I'm now building on my MSc research with a PhD in Gene Therapy and Translational Neuroscience

Why did you choose to study the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology MSc?

Having graduated with a BSc in Microbiology in 2021 and subsequently working in a gene therapy setting, I wanted to receive a thorough training in molecular biology, as I was quite unfamiliar/unconfident with many concepts such as gene editing and a multitude of DNA/RNA and protein analysis techniques. This course turned out to be exactly what I needed for gaining a massive amount of confidence in these areas.

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

Not only learning the theoretical biological principles from lectures/essay assignments, but then getting to study these principles in a very hands-on manner in the labs. It reinforced the concepts greatly!

What skills have you developed during your course?

I have developed many skills during my course, especially laboratory techniques. I learned a great deal of these during my MSc Research Project I conducted at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), focusing on the development of new viral gene therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders, a fantastic collaborative opportunity that was very kindly offered to me by Dr Qaiser Sheikh and Professor Mimoun Azzouz. 

Furthermore, I have learned how to critically analyse published research, how to structure grant proposals and how to improve my ability to communicate the science in various formats like presentations, written summaries, and essays. The course has made me a much more well-rounded scientist.

What are you planning to do next?

I am due to start a PhD in Gene Therapy and Translational Neuroscience at SITraN, where I will be continuing to build upon the work I did in my MSc project. After my PhD, I am really hoping to have the opportunity to continue a career in academia at this university.

What would you say to a student thinking about studying this course at Sheffield?

I would say you should absolutely choose to study this course at this university. The teaching staff are exceptional, and as long as you put the work in, you will attain a great deal of skills from this course. Even after having a few years of industrial lab experience - I learned a massive amount - I couldn't recommend it more.