Grad Student Profile: Muhammad Ikbal Putera

Starting Strong: First-Year Graduate Students Share Their Semester Highlights

December 2, 2024 Gregory Hedgepeth 4-min. read

Muhammad Ikbal Putera Ph.D. student in the College of Natural Resources

Muhammad Ikbal Putera’s journey to NC State has been transformative. In 2022, he reached out to over a dozen professors across the U.S., seeking advising opportunities, and ultimately connected with Dr. Yu-Fai Leung in the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (PRTM) Department. Dr. Leung’s encouragement and commitment to mentoring him became a pivotal factor in his academic path, inspiring him to secure the prestigious Fulbright Indonesia Scholarship. In 2024, after years of determination, Ikbal achieved his goal and chose NC State as the ideal place to pursue his Ph.D. As the first park ranger from Komodo National Park—and possibly the first from Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry—to undertake this advanced degree, Ikbal aims to break barriers and inspire others. Now part of the Wolfpack, he is dedicated to contributing to the department and encouraging a global community of park rangers to follow his lead.

What does being an NC State graduate student mean to you?
It means a lot to me. I see myself as an ambassador for NC State to Indonesia. Having the privilege of pursuing a doctoral degree here gives me the opportunity to connect NC State with Indonesians and, most importantly, inspire more park rangers to pursue graduate degrees in parks, recreation, and tourism management. This was my dream, and it came true. If I can do it, so can you.

First-year international graduate student Muhammad Ikbal Putera talks about his first semester experience here at NC State.

Tell us about your research
As a senior park ranger in Komodo National Park, serving as the Advanced Forest Ecosystems Manager, my work has been deeply connected to human dimensions. This includes managing research and internship opportunities and teaching high school students. Notably, I designed a program called Ranger Goes to School, which enables park rangers and practitioners to teach in local high schools in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo National Park. The program fosters students’ place attachment to nature while offering altruistic community service opportunities for park rangers and practitioners. Over the past three years, the program has reached more than 1,000 students across four high schools and is set to launch its fourth batch next year.

This initiative has allowed me to think beyond traditional wildlife and ecosystems management, which is often the primary focus for park rangers worldwide. I firmly believe that the best way to preserve the natural environment is through education and youth engagement. My extensive experience in Komodo National Park and my interactions with youth have strengthened my research interests in conservation education, world heritage site management, the use of social media, and other human-wildlife relationship topics. During my undergraduate studies at Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia and my master’s program at the University of Florida, I also volunteered as a teaching assistant for multiple courses, further enhancing my passion for education and mentorship.

How has your semester been thus far and is graduate school what you expected?
My semester is going well! There were many ups and downs, but that’s completely normal for most students. Graduate school is something I’ve been looking forward to for years. I understand the journey won’t always be smooth, but I see it as a ‘short vacation’ from my work in Indonesia. NC State provides excellent facilities and services for students facing challenges in their programs. These resources have been incredibly helpful in navigating the tougher moments and getting me back to my best self.

What steps have you taken to ensure you’re ready for next semester?
Together with my advisor, Dr. Yu-Fai Leung, I have carefully planned most of my courses for the years ahead, and I look forward to learning even more from the incredible professors and colleagues at NC State. The key to success is communication. Be open with your advisor(s) and share your future ideas with them. I am confident that all professors at NC State are committed to helping their students achieve success in their chosen careers.

What advice do you have for new or current graduate students?
My advice to incoming members of the Wolfpack is to take the time to explore scholarship opportunities with your potential department and advisor(s) early on. This will give you enough time to prepare and secure funding for your studies. NC State, along with external organizations offer a wide range of scholarships to support your academic journey.

Tell us some interesting facts about yourself.
I consider myself one of the luckiest men on the planet. In 2010, while serving as an instructor for the Flag Raising Troop in Bogor, lightning struck a tree and threw me several meters away. Miraculously, I survived without any injuries, an event that gained national attention. I work in one of the world’s most iconic national parks, Komodo National Park, where I am directly involved in the conservation of the largest lizard on Earth, the Komodo dragon. I have also achieved recognition in tourism, winning 2nd place in the Tourism Ambassador competition for Banten Province (2014) and 1st place for East Nusa Tenggara Province (2015) in Indonesia. And lastly, here’s something unusual about me: I have a strange fear of onions, shallots, and garlic!