science and research in my country Nepal.

Who would you love to meet, in person, the most (not a scientist please)?

Nelson Mandela (He is such an inspiring personality and charismatic, a nobel loreate who is a freedom fighter) http://www.sc.mahidol.ac.th/GradExpo2009