Emily Stephenson

I graduated from Teesside University in July 2018 with a BSc in Biological Sciences, and started the CDT programme in September 2018.

What previous lab experience do you have?
I had limited laboratory experience before starting with the CDT, and what experience I did have was largely microbiology based. For my undergraduate final year project, I took my microbiology experience and tried to use this to express self-assembling peptides using recombinant E. coli. As I do not have a wide variety of experience, I am looking forward to broadening my skill set.

How did you hope the CDT integrated PhD would give you an advantage over a conventional PhD?
The CDT has allowed me to begin and expand a knowledge base in different areas through module choices and laboratory placements – which I did not have the opportunity to do before. It provides many opportunities for gaining experience and knowledge before focusing on the actual PhD project itself. This integrated PhD has allowed me to interact with a cohort of students with different backgrounds, allowing a wide range of help and support if it is required.

What have you most enjoyed during your time on the CDT Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering programme?
I have particularly enjoyed creating the academic year tailored to my interests. The freedom of module and laboratory placement choices has made the first year an enjoyable experience. I have also enjoyed the many different opportunities that have been made available for the CDT students.

What have you found most challenging about the CDT course?
Coming straight from an undergraduate degree, where the deadline timetable is tailored to cause no overlaps between modules, I have found managing my time with multiple deadlines in the same week very challenging – it is doable, obviously, it has just meant that I have had to keep myself on track; getting a diary has helped a lot though!

Could you give one phrase that would persuade others to join the CDT?
‘Engineering’ spelled backwards is ‘gnireenigne’ and that makes no sense, just like your decision not to join the CDT.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-stephenson-49746610b/
Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/_EmStephenson