Ubuntu Stories
Shristi Subedi – Nepal
When I first met Dr. Maharjan, I approached him with uncertainty: “Sir, what do I write in my CV? I have no work done.” As a final-year undergraduate student in Nepal with no access to MR image processing training, I felt completely unprepared for research. Dr. Maharjan lit up the path ahead and became a constant source of motivation.
Joining CMIR (Centre for Medical Imaging Research) meant being the youngest member on a team of seniors. Yet Yashawant, Usha, and the entire team embraced me as an equal colleague. When self-doubt crept in and I’d say “I may not be capable of this,” they provided unwavering emotional support and were always available when I needed help.
Learning MRI neuroimage processing with Dr. Ruwan from the UK through remote sessions from Pokhara seemed daunting initially. With her patient smile and encouraging approach, she repeated lessons until we understood, demonstrating infinite patience with our learning process. What makes our collaboration truly special is how we divide responsibilities based on each member’s strengths – one writes proposals, another handles data analysis, someone manages presentations, while others focus on different aspects of our research projects. This division of labor ensures everyone contributes meaningfully while learning from each other’s expertise.
After a year with the team, I still make mistakes, but nobody ever demotivates me. This supportive environment led to opportunities I never imagined – presenting at an international conference in Thailand, made possible through my team’s encouragement. Together, we’ve built CMIR into a thriving community of over 10 members. This journey perfectly embodies Ubuntu – “I am because we are.” Who I am today as a researcher exists entirely because of this incredible team. From having nothing for my CV to international presentations, every achievement reflects our collective belief in each other’s potential.
