Dr. Mashiur Rahman
The biggest question facing young researchers in Bangladesh today is: where should the next step in their research begin? Should one build a career at home, or venture abroad to face new subjects in unfamiliar environments? At a recent seminar, Professor Sutomatsu from the University of Tokyo and researcher Sakai from Kyoto University tried to answer this question based on their own experiences. At the center of the discussion was the Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) fellowship, which encourages researchers to leap into entirely new, interdisciplinary research.
A research career usually progresses within a single discipline. Some may begin in botany, others in genetics or biochemistry. But at the postdoctoral stage, abruptly switching fields—diving into new tools or biological questions—represents both a tremendous risk and a remarkable opportunity. HFSP is designed to reward exactly this kind of courageous initiative. It seeks out proposals that may not succeed, but if they do, could open up new horizons in the scientific world.
Professor Sutomatsu himself is an example of such a journey. After completing his doctorate, he spent more than six years in Europe. First, he worked in a small lab where he had the chance to learn deeply under direct supervision. Later, he joined a large research group, working with scientists from various countries and backgrounds. His experience shows that small labs develop a researcher’s skills, whereas large labs offer opportunities to expand one’s international network and perspectives. The combination of both brings completeness to a researcher’s career.
But experience alone is not enough. To apply for international fellowships like the HFSP, you have to demonstrate three things. First, the research project must have clear innovation; it cannot simply repeat the work done at the doctoral level. Second, the project must convincingly push the boundaries of science—that is, it should be ‘high-risk, high-gain’. Third, you must logically explain why the proposed research can be best accomplished at a specific host laboratory. In other words, it’s not enough to have a good idea; you must show where, with whom, and how it will be implemented.
Such a process naturally means the competition is extremely tough. From the very first stage (Letter of Intent), 80 percent of proposals are eliminated. Only those who make it past the first stage get the chance to submit a full proposal, and only about 10 percent of those are ultimately selected. This means that simply having the courage to apply is a significant step. In the process, researchers often have to leave familiar territory and step into unknown fields they have never worked in before.
For young people in Bangladesh, there is a special message here. Too often, we see research in a limited scope and prefer to take the safest path. Yet the real strength of science lies in taking risks. Entering a new environment, learning new tools, and tackling new questions is essentially a struggle with the unknown. It is in this struggle that great scientists are made. Doing a postdoc abroad is not just about earning another academic credential—it’s about expanding one’s experience of life and research.
In Professor Sutomatsu’s words, the most important thing is: can the researcher excite the reviewer with their proposal? A scientific proposal is not just a compilation of facts; it is also a story, where the reader pauses and thinks, “Wow, if this really works, something amazing could happen.” This ‘ability to excite’ is what sets apart a good proposal from an ordinary one.
In the end, whether or not a young researcher pursues a postdoc abroad, the real question comes down to just one thing—do they have the courage to break their own limits? Opportunities like the HFSP remind us that the future of science does not lie only on well-trodden paths, but in walking the uncertain, unfamiliar road. That is why young researchers in Bangladesh must embrace not just safe boundaries, but also the challenge of exciting new frontiers.
Source:
This article is written from a talk at a Japan Science and Technology Agency event.
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