Student experience
I am Prabodhi Preethika, 2nd year BiSCoP CTP PhD student at Newcastle University, researching method development to assess the degradation of polymers.
Being a BiSCoP student has been a fantastic opportunity to build my career and develop as an independent PhD researcher. The program's interdisciplinary activities have been invaluable in enhancing my professional skills, allowing me to collaborate across different fields and gain a broader perspective on research. The continuous guidance from both my P&G and academic supervisors has been instrumental in helping me overcome challenges throughout my research. Their support has been incredible, providing both technical insights and professional development opportunities. After two years in the program, I have grown significantly as a researcher, and I look forward to continuing this journey with their ongoing support.
Beyond my research, I am passionate about guiding prospective MSc and PhD students through their higher education journey. Through my YouTube channel, I share insights from my experiences in both Sri Lanka and the UK, helping students navigate fully funded scholarship applications, MSc admissions, and the path to securing a funded PhD. With 161K total views and 6.4K subscribers, my channel is dedicated to supporting students from developing countries in achieving their academic aspirations. My goal is to bridge the knowledge gap and provide aspiring scholars with the resources and confidence they need to succeed.
I am Natalia Los, a 2nd year BiSCoP CTP PhD student at Newcastle University researching human gut microbes. Last year, I had a pleasure of volunteering with the Pint of Science Festival, which is a non-profit organisation that provides a space for researchers and members of the public alike to come together, be curious, and chat about research in a relaxed environment. It was an amazing experience to work alongside fellow researchers to take science outside the lab and help bring it to the people. By participating in the committee meetings, I gained insights into how important planning, problem-solving and teamwork skills are in organising such events. I’m grateful that through this experience I had a chance to improve these skills, while helping make research more accessible to the public. I would recommend getting involved with Pint of Science to anyone, as it is truly a fantastic initiative!