Shubhrabaran’s Career Story - Balancing a Mix of Dentistry and Trading

How about the journey of a Dental surgeon who developed an interest in trading, inclined toward Algorithmic Trading - and is today an independent part-time trader?

Such is the story of EPAT alumnus Dr. Shubhrabaran Das. He identified a potential in the growing field of Algo Trading, pursued it incessantly, and achieved what he set out to do. He is a proud recipient of the title of ‘Aesthetic dentist of the year 2018’.

If you’d say it funnily, this is the journey - from Teeth to Ticks!

We’re glad that he chose to share his story with us. Here’s how our discussion went.

Hi Shubhrabaran, tell us about yourself.

Hi! I’m Shubhrabaran Das; I’m a dental surgeon by profession. I’m from Agartala, Tripura, and I love to watch movies in my spare time I’m passionate about Trading. I have 2 clinics here in Tripura, and I’m in a part-time trading business.

After my schooling in Tripura, I opted for the profession of a Dentist, and I took up my studying in Chennai. Post that, I worked for a few months under a Senior Dental surgeon in the city of Kolkata. Over a period of time, my work experience has mounted to 10+ years and continues.

Under the present state of the COVID-19 pandemic, my working hours have reduced to half of normal, and I’m polishing my part-time day trading skills in the meantime.

A Dental Surgeon and an Algo Trader - that’s an interesting mix. Could you tell us about that?

I was a Dental surgeon before I even knew about trading. My interest in finance and trading wasn’t always from the beginning. A few years down my career, a thought about finance and investing crossed my mind. And I did try my hand at investing in different avenues, but I didn’t know how to become a successful trader.

I knew of trading but had never tried it. What attracted me were the returns - it was very lucrative to learn how one could learn and earn from the markets. I had never thought of it before. Although I wanted to trade, I have practiced it as a side business, and I continue to do so. I used trading software to automate my strategies, but it limited me to certain specific strategies. The results were not good.

I frequented various webinars and workshops on trading. During one such webinar over at Zerodha, their guest, an ‘Algo Trader’ shared his experience of trading. He spoke of phrases like ‘Market Microstructure’, ‘Market Making’, etc. This piqued my interest. This was the first time that I got introduced to Algorithmic Trading.

I started searching for a lot of free resources, watching countless YouTube videos and started following many who claimed that one would profit following their methods of trading. I recollect attempting a lot of their learnings and failing at them. But it was the case for most of the learners I knew.

I was curious to learn how I could automate my trading strategies. Thus began my search for online courses to learn Algo Trading. Before I knew it, I was transfixed at an Ad about the Executive Programme in Algorithmic Trading (EPAT) on my screen. And out of interest, I landed on the QuantInsti website.

Upon researching it and talking to the fine people there, I enrolled. This decision opened up an entirely new world of algorithms and trading to me. Believe me when I say this - I never knew that there was so much more to it than I had learned. There were tremendous details that EPAT introduced me to.

I expected to gain exposure to the broader aspects of trading. I wanted to learn how to apply Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to my trading as well. And with EPAT, I did, which contributed to my successful part-time trading business. 

Could you tell us about your learning experience with EPAT?

The learning at EPAT was very insightful, it opened up my mind to vast avenues and the doors to countless trading opportunities. I loved the way the lectures are conducted over the weekend. I always ended up spending more time learning by myself during the week.

It was exciting to learn that I could program my own trading strategies and make my own trades. I knew of statistics, but not its application to trading. And I never knew to program.

One can learn and grasp all the information - but EPAT teaches the practical application of it. It tests you and makes sure you reach your goals by the time you’ve completed EPAT.

I was a bit excited about appearing for the final EPAT exams, simply for the reason that I was appearing for it after 10 years of my flourishing career. But I’m glad I did. I’m happy and proud that I’ve fared well and achieved ‘EPAT’s Certificate of Excellence!

I’m also a part of the EPAT Community on LinkedIn, and I’m glad to have been among the first ones when it started out. I’m glad to have connected with EPATians from different batches from the past and present.

I trade NIFTY Options during my leisure time, and I like it. I find it rather interesting today when my patients glance at a view of my trading on my Laptop - at the clinic when the market is Live. What continues is an interesting conversation about the markets, automation, and algo trading. Sometimes they’re quite fascinated to learn how QuantInsti and EPAT helped me get there.

Which is the best feature of EPAT, according to you?

Although EPAT has many features that I could describe, the best and I feel the most vital and beneficial to me and even to all fellow EPATians - is the terrific support that they offer.

EPAT helped me connect the dots and fill in the blanks within my limited knowledge. It guided me in making sense of how it all fits together - as one complete picture. The support team kept me learning and kept me going.

A special shoutout to my Support Manager - Dhiraj. He always made sure that all my queries are addressed. I developed this confidence because even the simplest of doubts that I felt silly asking is addressed quite professionally by Dhiraj and all the faculty members.

Do you have any words of guidance for aspiring Algo Traders out there?

Never stop in your quest to learn. The more you learn, the further you will yearn to learn more. Keep up with the latest happenings, and keep your knowledge growing.

We’re thankful to you, Shubhrabaran, for taking out the time to connect with us and sharing your journey into Algo Trading. We’re also humbled by your kind words for EPAT. We wish you the best in your personal and professional life.

In the quest to learn Algorithmic Trading, you need the right knowledge and necessary skills, the Executive Programme in Algorithmic Trading (EPAT), helps you achieve your learning goals.

Published with permission from our partner QuantInsti®

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