Madara Premawardhana (PhD in Computing)

PhD Computing at Buckingham: First year experience

Tell us who you are and what do you do?

My name is Madara Premawardhana, I am studying for a PhD in Computing at the School of Computing, The University of Buckingham and I am currently in the second year of my research studies. I like to keep myself busy and I enjoy painting, going on long walks, and making miniatures, but most of all I am very interested in working in the realm of research and academia, and thinking about new ideas which follow my research discipline. I also am working as a graduate teaching assistant at School of Computing.

What is your research focus?

My current research focuses on using Digital Twins towards Net Zero realisation. I work on using the concept of Digital Twins and employing Machine Learning and AI techniques along with simulations to investigate efficient solutions for sustainable energy production.

What inspired you to pursue this research topic?

Before joining The University of Buckingham, I worked as a Senior Software Engineer at SimCentric Technologies (PVT) Ltd. in Sri Lanka, where my work usually focused on research and development as well as working with simulations. I always wanted to pursue academia and being involved in simulation-based work at a corporate level ignited my interest on digital replication of real-world elements.

When I applied to study at The University of Buckingham, I had an initial interview that initiated an inspiring conversation with Professor Harin Sellahewa, Dean of Faculty of Computing, Law and Psychology. When he mentioned about Digital Twins and application scenarios, I was excited at the prospect of using my current experience and interest to explore the application of Digital Twins to address a global challenge and produced a research proposal that earned my place in the PhD programme in the School of Computing.

How would you summarise your first year of PhD studies in terms of challenges?

The first year of a PhD is going to throw lots of curve balls at you. You will either catch them or get hit by them. The trick is to learn on how to use the hits and catches to your advantage.

One of the challenges I met was not knowing how to critique peer-reviewed papers and to organise the bulks of research papers that were collected for the literature review. A few solutions saved me.

One was the Research Methods module which was compulsory for all postgraduate research students. It was taught by many experienced lecturers from the School of Computing and helped me gain many research skills such as how to read a research paper and critically analyse ideas presented. This module even contained technical skills such as using version control systems and managing references using tools such as Zotero and Mendeley.

The University Library provides personalised, high-quality service to support the University’s teaching and research programmes and has a very supportive staff. ASK (Academic Skills Know-how) is a helpful program which supported me to develop my research thinking. ASK is a team providing academic skills strategies to support students specialises around Academic Communication, including academic writing, critical thinking and presentation skills. They work with students in all disciplines and at all levels of academic study, from Foundation to PhD students.

Another challenge I faced as a first year PhD student was not knowing where I fit in, when I got lucky to become a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Computing and to work as a Visiting Lecturer at Centre of Foundation Studies. Being a student and a tutor was a bit confusing at first. Later, with the friendly and always helpful lecturers and the positive learning environment for research students, created by the University of Buckingham, the confusion dissolved away.

Madara talking to the public about her research at Soapbox Science Milton Keynes 2023 event.

What are your academic and personal accomplishments during the first year of studies?

For accomplishments, I’d say I had the best personal growth in being a balanced human being, intellectually, physically, and academically ever since I started my PhD. I learned to organise my work into time-blocks and to stay focused on a task. I think it is important that a first year PhD student focuses on writing and communication skills, because I think it is important to clearly communicate what you work on, think, and do.

I had many academic achievements such as publishing two peer-reviewed papers and presenting them in two conferences and presenting my research twice at Computing seminar series organised by the School of Computing.

I am proud to have completed several public engagement activities such as giving a talk on Digital Twins to members of the Adstock Science Club – a local science society established by Science enthusiasts of Buckinghamshire, talking to the public about my research at Soapbox Science in Milton Keynes, and participating as a guest speaker at a career development event for sixth form students organised by Akeley Wood School, where I also work as a Computer Science teacher.

How has the support from your advisors and peers contributed to your academic environments and your progress so far?

The University of Buckingham’s way of addressing student academic support is extraordinary. Even postgraduate research students have a personal tutor along with a supervisor who is knowledgeable in the same area of research. I’d say the encouragement received from the peers and my academic supervisor, Prof. Harin Sellahewa, to embrace opportunities such as engaging in public talks and attending to seminars has helped to increase my confidence as a researcher.

