Hi, I’m Subrat Sahoo, and I’m asking for help to return to Brown University and continue my path toward a career in physics research.

I came to the U.S. to pursue my MS in Physics at Brown University with the long-term goal of earning a Ph.D. and becoming a researcher in Quantum Physics. Before that, I studied at Singapore International School, Mumbai, earned strong Cambridge results in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English, and completed my B.Sc. (Hons) in Physics from the University of Delhi with a CGPA of 8.30. My parents believed in this dream enough to take out a $75,000 education loan for me.

In 2023, my family was hit by a serious medical crisis when my younger sister became very ill in India. My family had to prioritize her treatment, and as a result I could not keep up with Brown graduate housing charges and related expenses. Those charges built up on my student account, and Brown canceled my enrollment before my third semester.

But the financial crisis was not the whole story.

During that same period, I was also struggling with serious mental-health difficulties, and I believe my situation was mishandled in ways that caused long-term academic, financial, and personal harm. Because of that, I am now pursuing a disability-discrimination case and related complaints regarding how my situation was handled at the time of my de-enrollment. I have been actively trying to resolve this through formal complaints, documentation, and communication, while also trying to rebuild my academic future.

For the past six months, I have kept this fundraiser going as a last resort while also taking action in other ways. I have been applying for jobs, trying to raise support through every possible resource, preparing documents about my case, and seeking help so I can return to school before it is too late. I am also trying to use this summer wisely so I can rebuild the knowledge gap created by the last two to three years.

Right now, I am stuck in a painful loop:

I have a past-due balance that blocks me from re-enrolling.

My return to Brown depends on resolving that financial barrier and stabilizing my situation.

I need time and resources to repair the academic gap caused by the interruption in my studies.

If I lose more time, I may lose my realistic chance to complete my degree and continue toward research.

I am raising $50,000 to help me get my education back on track.

The funds will help me:

Clear the university balance that is blocking re-enrollment.

Cover essential education-related and stability costs during the transition back.

Support academic recovery, including coursework, preparation, and rebuilding the knowledge gap caused by the interruption.

Give me a real chance to return to Brown and continue the degree I worked so hard to begin.

I want to be transparent: I did not start this fundraiser casually. I started it after months of trying to solve the problem through other means, and I have continued trying to take responsible action alongside it. This fundraiser is my effort to keep my education, my research goals, and my future alive while I continue fighting to return.

If you are a student reading this, you probably know how much time, effort, and sacrifice go into building an academic future. I am not asking for comfort or luxury. I am asking for a chance not to lose years of work because of a family medical crisis, mental-health struggles, and the consequences that followed.

If you can donate, thank you. If you cannot, sharing my fundraiser link would still help me greatly. I will continue posting updates about my case, my progress, and any steps toward re-enrollment.

Sincerely,

Subrat Sahoo