PhD Candidate Mahyar Kamali Saraji: I Have Found a Career Path That Allows Me to Pursue My Passions

An academic journey might span continents and shape a narrative that exemplifies the global nature of intellectual pursuits. PhD Candidate and Researcher of Vilnius University (VU) in the field of Energy Economics Mahyar Kamali Saraji shares his experience of an individual career path led by passions for critical thinking, writing, and reviewing. The scholar feels fortunate to find himself in an environment full of curious, inventive and visionary people and sees it as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through his written contributions.

Best decision ever made

“I have a deep love for learning and find great joy in pursuing knowledge. As a philomath, I am always seeking new challenges and opportunities to broaden my understanding of the world around me. I am confident that I will excel in academia and make meaningful contributions to pursuing knowledge,” says the PhD Candidate. He views an academic environment as a perfect platform to explore his interests and expand the horizons of knowledge.

He grew up surrounded by engineers in his family, M. Kamali Saraji says, he always dreamed of becoming an engineer. “After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, I realised that my true passion lies elsewhere. I had the courage to make a change and pursue a major in social sciences, and it has been the best decision I have ever made,” he says and carves his own path towards a fulfilling career following his heart.

Methods led to research at VU

“My supervisor, Prof. Dalia Štreimikienė, works for the Kaunas faculty of Vilnius University. She is an esteemed scientist in field of multi-criteria decision-making methods, which are popular in various parts of the world, including China, India, the USA, Iran, and Lithuania. And it is my primary area of interest. Her work in particular inspired me to come to Lithuania, specifically to Kaunas,” says PhD Candidate and Researcher of VU in the field of Energy Economics M. Kamali Saraji.

“As a researcher focused on sustainable energy development, I believe that VU has the potential to significantly contribute to addressing the challenges we face. However, to do so, we need to expand our disciplines to include areas such as environmental, climate, and materials science, as well as practical fields like renewable energy engineering. By doing this, we can equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills needed to make a positive impact in the climate action era,” believes the young scientist in his career path that allows to pursue passions for critical thinking, writing, and reviewing. As a scholar, he feels fortunate to find himself in an environment full of curious, inventive, and visionary people.

Opportunity to positively impact the world

“I am inspired by the opportunity to positively impact the world and tackle urgent environmental and social issues. The prospect of developing innovative solutions and technologies that promote sustainability drives me forward,” says M. Kamali Saraji. He is passionate about discovering new ways to conserve the environment, harness renewable energy, and manage resources efficiently.

“Furthermore, I am driven by my dreams, one of which is to be among the top 1% of most cited researchers in my field, motivating me to publish more and more. Although academia can be challenging with the “publish or perish” mentality, I see it as an opportunity to conduct more research and grow as a scholar,” speaks promising PhD Candidate. He believes, the most significant benefit of studies is the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through your written contributions, which have the potential to be immortalised and influence generations to come.

Entertainment is food for the soul

“Life is an adventure, and I’m always ready for the next exciting chapter!” says M. Kamali Saraji. In his free time, he’s off exploring the world and taking advantage of the incredible travel opportunities living in Europe offers. As a must, he also finds exploring the beautiful historic buildings with stunning facades in the old towns of Kaunas and Vilnius, as well as the unique nature of Birštonas, that was a wonderful experience for him. He also is willing to visit Nemuno Santaka and Kadagių Slėnis at least once.

“Even before coming here, I knew about Lithuania’s famous basketball team and amber, and now I am grateful for the opportunity to experience everything this beautiful country offers. I have made some incredible discoveries since I arrived in this country!” smiles M. Kamali Saraji “And let me tell you, I have tasted the most delicious and colourful soup in the world – šaltibarščiai is an absolute must-try!” proudly says M. Kamali Saraji about his gastronomic experiences in Lithuania.

Despite coming from a warm country, he has found a way to survive in temperatures as low as -25C, but these days, like many people, he spends most of my free time watching movies and going to the cinema. “I live and breathe cinema, and I even dreamed of becoming a movie critic at one point. In fact, my master’s thesis was all about the fascinating world of the film industry,” tells Mahyar about his passion and another way of discovering the world of the silver screen that is also based on problem-solving.

9 Jan 2024