Kannur: When N Anusree, 23, the daughter of Kanakaraj, a KSRTC bus driver and Radhika flies to Greece in May to pursue her doctoral research in Physics, it will be a rewarding moment for her parents. Anusree is the recipient of the Mary Curie post doctoral fellowship of Rs 1.09 cr instituted by the European Union (EU). Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is the European Union’s flagship funding programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers.The research spans four years.

She will pursue her doctoral research at the University of Crete on the subject of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics.Her parents were dedicated to providing her with all the support for their education. She pursued Malayalam medium and completed her studies at Chothavur HSS (SSLC) and Thiruvangad HSS( Plus 2). Anusree was studious from the primary level and had a vision to reach great heights. She developed an immense interest in Physics from her early school days. She had chosen Physics for her degree and post-graduate studies at the Brennan College Thalassery and SN College Kannur respectively.

"My guide during the project work of MSc, Ranjan Rajan John, motivated me to apply for the Mary Curie fellowship. I was preparing for the UGC NET examination and I had sent a few applications for various fellowships in different universities during that period. I never thought that I would be selected for the prestigious Mary Curie fellowship," Anusree told On Manorama.

Anusree found an advertisement of the Crete Center for Theoretical Physics at the University of Crete in Greece about the doctoral research they are offering under the fellowship. Anusree wants to study the macroscopic and mesoscopic properties of matter and it was her proposal for the programme in Crete. She had done her project for M Sc Physics in a similar subject, soliton. She went through a lengthy application process. She submitted a motivation letter, curriculum vitae, three recommendation letters, a mark list and a project report. Then there were two interview sessions with a guide and other professors at the university.

Even while basking in joy, Anusree and her family are curious about the first flight in her life to Greece. "We are very happy about the achievement of Anusree. It was an outcome of her hard work. As her parents, we have dedicated our lives to the education of our children. Finally, the hard work of Anusree and our efforts have paid off. The family, friends and people from various places are now praising her achievement and we are very happy about that, but we are slightly anxious about her travelling such a long distance," Radhika, mother of Anusree said.

Apart from Physics, Anusree has a keen interest in Sanskrit. She has won first prize in Sanskrit versification at the state youth festival and University art festival.