Chiaohwei

Pharmaceutical Science and Medicinal Chemistry MSc

Loughborough University is a culturally diverse university. No matter what your background is, you’ll be able to find your niche!

I have always been intrigued by chemistry. To me, chemistry is like a secret language, but once you’re able to understand the language, you’ll unlock the secrets to developing advanced technology that can save millions of lives. After completing my degree at the University of California Davis, I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone and pursue a master’s degree in the United Kingdom. I decided to study at Loughborough University because of its great facilities and connections to industry.

The MSc programme at Loughborough University provided me the opportunity to conduct a research project under the supervision of Dr Pooja Goddard and Dr Paul Roach. The project entails using computational chemistry to study the structural changes in collagen protein. I learned how to apply different computational chemistry programs such as OCRA, Avogadro and Gaussian09 to solve theoretical chemistry problems.

Due to COVID-19, the project was moved remotely. However, the staff and faculty from Loughborough University made the transition to remote working easy. Without the support of the staff and faculty from Loughborough University, I would have not had the opportunity to complete this project, let alone win an award for the MSc Project!

 

The MSc course solidified my understanding of pharmaceutical chemistry and analytical chemistry.

I find the opportunity to participate in a research project extremely valuable. The ability to think critically and communicate effectively are some of the most valuable transferable skills.