Name: Timur Bagautdinov
Place of Birth: Moscow, Russia
Date of Birth: August 31, 1989
Studied at TU/e: 2011-2013. Master of Computer Science
Current position: Pursuing a PhD in Computer Vision Laboratory at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland.

Why did you opt for TU/e and how do you look back?
TU/e is known for its high-quality computer science program. The Netherlands is a nice country, and everyone speaks English. TU/e is fine in terms of academia, but I wish there had been fewer courses and more research, or a broader selection of courses. People (both fellow students and professors) have been exceptionally cool.

How did the job search go?
It was pretty hard to find a PhD program at the institutions of my preference, but TU/e professors have been wonderful in recommending places to go.

Was the fact you’re not Dutch an advantage or disadvantage in finding a job?
Although I wasn’t looking for a position in the Netherlands, in the academic world it doesn’t seem to matter at all. I heard from fellow students that for some companies (especially consultancy) knowing Dutch is important. But nationality doesn’t matter much; it’s mostly about language.

Is this the job you hoped for?
Yes, very much so. Doing research is challenging and fun.

What are your plans for the future?
To finish my PhD, and make sure it will be really cool.

What advice would you give current students?
Think twice about what you really want to do with your life. TU/e is a great school full of smart people, and it can open any door anywhere if you work hard enough.