ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ

Alumni

Ana Piedade

Laboratory Research Scientist, Francis Crick Institute

There are very few memories I hold on to as dearly as when I would sit in the lecture hall in Pembroke with a latte and listen to my professors speak passionately about their fields.

Memories of ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ

During my degree, the university became my home and my classmates became my family. I have very fond memories of studying with my friends in the Drill Hall library until the late hours of the night during exam season, ordering pizza to the library and drinking energy drinks to keep awake. Attending Freshers was always fun, even after first year, and the university always had plenty of opportunities to have fun and get to know people on campus.

I always knew that I wanted to study Biological Sciences, but I was not sure which field I wanted to go into considering I was only 17 and did not feel ready for such a life-changing decision. However, the Biology degree at the University of ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ was really appealing because it allowed me the opportunity to tailor my modules to my liking from second year onward - this was really important to me as my goals and passions did shift a bit throughout my degree! Obviously the beautiful campus also helped (even when I initially thought I would be studying at the ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ campus and had a bit of a surprise when I realized I'd actually be in Kent!).

Life after ÐÓ°ÉappÏÂÔØ

Since graduating, I have been working as a research scientist at the Francis Crick Institute. My lab work uses some of the techniques I learned in university and it definitely puts the knowledge I gained throughout my degree to the test!

My goal is to follow a career in research and as such I am now looking for PhD opportunities to get the training I need and take that next step. I still keep in touch with some of my lecturers who have helped me along the way, and, in fact, I regularly have coffee with my cancer biology professor!

Your university years will be some of the best years of your life, they will shape you into the adult you are meant to be, both professionally and personally. So enjoy them!

  • Ana Piedade
  • BSc Biology, 2021

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