Jeshaiah Khor achieves remarkable feat as youngest PhD graduate

19 April 2023

Jeshaiah Khor Zhen Syuen
Bachelors of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics Engineering
Doctor of Philosophy

Having completed both my bachelor’s degree and doctoral studies at Monash University Malaysia, the University has been my second home for over ten years. All this time spent at Monash has been a fantastic experience. Since I started studying here at the age of 14, one could say that I practically grew up here! Being here has given me the opportunity to develop and grow as an engineer in one of the world’s top universities, with new and exciting things to learn every day.

A great aspect of Monash’s engineering program is its emphasis on using the skills we develop to enact a positive change in the world. In my case, I have chosen to do that through my research in biomedical engineering to develop new technologies to improve people’s health and quality of life. This has not always been smooth sailing for me - I’ve had to learn to become more disciplined and meticulous and manage my time better to handle the workload. However, seeing your research come to life and become something that has the potential to improve people’s lives is more than worth the work put in, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it.

In terms of the social aspect of my time at Monash, I’ve met amazing people, both fellow students and senior educators, who have inspired me to keep improving myself constantly. These people have broadened my horizons, and I’ve learned to see things from many different points of view. In addition, joining the clubs and societies at Monash has allowed me to explore many extracurricular activities, such as joining industrial societies, participating in musical performances, and competing in various sports. This has provided me with some of the most fun experiences during my university life. A particularly fond memory is representing Monash to compete in the recent Ultimate Frisbee tournament, Nottingham Ultimate Battle Royale, bringing home the gold medal!

All in all, my time in Monash has shaped me into a better person and prepared me to go out and make a positive difference in the world.

Why did you decide to join Engineering and how did you prepare yourself?
I have always been fascinated with the inner workings of our world. In particular, I have always been especially drawn to physics and mathematics, as they are the keys to understanding how every physical process in this world works. Historically, engineers have applied concepts drawn from physics and mathematics along with their own creativity to build marvels of machinery that have allowed us to progress as a species. These machines have helped us live better, longer, and more prosperous lives. As such, it was an obvious choice for me to be part of this field and continue pushing the boundaries of innovation to make the world a better place.

Was there someone you consulted throughout your PhD journey?
My main supervisor during my doctoral studies, Dr Alpha Agape Gopalai, has provided guidance throughout this journey. His technical and non-technical advice has been key in helping me better cope with the rigours of academia and has made me a better researcher. In addition, my supervisory committee has also contributed to my PhD journey by providing technical insights from their respective fields of interest. Finally, my friends and family have been a great source of help, acting as sounding boards for me to discuss ideas critically and providing emotional support through the particularly tough times of my PhD journey. My genuine thanks go out to all these people, without whom this journey would have been impossible.

A motivating quote from you.
In life, all of us will face setbacks and failures. Even in my relatively short life, I have failed over and over more times than I can begin to count. However, failure is never the end of our journey. It is simply the chance to start anew, this time better armed to try again. So it’s okay if you fail - cry, vent, and mourn as much as you need to. But when you’re done with that, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again.

The most important step a person can take is always the next one.

Your advice to current students.
Every student has heard typical study advice (e.g. work hard, manage your time, etc.), so I will approach this from a different angle. As potentially cheesy as it may sound, Monash’s motto, “Ancora Imparo”, is excellent advice to live by. Take joy in learning - not just in your chosen course of study, but in every aspect of your life experiences. Take control of your life, strive to chart your path, and learn and improve as a person day by day. Everything else (e.g. grades, career, life progression) will naturally follow.