International Student Spotlight: Chandrima Chatterjee

Graduate fellow and international student Chandrima Chatterjee brings the exuberant spirit of Kolkata, West Bengal—India’s cultural capital—and a place she still calls home, to her graduate journey here at the University of Louisville. 

Driven by her passion for public health, Chandrima embarked on her doctoral studies in the fall of 2023, after earning her master’s degree from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, India. Now in her second year, she is deeply engaged in her research on maternal mental health while studying Health Management & System Sciences at the School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS). "Both the research opportunities and resources available at UofL have made it an ideal University for me to get my PhD."

During her first year at UofL, Chandrima was awarded the Research! America Microgrant to help fund a series of research communications workshops. Following this grant, she presented her research at the Kentucky Public Health Association Annual Conference and at the University of Louisville Graduate Research Conference. 

However, when asked what accomplishment she is most proud of as a graduate student, Chandrima reflects on her journey here sharing, "I am proud of the fact that I was brave enough to take the leap of faith toward my dreams and that I could come here and build a life of my own." 

"My experience as an international student at UofL has been nothing short of great. Everyone has been very helpful here, starting with picking me up from the airport, setting up my accounts and sharing resources. Coming to a new place is intimidating, but with people helping you, it is a lot easier, which has been my experience."

Chandrima is active on campus as a member of the United Nations Association for Women at UofL and serves as both a graduate representative for the SPHIS-SGA and an executive council member for the Graduate Student Council. She has also enjoyed being a part of the Student Organization for Alumni Relations (SOAR) as it, "is an amazing place to sharpen your skills and network with alumni from various disciplines."

As a graduate student, Chandrima loves "hanging around the Red Barn and the library. These have become my favorite places on campus and a walk on the Big Four bridge is something that I love to do after a long day." 

When asked what advice she would give future international graduate students, she recommends talking to a few people before going abroad to learn more about the university and to, "trust yourself and your dreams because they might just surprise you." 

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴.