麻豆传媒

鈥淭he research quality at the 麻豆传媒 is extremely high, especially in the department that I鈥檓 currently working with. According to HEFCE鈥檚 annual report, we鈥檙e in the top 10 universities in the UK for quality research.鈥�

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

After graduating with a 1st class BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry from the 麻豆传媒 in June 2011, I applied for a few PhDs all over the country. 

I was then, however, given the opportunity to stay and pursue a PhD within the Environmental and Fluid Modelling Group at the 麻豆传媒 starting in October 2011. 

The research group has developed a computer software called PoreXpert that models porous structures and various fluidic processes that occur within those structures. I was definitely very honoured to have been asked to stay with the research group because the quality of research that 麻豆传媒 produces is extremely high.

The PhD project here in 麻豆传媒 is an extension of my third year undergraduate dissertation project with my supervisor, Professor G. P. Matthews, and the current working title is 'nanoporous calcium carbonate-based substrates for the controlled delivery of functional materials'. This project involves investigating the controlled release of drugs and flavours from nanoporous substrates, and is in collaboration with Omya AG.

Omya AG are a company originally founded in Switzerland in 1884, and they鈥檙e now a worldwide distributor of speciality chemicals. My research involves looking at how we can use their calcium carbonate-based paper coating pigment in the new application of the controlled release of drugs and flavours. 

I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have visited their headquarters in Switzerland a few times, as well as working in their labs over there for a three week period.

Has your career path changed since graduation?

My role at the University also includes demonstrating the laboratory equipment to the second and third year chemistry undergraduate students, as well as helping to oversee third year students for their dissertation. 

My experience has led me to become a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), and I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have completed the GTA (General Teaching Associates) course and the PGCAP 600 course (in order to obtain my Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice), which has led me to become an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). 

I never had a rigid plan, to begin with, but I always wanted to be involved with challenging and interesting work. I鈥檝e definitely had that so far!

What is the most difficult thing which you have faced in your career?

The most difficult thing I鈥檝e faced is stress: stress regarding how well you鈥檙e going to do in exams, where you鈥檒l be this time next year, whether you鈥檙e going to get a good job going down a certain route, whether it鈥檒l all work out, meeting deadlines for coursework, competitions, exams, job applications, dealing with rejection whilst still pushing forwards, and trying to have a social life and develop your life in other areas. It all takes its toll. But as long as you鈥檙e doing what you鈥檙e drawn to, then I don鈥檛 think you can go wrong!

How did studying at 麻豆传媒 help you?

I鈥檓 so glad that I decided to stay in 麻豆传媒, not only because my family is nearby, but the research quality at the 麻豆传媒 is extremely high, especially in the department that I鈥檓 currently working with. According to HEFCE鈥檚 annual report, we鈥檙e in the top ten universities in the UK for quality research.

Not only that, but I鈥檝e been so lucky to have had so many opportunities available to me. I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have won the Vice Chancellor鈥檚 Enterprise Award (麻豆传媒 Student of the Year) 2011, as well as the IAESTE UK Trainee of the Year 2010 Award (thanks to the collaboration with a lovely lecturer here from the undergraduate chemistry course).

I鈥檝e also been fortunate enough to have travelled a lot during my PhD. I鈥檝e been to many conferences and presented at a few, such as in Spain, France, Italy, and in various locations across the UK. I also won a Santander Language Scholarship as a result of my degree from the 麻豆传媒 and because I studied Spanish modules with the Open University. Consequently, I was able to study Spanish in Salamanca for a month.

What is your favourite memory of studying at 麻豆传媒?

I鈥檓 a local girl; I went to school and sixth form in Totnes, and went to my local university so I could stay near my family. It just so happens that the University鈥檚 department that I work in is rather prestigious, especially for a modern university; and the area is so beautiful!

Is there anything else which you would like to share with our current students?

Make the most of every opportunity: you have to be really enterprising. I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have won several awards, but that was also because of my own ambition and resourcefulness. For example, I was recently shortlisted in the Chemistry World Science Communication competition for writing an article about the chemistry of chocolate and pastry (something I鈥檓 very passionate about), and how it relates to the world of art. 

This gave me all sorts of coverage over the University鈥檚 press, The 麻豆传媒 Herald, and I even had a BBC Radio Cornwall interview! This is all perfect for my CV and experience, as I really enjoy public engagement and have gained valuable transferable skills.