Alumni Profiles

Read about what it's like to study at the School of Chemistry from our alumni, and find out what they have been doing since graduation.

Alumna Grace Gubbay standing outside of the McEwan Hall with degree certificate

Since graduating from the BSc Chemistry degree programme in 2024, Grace has been exploring the intersection of science and finance through further studies to broaden her perspective on global sustainability challenges.

Profile photo of alumnus Panos Kolyvakis

After spending 8 years at the University completing his BSc and PhD in Chemistry, Panos went on to lecture in Environmental Engineering and has since pivoted to a career in Data Science.

Lauren Byrne profile picture

Drawn to Chemistry through a love of problem-solving and analysis, Lauren completed her BSc in 2022. Today, she applies her analytical skills to policy work to support others and advocate for a better care system.

Profile picture of alumna Tihana Stefanic

Tihana graduated as part of the MChemPhys Class of 2024. Now a current PhD student at Oxford Engineering, Tihana is working on battery modelling and performance testing.

Profile photo of alumnus Diduo Zhang

Diduo deepened his interests in academic research through the MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry degree programme. Since graduating in 2021, he has moved to Canada to pursue a PhD in radiopharmaceuticals.

Lesley Yellowlees profile picture

Lesley chose to study Chemical Physics due to her love of Chemistry, Physics and Maths. Graduating with a PhD in 1983, she embarked on an academic career and has received prestigious awards for her outreach work.

Profile photo of alumnus Robin McAlpine

More than three decades on since graduating, Robin is still meeting with his Edinburgh Chemistry friends! The analytical skills that he developed during his BSc degree have continued to prove useful in unexpected ways.

Tianyue Li profile photo

Tianyue finished her PhD with the Robertson group in 2019. Today, Tianyue uses her communication skills to deliver impact in the field of renewable energy.

Ben Arenas profile photo

After graduating from the MChem degree programme in 2015, Ben went on to study for his PhD in Hamburg. He has since returned to the School of Chemistry as Lecturer in Physical Chemistry Education.

Farjana Afroj profile

Farjana was drawn to the MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry degree programme due to the cutting-edge research facilities in the School. Since graduating in 2019, she has continued her academic career in Bangladesh.

Ian Bell profile photo

Once Ian had completed both his undergraduate and PhD studies in Edinburgh, he took his first steps into a career in the petrochemical industry. Today, he is part of Afton Chemical, a global leader in petroleum additives.

Nina Kinney profile photo

Nina graduated from the BSc Chemical Physics degree programme in 2019. Today, she is a Cloud Scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, studying the substances that induce ice nucleation in the atmosphere over the Southern Oceans.

Katarzyna Sokol profile picture

As a student on the MChem degree programme, Katarzyna made the most of every opportunity, including studying abroad in Singapore. She is now Chief Technology Officer for a green hydrogen technology startup.

Prince Chakanyuka profile photo

Prince was one of six pioneer Mastercard Foundation scholars to study at the University of Edinburgh. From meeting royalty to competing in an entrepreneurship World Cup, Prince reflects on his days as a BSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry student.

Alumnus David August with a loch in the background

Chemistry started as David's back-up option, but quickly became the centre of his research and career. Since finishing his PhD in 2016, he has returned to Edinburgh as Lecturer in Chemical Education.

Sam Shand profile image

Sam came to Edinburgh from the Highlands and was the first in his family to get a degree. Since graduating from the MChem Medicinal and Biological Chemistry degree programme in 2015, he has trained and specialised in behavioural science.

Branislav Viliam profile photo

Viliam was able to access state-of-the-art facilities and travel around the globe during his Master of Science by Research. After graduating in 2019, he moved to Germany to continue his postgraduate studies.

Simone Barker profile photo

Simone's placement year in the Netherlands helped her to bring her research interest in photonics into focus. She has since continued her studies in Cambridge, exploring a variety of nanoscience-related topics.

Finlay Clark profile photo

Finlay enjoyed the creativity of research and stayed in Edinburgh after graduating from the MChem degree programme in 2021. His PhD research focusses on improving the speed and accuracy of computer calculations of drug binding affinities.

William Murphy profile photo

William graduated as part of the MChemPhys Class of 2005. After completing his postgraduate studies, he qualified as UK and European Patent Attorney. Later when family took him to Canada, he requalified as a Canadian Patent Agent.

Elisabeth Feldstein profile photo

Elisabeth decided to study abroad to seek adventure, independence, and opportunity. During her studies, she developed her technical knowledge, established the Edinburgh University Women in STEM Society and co-founded a start-up.

Jingyi Ran profile photo

Jingyi completed her MScR in 2017 and went on to pursue a PhD in Los Angeles. Since completing her postgraduate studies, she has worked as a battery testing and data engineer in Houston, Texas.

Profile photo of alumnus Stuart Boyce

Studying in Edinburgh opened up doors to many opportunities for Stuart, from embracing the role of Chemistry Society president to taking part in a summer placement in China and studying abroad in Munich.

Profile image of Hendra Agustian

Hendra was a curriculum coordinator, and educational researcher in Indonesia and the Netherlands before studying for his PhD in Chemistry Education. Today, he is an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen.

Profile image of Jifang Zhang

Jifang came to the MSc Materials Chemistry programme from a chemical engineering background. The programme helped him to build a solid foundation for his later PhD and postdoctoral roles.

Profile photo of alumna Emma Jayne

Emma completed both her MChem and PhD at the School of Chemistry. She has had a varied career since graduating in 2010, working as a teacher for 9 years then starting up her own skincare company.

Nikola Zotev profile photo

Nikola came to Edinburgh with a desire to combine his passions for both computers and chemistry. Through the MChemPhys programme and his PhD, he honed his critical thinking skills and developed creativity in approaching complex problems.

Hayley Russell profile picture

Hayley graduated from the MChem programme in 2019. After leaving Edinburgh she first worked as a publishing editor at the Royal Society of Chemistry, and has since gone on to complete her PhD.

MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2020

BSc Chemistry 2016

MSc Materials Chemistry 2019

MSc Materials Chemistry 2018

MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2020

MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2020

MSc Materials Chemistry 2021

MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2019

MSc Materials Chemistry, PhD 2014 and 2019

PhD in Chemistry, Masters in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry with Industrial Placement 2014 and 2019

BSc Chemical Physics, PhD Chemistry 1980 and 1984

MSc Medicinal and Biological Chemistry 2010

MScR Chemistry 2019

Master of Chemistry with Materials Chemistry and Industrial Experience 2011

MChem Medicinal and Biological Chemistry with Industrial Experience 2008

MChem 2016

Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry 2001

Master of Chemical Physics 2017

Chemistry with Material Chemistry and Industrial Experience 2013

Master of Chemistry with Honours and Industrial Experience 2018

BSc (Hons) Chemistry and PhD Organic Chemistry 1960 and 1963

MChem Chemistry with Materials Chemistry with a Year Abroad 2016

MChem Medicinal & Biological Chemistry with industrial experience 2019

Industrial Chemistry with a Year in Industry 2003

B.Sc. (Hons) Chemistry 1966