Philip Straw
I studied mechanical engineering and received an MEng from Newcastle University in 2012. After I graduated, I worked for five years in the medical records department at St James/LGI hospitals.
What attracted you to the Centre for Doctoral Training in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering
The module I enjoyed most on my undergraduate degree was bioengineering and the CDT provided the perfect opportunity to explore this further. I have a wide variety of interests therefore the multidisciplinary nature of the course was also appealing.
How did you hope the CDT integrated PhD would give you an advantage over a conventional PhD?
There is a lot of freedom when it comes to choosing the area you want to focus your learning, both when choosing optional modules and on assignments.
What have you most enjoyed during your time on the CDT Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering programme?
The people, I have been really lucky as my cohort is a group of fun, intelligent individuals who all gel well together. Which provides a supportive working environment.
What benefits do you feel you get from the interdisciplinary nature of the course?
Everyone knows different things so there is always something interesting to talk about. If you have a question then there is usually someone close by who can help or at least direct you to someone who can. There are lots of options so it's hard to get bored.
What have you found most challenging about the CDT course?
It has been difficult to gauge the expectations for the coursework associated with some of the modules. Sometimes I am unsure about how much is enough. However, the lectures are very supportive and willing to answer all questions.
Could you give one phrase that would persuade others to join the CDT?
Flexible timetable + Cake