Every laboratory session within my course presented a great opportunity to utilise the amazing facilities available to me.
Before starting my MSc at Loughborough, I spent three years at the University of Nottingham conducting my BSc in Chemistry. During this time, I discovered a passion for modules related to Organic synthesis and Drug Design. I chose to study Pharmaceutical Science and Medicinal Chemistry at Loughborough University as it was aligned with my aspirations. I believed it would provide me with a lot of experience in research and further enhance my analytical chemistry skills.
Initially, I was concerned about transitioning from BSc to MSc having only attained a 2:2 in my first degree. However, I found that I quickly adjusted to the standards expected of postgraduate students and began taking great enjoyment from my studies. Independent study soon became an integral part of my daily routine which I was looking forward to.
Every laboratory session within my course presented a great opportunity to utilise the amazing facilities available to me. It helped me to practically apply the skills I had learnt during lectures, conducting experiments and documenting our findings. Of the labs, I found the Organic labs particularly enjoyable, as they provided the opportunity to work in a lab environment to synthesise two real world drugs: Paracetamol and Phenacetin.
The smaller course size, when compared to BSc experience, made all teaching sessions feel more personalised and engaging. Moreover, lectures included elements of tutorials and workshops, facilitating the immediate application of what you learnt. Lecturers were always accessible via email and willing to arrange in-person meetings at their earliest convenience for any questions or concepts I wanted to work through with them.
My industrial placement presented some challenges, where I found significant disparities in research practices between academia and the industry. However, it offered me experiences I might not have gained through an internal placement which gave me a boost of confidence in my abilities as a chemist. It made me feel like part of something important.
During my time at Kindeva, a company that specialises in drug delivery, I conducted research aimed at optimising the testing of inhalers could be optimised in the pharmaceutical industry. This experience deepened my understanding of High Performance Liquid Chromatography and the devices/technology specific to this industry.
I plan to pursue a PhD at De Montfort University with a focus on developing drugs for neglected tropical diseases. The course as Loughborough has prepared me well for this next step and has given me a strong desire to continue my journey in postgraduate research. I want acknowledge the instrumental role of two of my lecturers at Loughborough, Dr Martin Smith and Dr George Weaver, who helped guide to the opportunity and support me through the selection process. I am excited to mention that I will be co-supervised by one of them during my PhD, offering me the prospect of maintaining close connections with the Loughborough community throughout my doctoral studies.