Always interested in opportunities to develop new skills, Joy’s PhD journey was the ideal way to pursue her passion.
Joy's Story
Having a passion and finding ways to make it fun is the perfect kick-start to further any career. I fondly remember the last lab class during my MPharm degree. It was a bright and early 9am start. Seeing a 5ml beaker on our bench space, I enthusiastically exclaimed how tiny and cute it was. My friends had to tell me to tone down my excitement!
During my undergraduate years, one of my lecturers offered the opportunity of extra lab experience in the summer holidays. I spent two weeks working in his lab under the guidance of one of his PhD researchers.
That lecturer is now my own PhD supervisor. I’m incredibly thankful for that opportunity to gain more experience, so that I could discover whether I should pursue the topic further.
Making the summer count
In the summer between my third and fourth year, I was selected to embark on a student exchange programme. I chose a topic related to neuroscience and neuroplasticity at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Warsaw, Poland.
That same summer, I had a 6-week internship at the National University of Singapore, in patient recruitment and data collection for discrete analysis around cancer treatment.
It was immediately a huge learning curve for me, coming from a medicinal background to a neuroscience topic in a foreign country, but the long hours at the bench cemented my decision to pursue research after I graduated in pharmacy.
The advantage of progressing at Portsmouth
‘My MPharm lecturer is now my own PhD supervisor.’
After my Master’s, I wanted to stay in Portsmouth to pursue my PhD, having developed a rapport with the academic staff in the School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences.
I am self-funding my PhD with the help of family, and as an alumna I was eligible for 20% off my tuition fees.
As a GPhC registered pharmacist with hospital experience, I look forward to pursuing my passion even further when I have my doctorate.
‘I look forward to pursuing my passion even further when I have my doctorate.’
