Arnab Bakshi – NPTEL STAR
For Arnab Bakshi, a Kolkata native, NPTEL started as a means to an end – fulfilling an 8-credit requirement for his Bachelor’s in Pharmacy. Yet, what began as an academic obligation evolved into a passion that, in his words, “made all the difference.”
After graduating in 2024, Arnab’s dedication led him to a prestigious Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship at IIT Kharagpur. There, under the guidance of Dr. Aritri Bir, he’s now at the forefront of research into Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, utilizing FTIR profiling of brain-derived exosomes for detection. His story highlights how a simple academic requirement can ignite a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and research.
“As I delved into biotechnology courses, the fundamental ideas and the field itself truly captivated me,” Arnab shared. “It was a pure thirst for knowledge that propelled me forward; I simply wanted to explore more.”
NPTEL proved instrumental in shaping Arnab’s career, allowing him to seamlessly merge his pharmacy background with biotechnology. His current research perfectly illustrates how interdisciplinary learning, championed by NPTEL, unlocks a wealth of opportunities for people
with varied interests.
Arnab has completed 26 NPTEL courses to date, with the majority in Biotechnology. However, he also pursued several courses in other disciplines, strategically expanding and enhancing his knowledge base. “I have done a few courses purely to widen my knowledge base, like those on patent drafting for business purposes and a few on forensic linguistics and some humanities as well”.
Arnab has already completed two domains – Bioscience and Bioengineering – and is now setting his sights on finishing all four Biotechnology domains by April 2026. That’s truly an astounding accomplishment!
NPTEL, moreover, has helped Arnab with procuring three internships in IIT Madras – two under Prof. Mukesh Doble and one under Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan. “Initially, when I started, I didn’t know internship opportunities were possible through NPTEL”, he admits.
Arnab also highly commends NPTEL’s evaluation system, describing it as both robust and practical. “I just enrolled, and once I got started, the weekly rhythm pulled me in,” he shared. He interestingly points out that pursuing the Domain certifications proved beneficial for familiarizing himself with the structure of Ph.D. admission tests at various NITs and IITs. “The syllabus in NPTEL’s domain lists has been carefully crafted to meet the needs of such tests,” he explained.
Speaking of challenges, Arnab takes particular pride in being one of only three students to pass what he considers the most demanding course: “Material and Energy Balances”, taught by Professor Vignesh Muthuvijayan of IIT Madras.
To effectively manage his time, Arnab sticks to a systematic schedule: he dedicates his Saturdays and Sundays to NPTEL. Additionally, about 10 to 11 days before an exam, he focuses on revision, making full use of the transcripts provided on the NPTEL portal.
“These course transcripts are a game changer. They let me revise quickly before exams, and it is so user-friendly”, he shares.
Regarding the NPTEL STAR recognition, Arnab shared, “Each STAR I earned served as a checkpoint, truly motivating me to aim higher and advance.” Looking ahead, Arnab plans to pursue a Master’s in Pharmacy, ideally followed by a Ph.D. from an IIT.
Arnab’s advice to fellow learners is clear and direct: “Follow what your heart says, not any noise around you. Just go through the process, enjoy each and every step, and eventually you will reach your destination. NPTEL has more to offer than most realise”.
– Written by Asha Thangaraj