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Ravidho Ramadhan and his family were happy and emotion-filled during the postgraduate graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Jul. 24, at Grha Sabha Pramana UGM.
This doctoral student in the physics program successfully earned the title of the youngest and fastest PhD graduate at 26.
Born in Teluk Balengkong, Indragiri Hilir, Riau, in 1998, he completed his studies with a dissertation titled “Validation and Utilization of Global Precipitation Measurement Satellite Data for Rainfall and Hydrometeorological Disaster Analysis in Indonesia.”
This research is supervised by Dr. Wiwit Suryanto (Promoter), Professor Sholihun (Co-Promoter), and Professor Marzuki (Co-Promoter). He was the youngest PhD graduate at UGM’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) and achieved a perfect GPA of 4.00.
Dr. Ramadhan began his educational journey in Tunggal Rahayu Jaya, Riau, a transmigration village with limited access to electricity. At the age of 5, he started elementary school, following in the footsteps of his peers.
He continued his education in junior high school in his hometown and attended senior high school in the regency capital.
“I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in the Physics Department at Andalas University through a Fast Track program, allowing me to finish both degrees in 5 years,” he mentioned.
During his master’s studies, he focused on analyzing the variability of vertical rainfall structures in Sumatra using surface observation and satellite data.
Dr. Ramadhan’s interest in the PhD in Physics program at UGM was driven by the flexible By Research program, which allowed him to continue working as a research assistant at Andalas University.
He found a promoter who supported his research in atmospheric physics. He believes that interest in physics in Indonesia has declined due to the low absorption of the field in the job market.
“This challenge encourages physics enthusiasts to be more creative in applying physics to benefit society,” he explained.
One of the biggest challenges during his studies was managing time between doctoral studies and his work as a research assistant. Therefore, Dr. Ramadhan emphasized the importance of communication with his promoter and prioritization to complete tasks effectively.
To stay motivated, he enjoys reading self-improvement books and engaging in discussions to exchange ideas. One of his proudest achievements was publishing his first article in a Q1 Scopus-indexed journal.
“My dissertation focused on validating and utilizing Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite data for rainfall and hydrometeorological disaster analysis in Indonesia,” he stated.
Dr. Ramadhan’s greatest motivation came from his family, especially his mother, who always emphasized the importance of education.
Academically his supervisor, Professor Marzuki, significantly impacted his academic development. As the first child and a husband, he is determined to be a role model for his loved ones.
After completing his PhD, he will undertake a post-doctoral program at Kyoto University through the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) program, with Professor Hiroyuki Hashiguchi as his host researcher.
Dr. Ramadhan believes that anyone with strong determination can achieve what he has achieved. “One thing I believe is that education is one of the most reasonable ways to improve our and our family’s quality of life in the future,” he concluded.
Reportage: Dita
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif