JOHOR BAHRU, 15 Nov – Completing a doctoral degree demands perseverance, technical rigor, and deep personal commitment. For Dr. Raden Tina Rosmalina, a researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in Indonesia and a doctoral graduate from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), this journey represented not only an intellectual endeavor but also a profound human story of family, motherhood, grief, faith, and resilience. Affiliated with the Department of Water and Environmental Engineering under the Faculty of Civil Engineering at UTM Johor Bahru, her PhD journey exemplifies how academic excellence, supportive mentorship, and personal fortitude combine to cultivate impactful environmental research.

Dr. Raden Tina Rosmalina’s PhD journey on Field of Research (Civil Engineering) officially began in February 2022 under unique and challenging circumstances. In the beginning, just one month into her PhD journey, Dr. Tina lost her beloved father. He was a man who valued education deeply, and he was the happiest person when he learned that she was going to pursue her PhD. In-person attendance at UTM was prevented at the beginning of the journey due to the birth of her second child in Indonesia. The long-awaited transition to campus life finally happened in 2023, when they stepped onto UTM grounds for the very first time during their third semester.

Arriving at Senai International Airport in January 2023 alongside her husband and six-month-old son, Shakil, she was warmly welcomed by her supervisors, Dr. Shamila Binti Azman, who personally met the family and assisted with their transition to the student dormitory.

In February 2023, her supervisor guided her through an extensive orientation across the UTM Johor Bahru campus, introducing her to the UTM Library, lecture halls, cafeteria, and the research laboratories of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

“That thoughtful gesture made our first arrival in a new place much more comforting and memorable,” she shares.

At the core of Dr. Raden Tina’s doctoral work is a dedicated focus on environmental sustainability and water resource protection. Conducting her research through the Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, her field investigation was related to contamination issues of the Citarum River, the longest and largest river in West Java, Indonesia. The research involved collecting water and sediment samples from several monitoring stations to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of this emerging contaminant.

Her research focused on the development of molecularly imprinted polymer-based magnetic solid-phase extraction for the selective determination of 4-nonylphenol, as well as investigating its occurrence in water and sediment samples from the Citarum River. Crucial roles were played by field sampling, laboratory experiments, data analysis, and scientific writing throughout this challenging yet rewarding journey.

While managing field research, laboratory analyses, and academic duties, Dr. Raden Tina faced an overwhelming personal trial that tested her emotional and mental strength to its limits.

“In late 2023, I was blessed with another pregnancy, but tragically, I lost my third child in the womb in mid-2024, just as I began writing my thesis. Before this, I had also lost my first child. This trial was incredibly heavy for me, having to endure three loss of my beloved people.”

Coping with the profound grief of losing an unborn child while maintaining full-time work obligations at BRIN and meeting intense academic writing deadlines took an immense emotional toll. During this dark period, she struggled deeply with her mental well-being and emotional exhaustion. Yet, through Allah’s grace, spiritual faith, and the steadfast love, patience, and encouragement of her husband, she found the internal strength to endure and rebuild. Rather than allowing grief to derail her aspirations, she channelled her resilience into completing her research, transforming a moment of heartbreaking loss into a testament to faith, courage, and family solidarity.

“My family became an inseparable part of this journey, and many of my university memories were shared with my husband and Shakil,” she explains.

The culmination of her doctoral journey arrived on 10 December 2025 during her PhD Viva Voce examination. Still based in Indonesia at the time, Dr. Raden Tina faced potential travel and logistical hurdles. In a compassionate gesture of institutional flexibility, her supervisor arranged for her examination to be conducted online, while other candidates were evaluated in person.

Passing the Viva Voce marked the triumphant completion of her PhD journey. Reflecting on this milestone, Dr. Raden Tina expressed deep spiritual gratitude and appreciation for her supervisors, her family, and the unseen blessings along her path.

“Alhamdulillah, sometimes the best opportunities come in ways we never expect. Indeed, ‘So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?’(Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:13).”

Her graduation at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s (UTM) 70th Convocation stands as a beacon of inspiration for the entire UTM community. It demonstrates that academic achievement is not solely measured by scientific output, but also by the depth of faith, perseverance through life’s deepest trials, and the enduring strength of a loving support system.