Hana Nur Fltriana, second from the left

Q1. Why did you come to the Korea Institute of Energy Technology?

Firstly, I was interested in continuing my study in Korea because science and technology are growing rapidly there. I knew about my future professor, Dr. Na Jeong Geol, and KIER (Korea Institute of Energy Research) from a visiting professor at ITB from Korea named Dr. Joseph Lee. He had recommended a lot of students from ITB for school or internships work at universities and institutes in Korea. Therefore, in August 2015, I joined Dr. Na Jeong Geol’s lab and started a new life journey as a doctoral student at UST and a researcher at KIER. I was very passionate about the field of Dr. Na’s research field about low-rank coal processing, because my country, Indonesia, is one of the biggest coal producers in the world. Even though, in the end, I worked on the biohydrogen project under his guidance. 

Q2. What do you remember the most when you were a researcher?

What I remember most when I was a researcher at KIER was that we worked with projects that were very important and related to the needs of the country and industry so that the experience gained was very possible to be applied in our own country. In addition, the research and laboratory facilities at KIER are very complete and make it easier to carry out various researches. Also, I was guided by professors, supervisors, and colleagues who were very kind and supportive.

Hana Nur Fltriana, third from the left

Q3. Did your experience at the Korea Institute of Energy Technology help you get a job?

Of course, because of my research experience at KIER in many research fields, such as the production of biohydrogen, microalgae, and microbial electrosynthesis, and the publication of quite many research papers became my important value to become a lecturer at a leading university in Indonesia. 

Q4. How are you doing as an adjunct lecturer?

I currently work as an adjunct lecturer at Padjadjaran University (Unpad), one of the best universities in Indonesia, where I teach subjects such as basics and principles of bioprocess engineering and microbiology, bioindustry technology, enzyme technology, biorefinery, and environmental biotechnology. I also joined the biomass and biorefinery research group center at this university.

Q5. What do you want to do in the future?

I want to be a good professor in the field that I am currently working in 

First from the left, Hana Nur Fltriana

Q6. What do you want to say to other students at the Institute of Energy?

Keep the spirit of learning and working as a good student as well as a good researcher at KIER and use this opportunity to gain as much knowledge and experience to be applied in the future world of work