PhD in Chemistry, Masters in Medicinal and Biological Chemistry with Industrial Placement 2014 and 2019 Your Time at the University I decided to study in Edinburgh mainly because I instantly fell for the vibrant atmosphere of the city when visiting it for the first time. It is quite clear that this atmosphere exists in large part because of the University and the rich environment, culture and fun it provides. More specifically I decided to study Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh because the course allowed me to focus in the areas I enjoyed the most - medicinal and biological chemistry - and gave me the opportunity to do an Industrial Placement with GSK in Philadelphia as part of my degree. After graduating from my Masters I decided to stay at the School of Chemistry to do a PhD within the group of Professor Mark Bradley, because of the fantastic research opportunities and facilities that the department has. In addition, during my PhD I was fortunate enough to collaborate with other research groups within the University itself, but also with research groups from other institutions across the globe. Outside of studying and doing my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, this is also where I have formed life lasting friendships, with people from all across the world. The incredibly diverse and international atmosphere of the University is what makes the University of Edinburgh such an amazing place to be! Your Experiences Since Leaving the University When finishing my PhD in October 2018 I moved to the south of the UK to work at GSK on their Future Leader’s Programme (FLP), a three-year rotation programme where I get to spend 12 months each in three different areas of the R&D pipeline. Following this I worked on cell assay development and profiling in the small molecule lead discovery phase. I now work at AstraZeneca in Cambridge to develop cellular assay for a range of modalities, including small molecule, PROTACs and molecular glues with a focus on oncology projects. Alumni Wisdom Make the absolute most of your time in Edinburgh. I mean this both with regards to your studies and utilising the fantastic resources, facilities and wealth of knowledge that the University and School of Chemistry has, but also remember to enjoy the city and atmosphere while you are there, because you will miss it if you ever have to leave – trust me, I know! This article was published on 2023-10-16
