HAYA: Some people stumble into their field, others grow into it, but every graduate student has a turning point, a moment when the big questions become personal. In this episode, we’re spotlighting the journey of a PhD student in computer science at VCU College of Engineering, someone who’s not only shaping complex systems, but also bridging cultures, languages, and disciplines along the way.
HAYA: Welcome back to Grad Pod, the podcast where we explore the stories, research and voices shaping graduate education at VCU. I’m your host, Haya Hamid, and today I’m joined by Nourchene, a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science at the VCU College of Engineering, all the way from Tunisia. Nourchene brings a global perspective to her work, and not just because she speaks four languages, but her research tackles real world problems in a field that’s constantly evolving.
And her journey is one marked by persistence, curiosity, and deep passion for learning. Nourchene, welcome to the grad pod.
NOURCHENE: Hi everyone.
HAYA: Thank you so much for joining me here today. Tell us about yourself, your journey to VCU and what inspired you to pursue this PhD in computer science and how did you find your research focus and tell us a little bit about yourself and what brings you here.
NOURCHENE: Okay. Well, hello everyone, thank you for the invitation. Thank you very much for having me here. My name is Nourchene. I’m from Tunisia, very beautiful country in North Africa. And I moved to the States three years ago. I applied back in 2021 to the Full Bright program. And, I was very happy to get selected, and then I moved to Richmond, Virginia, where I pursued a Master’s degree in computer science.
HAYA: So what is your current research focus, Nourchene? What problems are you trying to solve? Is your PhD in continuation from your master’s degree? You know, without getting into technical computer science terms, tell us a little bit about just what you’re doing on a broad level.
NOURCHENE: Well, you know, I never thought about doing a PhD, to be honest.
I thought I’m gonna move to the States and do a master’s degree and then get my degree and pursue a career in industry. So the PhD never really crossed my mind, and then it was probably close to graduation last year. When I started like looking for opportunities in industry, in academia, and then I just, I started asking myself, do I want to do a PhD?
If yes, then do I wanna do it now? Do I wanna do it later? And I would say it took me quite a bit, I would say three months of thinking, of talking to my mentors, to my professors, to faculty, to my lab mates, to my friends, my older friends who went through almost the same journey of going through a PhD and the finding a, a job afterwards.
So, it was a lot of conversations back and forth with people and with myself to actually come to terms with a decision to do a PhD.
So, I’m very happy. I feel like I made the right decision. So here I am. I am currently pursuing a PhD in computer science at VCU, and I would say.
Finding a research focus was not linear. I explored a lot from natural language processing to network systems. It was only through trial error and conversations with mentors that I discovered my passion. And that my passion lies in the intersection of AI and systems, especially using large language models to improve communication and security in complex networks.
So I love that it’s both technical and human at the same time.
HAYA: Thank you for shedding light on how much goes into making such a big decision, such a life-changing decision. Also, you know, highlighting the fact that it is valuable to reach out to people who have experience in graduate studies. I wanna take it a step back and ask you about, what made you pursue your master’s degree, you know, before your PhD.
Because I know in engineering, and you know, correct me if this is just a misconception, but. Students can essentially go into industry, begin their work right after their bachelor’s degree, and so a master’s degree is already going a little bit above and beyond. So what made you pursue the Master’s degree and how did it shape your experience in engineering?
Like is that what pushed you to get a PhD? And how did you feel professionally once you got that master’s degree?
NOURCHENE: Well, that’s a really good question. I would say, let’s go back to 2020, the pandemic. We were all in lockdown, and if I remember correctly, I was in my junior year of college and I was getting a degree in industrial engineering.
I felt like I was close to my senior year. I should be thinking about my career. About what options do I have, and honestly, I felt like I’m a little bit behind in terms of technical skills. I did not feel like I’m ready to go into the workforce, so I thought, why not get another degree, try to learn more about the things that I’m really excited about, and that’s how I started thinking about a master’s degree.
However, I never thought about the states. As where to do the master’s degree. So I thought about gaining an international experience because I wanted to grow professionally, but also grow as a person. So I thought an international experience, I could learn more about people in the field and get access to state of the art equipment and also discover new things about myself.
So I felt like pursuing a master’s degree abroad would be the full package for me.
HAYA: Thank you for sharing that and you know, giving us a little bit of insight about how you came about your decision and shedding light on that readiness aspect, especially in engineering.
And how, from what I understand is that the master’s degree helped you boost your confidence in your capabilities and as an engineer and as a student in engineering. What has surprised you the most about the PhD experience so far, academically and personally?
