911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

Applying to 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

I developed a strong passion and interest in microbiome science during my undergraduate studies and decided to continue down the path of microbiome research. I found 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ offered an MRes focused on the microbiome which was the perfect fit for me, so I applied, and soon enough I was very happy to receive an offer! 

About the MRes Biomedical Research (Microbiome in Health and Disease) course

My course is an MRes, and one of my favourite aspects of it is the chance to complete two research projects. This has given me a great deal of valuable hands-on research experience. The course is designed to support students who are considering doing a PhD, so there’s lots of activities students can get involved with to build their research skills, such as journal clubs, debates and practice presentations. 

MRes courses are also a great way to find out whether a PhD is the right path for you, and starting this course has only strengthened my own desire to pursue one. Also, the academics at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ have some of the most impressive backgrounds, publications and experience in the world, and being mentored by them can greatly enhance your scientific thinking and research skills. 

What's the 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ community like?

911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ is incredibly diverse, which has been meaningful to me as someone with Chinese heritage. In my first few weeks, there were lots of welcome events, both within my course and beyond it. 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ also organised postgraduate-only events which made it easier to meet people in a similar stage of life.  

Societies and clubs also hosted their own welcome events, which many people attended on their own, so if you’re interested in seeing what’s on offer don’t be afraid to just show up and explore! A lot of people are in the same position and are very willing to chat. I met people in my first few days and weeks at events I attended alone, and those people have since become good friends. 

Societies and clubs at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ has so many fun societies to choose from. When I first arrived, I went to 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ's vinyl and pub crawl, which they run throughout the year. It was such a fun activity, exploring vinyl shops and pubs across London along a nice pre-planned route, while chatting with like-minded people. 

I also went on the 's thrift crawl, which had a similar concept but focused on thrift shops. I spoke with the committee and had the opportunity to help with makeup backstage during their annual fashion show. This year's theme was sustainable fashion, and I was so amazed by all the clothes designed and worn by students.  

Another society I dabbled in was . They host fun dance and rave events where I met lots of lovely, chatty people. 

Life in London

London is so big that there is always something to do. There are far more free events than you might expect, especially if you are creative or enjoy art and music – many of the galleries, exhibitions and beautiful parks in London are free.  

I live near Holland Park, where there is a beautiful Japanese-inspired garden that I would highly recommend. Additionally, many famous artists tour here (I saw Deftones recently!) and it feels so nice to be able to go home to your own bed after a concert, rather than having to travel or book accommodation. 

What will you do after you graduate from 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ?

I made use of 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s Careers Service to review and refine my PhD job applications, and everyone I spoke to was incredibly helpful and encouraging. With this support, I'm glad to have received a fully-funded PhD offer to work on a collaborative project between Thermo Fisher and the University of Glasgow, developing Orbitrap Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry for metabolism studies. My research will involve gut microbiome samples, so it's very relevant to the work I did during my MRes. 

Advice for future postgraduate students at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

I would absolutely encourage anyone to apply to 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ, as the academic opportunities here are unlike those anywhere else. The student community is also incredibly diverse, and you will always find your people here. 

As an 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ Master’s student, take full advantage of being surrounded by such smart and successful researchers. Ask for help, ask for advice and actively think critically and question things throughout your training. Identify your gaps in knowledge as it’s such an important part of developing a deeper understanding of both the science and your project.