After becoming a post-graduate at 15 years, Sushma Verma plans to do PhD in environmental microbiology from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow.

Her father works as an assistant supervisor, sanitation, in BBAU where Sushma stood seventh in an entrance test conducted by the university.

It may be noted that, in June, she had completed her MSc in microbiology and had topped her class.

?There is one seat vacant in the reserved category and three in general category. Special provision can be made in her case. I don?t see why she cannot do her PhD,? Naveen Kumar, HoD environmental microbiology, BBAU.

?We must encourage her talent. We will give admission to her in the special category. We will also admit her in a hostel and give her scholarship also,? said vice-chancellor, BBAU, Prof RC Sobti.

?I was attracted to environmental microbiology when we did lab work to isolate Rhizobium bacteria in roots of leguminous plants,? she said.

Her brother Shailendra had completed his BCA when he was 14. At present, he is working and pursuing his MCA in Bengaluru.

Their youngest sibling, Ananya, all of three years, can read the Ramayana. ?She can also read and recite poems in Hindi and English,? said Sushma, with pride.