Amy Contreras
- mnasm@leeds.ac.uk
I completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Chemistry (MChem) at the University of Sheffield.
What previous lab experience do you have?
As part of my undergraduate degree, I worked in both the Molecular Biology and the Chemistry labs. I also completed a summer placement in the Biomaterials and Polymer research lab.
What attracted you to the Centre for Doctoral Training in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering
I completed a summer placement in Sheffield with a student nearing the end of this course. I had not previously studied TERM but found the area very diverse and interesting.
How did you hope the CDT integrated PhD would give you an advantage over a conventional PhD?
There are options for industrial links throughout the course and the first year will allow me to expand my knowledge and learn about the area generally before narrowing down in to one area for my PhD project. The PDP module also allows you to take courses and take part in lots of public engagement events which are fun.
What benefits do you feel you get from the interdisciplinary nature of the course?
It is much more interesting to span across the disciplines in science and engineering. It is also more clinically relevant so helps you to see the ‘bigger picture’.
How do you hope to extend the experience gained from the course in your future career?
There are lots of opportunities to network when based across different departments. Working in a range of different laboratories will also help if I choose to work in industry.