Mardiana’s academic journey began on Selayar Island, South Sulawesi. After completing her undergraduate studies at Universitas Negeri Makassar, she decided to move to Bandung to pursue her master’s and doctoral degrees in Chemistry at ITB.

The decision initially met with resistance from her parents, as it meant pursuing higher education far from her hometown. However, her parents’ blessing and the support of her family eventually strengthened Mardiana’s decision to choose ITB, which she considered to have an excellent reputation in the field of chemistry.

During her studies at ITB, Mardiana received support through the LPDP Scholarship for her master’s degree. She then continued her doctoral studies with support from the Ganesha Talent Assistantship (GTA) and a laboratory scholarship.

After beginning her doctoral studies in January 2022, her long academic journey reached an important milestone when she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on July 9, 2026.

“I was nervous, but also relieved that I had finally completed everything,” she recalled.

A Doctoral Journey Shaped by Multiple Roles
For Mardiana, her doctoral journey involved much more than laboratory experiments and dissertation writing. At the beginning of her doctoral studies, she went through pregnancy and gave birth to her child. During the same period, she was also entrusted with a position as a lecturer in the Chemistry Study Program at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU).

Balancing these roles made her doctoral journey more complex than simply meeting academic targets. She had to divide her time among her family, research, professional responsibilities, and academic commitments.

Through the process, Mardiana learned that completing a doctoral degree was not only about achieving academic goals, but also about having the resilience to remain committed to something she had started and continue moving forward despite challenges.

“Pursuing a doctoral degree is not only about earning a degree, but also about how we persevere through what we have started and keep moving forward,” she said.

Being a doctoral student, researcher, mother, wife, and lecturer simultaneously also taught Mardiana the importance of setting priorities. She realized that not everything had to be done by herself. She learned to delegate tasks whenever possible and focus her energy on matters that required her immediate attention.

Developing Catalysts for Plastic Waste Conversion
During her doctoral studies in ITB’s Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Research Group, Mardiana focused her research on the synthesis of hybrid zeolite-based catalyst materials. The research was motivated by the increasing amount of plastic waste, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is difficult to degrade and remains a significant environmental challenge.

According to Mardiana, plastics are essentially composed of hydrocarbon chains that still have the potential to be reused. Through the development of zeolite-based catalysts, plastic waste can be converted into high-value hydrocarbon products, such as fuel, with lower energy requirements compared with conventional processes.

Her interest in zeolites had developed long before she began her doctoral research. She considers the material particularly interesting because its characteristics can be modified according to specific needs, leaving considerable room for further development.

“Zeolite is a very interesting material. There is still so much that can be studied and developed. I believe this research can make an impact, particularly by transforming waste into something more useful,” she explained.

Consistently Producing Scientific Publications

Mardiana’s consistency throughout her doctoral studies is also reflected in the 16 reputable scientific publications she produced. These consist of three book chapters published by Wiley and Elsevier, as well as 13 scientific articles.

Most of the publications were outputs of her dissertation research on the development of zeolite materials as catalysts. Other publications resulted from related research focusing on zeolites and catalysts.

For Mardiana, this achievement is not simply about the number of publications. More importantly, the publications represent part of her learning process, scientific exploration, and consistency throughout her doctoral studies.

Family and Supervisors as Her Greatest Support
Behind this long journey, Mardiana acknowledges that her achievements would not have been possible without the support of those around her.

“I could not have gone through all of this on my own,” she said.

Her child, husband, parents, and extended family became her greatest support system, continuously encouraging her throughout every stage of her studies. Support also came from her academic environment, particularly her supervisory team, consisting of Prof. Ismunandar, Dr. Ir. Grandprix Thomryes Marth Kadja, M.Si., and Prof. I Made Arcana, M.S.

According to Mardiana, her three supervisors not only provided academic guidance but also fostered a positive learning environment. In particular, Dr. Ir. Grandprix Thomryes Marth Kadja, M.Si., provided significant support when she felt discouraged or experienced burnout.

“When I felt down, I was fortunate to have supervisors who always maintained a positive outlook, encouraged me, and created an environment that helped me get back on my feet. Without my support system, I do not know whether I would have been able to complete my doctoral studies,” she said.

When she felt exhausted, Mardiana had simple ways of restoring her energy. She would enjoy a meal, talk with people close to her, or write down her thoughts through journaling. For her, writing helped her see problems more clearly and reorganize her priorities.

ITB and a Culture of Learning
Her experience at ITB also left a lasting impression on Mardiana. When she first came to Bandung to pursue her master’s degree in 2018, she encountered an academic culture that was different from her previous experience.

“I noticed that students at ITB were very accustomed to coming to campus, discussing ideas, and even discussing course materials in common gathering spaces. At first, I felt that I had to study harder to keep up with the pace,” she recalled.

The strong academic environment became one of her motivations to continue growing as a researcher. The lush campus surroundings, activities in the laboratory, academic supervision with lecturers, and time spent in the library became experiences she knows she will miss after completing her studies.

Continuing Her Contribution through Education and Research
After officially earning her doctoral degree, Mardiana is committed to continuing her contribution as a lecturer in the Chemistry Study Program at Universitas Sumatera Utara. She plans to continue developing her research, teaching students, and applying the knowledge and experience she gained at ITB to create broader benefits for society.

At the end of the conversation, Mardiana shared a message for students and anyone pursuing their aspirations.

“Just keep going. Always believe that everything will eventually come to an end. If your intentions are good, God will surely help you.”

She also expressed her gratitude to Institut Teknologi Bandung for being a place where she could grow as a researcher. She extended special appreciation to Dr. Ir. Grandprix Thomryes Marth Kadja, M.Si., whom she credited with providing continuous support throughout her master’s and doctoral studies.

“I learned so much during my time at ITB. Thank you to ITB and the Kadja Lab, under the leadership of Dr. Ir. Grandprix Thomryes Marth Kadja, M.S., for always supporting me throughout my studies,” she said.

Mardiana’s journey demonstrates that academic achievements are not always reached through a straightforward path. With the support of family and the academic community, as well as the determination to keep learning and moving forward, multiple roles and challenges can be navigated together toward a shared goal: continuous growth and creating meaningful impact through knowledge.