Forensic & Analytical Chemistry (MChem)Ruby studies Forensic and Analytical Chemistry (MChem)
Meet Ruby
I am an international student originally from Macau. I left Macau when I was 15 years old and have been living in different countries for 8 years now. I like meeting new people with similar hobbies to mine (K-pop dancing and learning languages).
I speak Japanese, Korean, Cantonese, English and Mandarin, and I am currently learning 3 other languages. I love watching K-dramas, especially those related to crime and forensic science, which leads me to Strathclyde.
Why Strathclyde
Ranked first in the UK
I was looking for courses that are related to forensic science, and when I looked at some of the university rankings, I saw that Strathclyde was ranked first in the UK for Forensic Science.
I was hoping to know more about forensic science and crime scene investigation, as well as how this links science and law together. I believed that I could receive better opportunities in the field of forensic science through studying at Strathclyde.
Multi-cultural environment
The multi-cultural environment at Strathclyde allowed me to meet people from a variety of countries, and through meeting people of various backgrounds, this has given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons.
There are also many societies for international students to join, so it's easier to meet new friends as a Fresher and you will never feel left out.
Forensic & Analytical Chemistry (MChem)
On the course, we were taught a wide range of topics related to toxicology, fire and explosives, drugs of abuse and DNA profiling. These are the topics that I am most interested in and all of them were covered in this course. Moreover, there were more experimental sections where we can have hands-on opportunities to develop a deeper understanding on the theoretical knowledge learnt in lectures.
My favourite part of this course is the placement opportunity offered. On my course, they provided support for students who want to work and complete their placement year overseas. With the support of my PDA, Dr Lorraine Gibson, I was able to secure my placement in Japan, which allowed me to keep up with my academic studies, but also have a taste of Japanese culture, and learn more about the Asian workforce culture.
Having the opportunity to work in Japan was a really interesting experience for me, not only having a chance to work with Japanese students in laboratory but also experiencing their local cultures and lifestyle.
Far away from Japan, I also got support from my PDA, who was periodically in contact with my industrial supervisor to check on my progress. This made me feel supported, and I could focus more on my academic study and research in Japan.
Why Chemistry?
The main reason is that ever since I was in secondary school, I have been addicted to K-drama, especially those related to crime, law and forensic science. I thought people who worked as forensic scientists in these dramas were awesome and I hoped to become one of them.
What's next?
I am currently planning to go job hunting in Japan and because of the wide range of topics being covered, I would be able to apply to a variety of industries that are chemistry-related.
The techniques, such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and the experience of using infrared spectroscopy during the laboratory sections should help boost my applications, increasing my competitiveness.