I think engaging in academic discussions with peers and listening to their expertise improves your ways of addressing your own research. For example, if you get stuck on a certain research question and you are not sure how to approach the solution, listening to peers, even if they are from different academic disciplines will provide you a variety of problem-solving approaches and perspectives. The Computing Seminar series which takes place weekly every term gives postgraduate research students opportunities to present their research and dive into deep conversations with participants which include all students and staff from School of Computing.

How have you managed to balance coursework, research, social and personal life during your first year?

Set your priorities right and practice time-blocking. Also engage in activities that will improve your focus and do deep work rather than working on something without an aim. One of the most common challenges I think a first year PhD student would have, which I also met was organizing work-life balance. The trick is to keep up a comfortable pace for work and not letting go of other things you like to do in life. Keeping in touch with your friends and family and talking about your daily life with them is essential to your mental health. The University’s Wellbeing, Skills and Diversity has open arms to students who are experiencing difficulties with university life. Friends of the University are members of the local community that love to support our students. Get involved with their activities such as cooking classes, English lessons, animal interaction events and games nights. It is important that you find good time management strategies which suits you the best in the first year itself to help carry you forward.

Are there any time-management strategies or lessons learned that you would like to share with fellow PhD students?

Indeed. You need to have a clear set of goals to work for. This might not be the case at the very beginning, but practice to create a clear work breakdown, along with clear specifications on expected outcomes You can then prioritise the tasks based on time they will take on an upcoming deadline or, on importance it holds for an upcoming task. There are many tested models which will help you to create your tasks and set priorities in a customised manner such as Promodoro, Eat-that-frog! (this refers to getting most challenging tasks done first) and Ivy League method.

Being a mature student, you will also have other commitments in life, but it is important to create a schedule dedicated for your research related tasks. They could be either reading papers or working on your annual review, a research project, conference, or a publication, but what’s most important is being realistic about the time-blocks and priorities you allocate to them. Time sometimes presents us with unpredictable events, but it is important to be flexible to manage and adapt to such events. Having a positive and pragmatic mindset developed will be helpful in toggling such events. When managing time, it is important to dedicate time to improve your physical and mental health by exercises and may be some recreational reading as well and to celebrate small wins. I always do with a bit of recreational reading when I achieve a small win such as managing to get a task done on time.

Example of time-blocking using Google calendar

What’s life like in Buckingham town?

Being a fairly small university, The University of Buckingham has close bonds with its town, people and nature. The University itself is in one of the most beautiful locations in English countryside surrounded by flower meadows, River Great Ouse and fields as far as the eye can see. If you get yourself lost wondering around distracted by the beauty of the town, you can always look around to find the spire of the Parish church of Buckingham. You’ll be enchanted to hear its bells ringing on Sundays taking you to an old English novel and perhaps you’ll notice the chimes of church each hour. These small things add up to the life in Buckingham along with a lot of great places for food which comes highly recommended by the locals, English pubs, small coffee shops where you might find a cozy nook to read a book with the buzz.

Exploring bluebells in bloom in 2023 Spring at Akeley, Buckinghamshire

If you admire nature and animals, you may find friendly robins, blue-tits, wagtails and blackbirds filling the air with songs. A quarter hour walk might get you to see lovely sheep, cotton-tail bunnies or even some horses. It is an amazing experience to be in such a lovely small-town, free of the hustle and bustle of the city but still as convenient, and to do your work with great peace in your mind. People of Buckingham are very friendly. For an example, if you get a chance to go to the Chantry chapel maintained by the National Trust, you will definitely get a chance to chat, perhaps to have a coffee and a biscuit with locals who volunteer there. The Stowe national trust is 30-minute walk/ 5-minute ride away from the central Buckingham town, where you will get to observe a fine landscape and experience a great history.

What are the ‘must do’s that you recommend for students?

Attend your matriculation, it would be a great memory to carry forward and embark yourself as a part of the University. Love what you do in your research, always have a hunger to learn, explore and know something more that you knew about your research than yesterday. Do experiments, have clear goals, keep on documenting what you do, deliver, and communicate your work, keep up to date in your research topic. Take proper breaks and rest between work. Plan and work your plan – or make it work. Doing a PhD is also about making memories as a postgraduate. Try to take part in events the Students Union organises, they will be fun.

Kayaking in Padbury Brook, near Buckingham