Science and Health MRes

Darren Gowers: The MRes science course runs across the whole of the Faculty of Science. It's very different to other masters in that it offers students the opportunity to carry out research in a research lab as part of a group, and be part of a research team supervised by a world class expert in that area. The Faculty of Science is split across seven different schools and departments. Those range from Geosciences and Earth Sciences through to Biological Sciences, Cognitive Sciences, Health Care Sciences. And our MRes course is very wide in offering opportunities for original and exciting research projects across all of those areas. 

Jerome Micheletta: My role in the MRes Science and Health is to coordinate the research project module, where the students are taking part in different kinds of activities like poster presentations, career development interviews, oral presentations, and at the end, the big one, the written report. 

Rebecca Stores: I am the module coordinator for the Research Preparation Module. We have two assignments associated with this module, the literature review and the project funding proposal. These are quite good foundation assignments for the student's projects. To be clear on what they're going to be doing as part of the MRes course. 

William Rogers: Because I'm not sure whether I want to go into further research or pursue a different kind of career. MRes only opens doors. 

Shane Johnson: Doing an MRes helps you find your way into research because science has lots of different branches whereas doing an MRes, it identifies a certain area of research you can do. 

Layla Goddard: My research group is amazing, my supervisor is amazing. Everyone's just really friendly. I made loads of friends as well. Some of the friends I made during my MRes I still see now and that's definitely the best bit, is the community. 

Philip Gowers: The thing I love about the MRes is the interaction with other people. The variety and diversity within the team here is amazing. And then when we look at the whole course as a whole, when we just all meet up, we will find out what we're doing is phenomenal. 

Darren Gowers: The facilities that we have in the Faculty of Science are world-class in terms of being able to offer students a hands-on experience, particularly in laboratory work. We have computer suites, studios, and lots of students will go out on field work with their supervisor to gain a set of data that they bring back, they analyse, and then hopefully we're able to write up for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. 

Sumit Raghunath Pai: I had done my master's thesis in India on Chandrayaan two imagery, and I would like to explore planetary geology. The main part of the course, which I enjoy, is that it's a research-based programme which gives you a lot of free time to explore the research papers, prepare your reports, and I feel very well supported by the team of the University of Portsmouth. 

Sam Hatherly: I did my undergrad in Marine Biology and I wanted to do a bit more. So I started with this MRes and I am looking at how an ecosystem-based approach to fishery management can benefit some of the fisheries in the local area. I'm particularly looking to go straight into a job and then work out if I want to do a PhD later on in life, which is great. This gives me opportunities to do both of those things. 

Layla Goddard: I think one of most important things about the MRes is the soft skills, that's definitely moulded me into a better person rather than just a better researcher and whatever career I end up going into that would be invaluable, and I think they'll continue to help us the rest of my life. 

James Clay: I was able to use the poster that I created during the poster module to present the findings at a conference in London. It was brilliant to have my dissertation published. I was really proud when I got to hold it in my hands and see that I had contributed to science in the scientific effort. 

William Rogers: The practical skills that you learn in MRes are pretty much invaluable. In undergrad research, when you're going to do an experiment, it's usually quite set up for you, but in MRes, you're very, very independent. It's also supported by the whole research group that surround you. In terms of actually going to a job in science is pretty much the best thing that you can learn. 

Darren Gowers: One of the reasons that an MRes student would want to join the course is because they're curious about the world. Finding out answers to some of the many questions we still don't know. 

Rebecca Stores: I think students do the MRes course for a whole host of different reasons. Some know that they want to embark on a career within research, and the MRes would be a first step in doing that. Other students are doing the course part-time and are in employment, for example, in the NHS or social care, and they might be embarking on research as part of their employment. 

Jerome Micheletta: I think is really trying to expose them to what it's going to be like if they become a researcher, if they do that as a career. Scientific writing is obviously a very big part of their jump. You know, if you do a brilliant research project but you can't talk or write about it, then there's not much point. 

Philip Gowers: What's nice about the University of Portsmouth is the feedback they give you, but also the encouragement to explore on your own, so you're not spoon-fed it. You have to go look for it, but it's readily available and easy to access. 

Shane Johnson: A big part of the course that I believe is important and I enjoy is being in collaboration with your research team and being part of the University of Portsmouth. There is a big team there and they are so friendly and helpful so they can sort of guide you along your way through your MRes.

Darren Gowers: The one aspect of the course that I really enjoy is, as course leader, is seeing the students progress to become qualified researchers by the end of the course. The whole process of the MRes is to encourage students to become early career scientists and eventually follow through into a science career that would be fulfilling and really important for this country as well.