Give a brief introduction of yourself

My name is Megan Miles and I am a recent MChem Chemistry with Drug Discovery graduate from the University of Strathclyde.

I have spent the last 5 years studying amongst an incredibly talented cohort and learning from a variety of accomplished lecturers. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better university experience and commend Strathclyde for how they handled the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on students.

How did you make the decision to study at Strathclyde?

I made my decision to study at Strathclyde after attending a variety of university open days. I found that Strathclyde fostered a very supportive environment with lecturers who genuinely cared about the success of the students. As well as this, I felt that Strathclyde had a greater sense of community than other universities as everyone I spoke to was very “down to earth” and didn’t look down on those coming from different backgrounds.

What did you like about your course and Strathclyde?

I liked how approachable everyone in my department was, whether it was about discussing personal matters or coursework, most members of staff were welcoming and made an active effort to make communication with them as easy as possible.

What specialist knowledge/professional skills did you develop whilst studying the course?

Throughout my course I learned a lot of transferrable skills relating to both communication within a workplace and laboratory based practical skills. I learned how to efficiently present my work to a group of my peers and how to write up experiments in a professional manner. As well as this I learned a variety of laboratory techniques including recrystallisation, chromatography, and spectroscopy.

What are your ambitions for the future and how do you think your time at Strathclyde will help you achieve your goals?

My main ambition at the moment is to further my studies and achieve my doctorate before moving on to either a postdoctoral research position or making the transition from academia into industry. I believe my time at Strathclyde will help me achieve my goals by providing me with the right tools to help me find my feet as I partake in a more independent research project as well as contacts within both academia and industry allowing me to build a vast network of skilled scientists.

What would you say to anyone thinking of coming to study at Strathclyde?

I would tell someone thinking of coming to study at Strathclyde that I think they would struggle to find a university that is more welcoming and supportive. I couldn’t have asked for a better university experience!