Robin

My typical day starts with a coffee from the Nucleus Building (this is never skipped), then one to two lectures in the morning which are about an hour long each. Afterwards I head to Cameron Toll to pick up lunch and chat with friends. I finish the day off with a lab before heading home to relax.

To prepare for labs I normally read over the protocol 15 minutes before, making sure I understand the context of what we are doing. I also plan to get started as soon as I’m in the lab so that the work moves smoothly.

To get the most out of tutorials the best thing is to work with the class tutor. Asking questions is essential if you still feel lost, and the tutors are there to explain it in a more accessible way to help you.

I was the captain of the badminton University team 4 and now act as the kit officer for the club. Outside of university studies, I work part time in a pub as a front of house team member. I have also recently completed a paid summer internship with the School of Biological Sciences working for David Radford and Elise Darmon. The project involved engineering a new reporter strain to identify cell-envelope damaging antibiotics. I gained invaluable experience working with David and Elise and felt 100% supported by them during the internship.

I currently live in a flat in Newington with three other flatmates. It’s great to have our own space and we enjoy living with each other.

I wish I had known how important it is to network with lecturers and staff. Showing interest early is very important when looking for opportunities in later years. If the Nucleus Building is busy, I would also advise new students to explore all of the other cool University buildings and find a seat elsewhere to relax! Trust me, you will definitely find one.