Is it everything that you, um, expected from, you know, your conversations with friends and family about weighing your decision? Is it everything that they said it would be or is it totally different? I just want to hear about your reaction to now being in the PhD program.
NOURCHENE: Well, that’s a really good question actually.
I would say the most surprising thing for me is embracing the uncertainty. Because I would be working on a certain project, I would think that, I don’t know, I will go from point A to B. It’s like you started with a problem and then that problem will, will lead to more questions, and then you try to solve those questions and it would lead to more questions or more answers that you did not think of at first.
So it’s like, I would think at first that point A will take me to point B, but then I would find myself in point C. So it’s surprising, but at the same time, it’s exciting. It’s like I’m embracing the unknown and the uncertainty. It’s like I’m going down a path and I would expect certain results or a certain way to solve that problem.
But then I find myself in a completely different scope. So I would say that was the most surprising thing for me, but um, honestly, at the same time, it’s very exciting.
HAYA: Thank you for your answer. And it seems like you mastered the skill of resiliency pretty early on, and you recognize that PhD journey will never go completely as planned for the most part, but not completely.
So thank you for your answer. And speaking of resiliency, how do you stay motivated and manage the challenges, especially in a field like computer science and you studying a phenomenon like AI, it’s constantly ever changing, ever dynamic, always evolving. And so how do you stay sane and motivated throughout this whole process?
NOURCHENE: Well, this is a little bit of a complex question. I would say, and this is personal to me, the way I stay motivated in terms of my work, but also my life, it’s a little bit of a balance. If I wanna stay motivated about the project and the PhD, I feel like I need strategic networking. I need to be looking into other people’s work, talking with them, going into conferences, go into talks, visiting other labs, and listening to other professors and mentors, and what’s their perspective? What’s their opinion about the evolving of AI?
I would say it’s a commitment. It’s really a commitment to be always and constantly trying to stay up to date with everything.
So, I definitely need the insight of other people, of other researchers. So, that is for my career. As for staying motivated, overall, I think I need to have a life outside of the lab. Definitely you need to be going on trips, going to the gym, doing the things that make you most excited about life.
So, I think for me, going out with my friends, taking a trip from time to time, going to the gym, uh, reading a book, watching a movie. That is really important, even if it sounds like it’s cheesy or something. But I think it’s very important to have a life outside of the lab to be able to keep your sanity basically.
HAYA: Thank you for shedding light on that.I can’t tell you how many times I heard that just this week. Very, very important to take care of yourself in graduate spaces as a student, as a researcher, as anyone who is involved in graduate education because it can consume you, but you can’t really be your best self in your consume like that. So thank you for sharing that.
Last but not least, Nourchene. What advice do you have for students who are considering a PhD in STEM? And specifically for international students who are, you know, interested in this program or in the college of engineering. Is there anything that you’d like to share as it relates to tips for success, resources and support on and off campus?
NOURCHENE: Thank you for the question. I would say my number one advice is to take your time to actually decide if you want a PhD or not before we get into a PhD in what? In STEM or any other field, because if you’re not doing it for the right reason, if you’re not doing it because you want a PhD, the burnout would be quick.
So my first advice is to take all the time you need to actually decide if you want a PhD or not.
My second advice is the advisor, the person you’re gonna work with. Take your time to actually talk to professors, talk to different faculties, go in and attend some of the lab meetings if that’s allowed.
To be able to pick your advisor, because for me, 80% of the success of the PhD is the person you work with. Honestly, I cannot work with you if I can’t stand you, so I genuinely believe that your success is determined by the person you work with.
HAYA: Thank you so much for sharing that. You highlight a lot of important things that pertain to the real PhD experience coming from someone who’s currently doing it and in such a realistic way, and so thank you so much for sharing all of that.
Nourchene, thank you for your time today and for sharing your story with us. I am so honored to have captured your amazing journey here as a Fulbright Scholar from Tunisia to Germany to now VCU. So thank you so much for your time and for our listeners.
Whether it’s your first time decoding or you’re applying to a PhD Program, Please remember that the most powerful research begins with lived experiences. So do ask those questions. Find people in your network who are able to give you meaningful advice or at least point you to the right direction. Nourchene’s path is a proof that your background, your language, your worldview, they don’t just belong in STEM, they’re your superpowers.
CREDITS:
Grad Pod is produced by VCU’s Graduate School. Haya Hamid is our host. Our producer and editor is Grace Albirtton. Our theme music was composed, performed, and recorded by Austin Sellek and Claudia Andrade, students of Felipe Leitao, assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design at VCU School of the Arts.
Do you have a question for us? Email us at grad school@vcu.edu and we may answer your question on an episode!
