In an interview, researcher and Bangladeshi immigrant Sohel Murshed, who has been residing in Lisbon since 2010, advocated for public policies that provide stability to researchers in Portugal to ensure that the country benefits from the investment in their education.
Upon his arrival in Lisbon, Murshed contributed to strengthening aerospace engineering research at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), one of the highest-ranked programs in Portugal. He regards the country as a “first-class educational ecosystem,” comparable to the world’s best.
However, Murshed warned that Portugal continues to lose its best talent due to a lack of opportunities.
“I am often asked abroad about my students because employers want to recruit them. Sometimes I withhold the full truth because I want to keep them, but it’s very, very difficult,” he lamented.
Murshed attributes this issue to the high cost of living in Portugal, stating, “Lisbon is unbearable; none of the students can sustain a life here,” coupled with the scarcity of opportunities.
“Students in Portugal are very talented, comparable to the best worldwide,” he said, “but to continue research in Portugal, they must be linked to teaching, and there are few openings.”
He emphasized the need for greater private sector involvement in research and more public support to provide stable research careers.
“People cannot keep moving from postdoctoral grant to postdoctoral grant; that’s not a life, and the government needs to address this issue,” warned the world-renowned expert in nanofluids.
Otherwise, Murshed argued, “Portugal spends money training its best minds, only for them to be utilized by other countries.”
“Portugal has unique conditions to create centers of excellence, not only in my field. Students are capable, have good work habits, and the country is attractive to foreigners,” but he stressed the need for an “integrated policy” that transforms research into an “economic model” as seen in other nations.
With a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Singapore and experience in the United States, Murshed chose Portugal primarily for its climate.
After completing work in Orlando, Florida, “I had offers from Ohio (USA), Paris, and Lisbon. I wanted to explore Europe, but Paris was too cold,” he recalled.
Since 2010, based in Lisbon, he has worked as a guest at various international educational institutions, acquired Portuguese nationality, and has no intention of leaving.
“I like Portugal. I could relocate anywhere else, but my children are Portuguese, and my work is rewarding,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of my students,” Murshed noted.
