I used my placement to work on cutting-edge AI projects in healthcare, develop technical and professional skills, and prepare for a future in biomedical innovation.

Growing up in India and later moving to Singapore gave me early insight into how different healthcare systems operate — and how critical medical technology is to patient care everywhere. That awareness, combined with my love for physics and biology, led me to choose Biomedical Engineering at Sheffield. The University’s world-leading engineering reputation, cutting-edge facilities, and strength in biomaterials and tissue engineering made it the perfect place for me to study a degree that blends innovation with real-world impact.

One of the things I’ve loved most about my course is the flexibility in choosing modules. It’s allowed me to explore a wide range of topics across Biomedical Engineering, build a strong foundation, and tailor my learning around my interests. This flexibility was especially valuable when applying for placements. I’ve also really enjoyed the emphasis on practical and lab-based learning, getting hands-on experience through experiments, projects and group work has made the theory far more engaging and helped me truly understand how Biomedical Engineering works in real clinical and industrial settings.

Biomedical Engineering is a rapidly growing field, and it’s incredibly exciting to be part of a degree that has the potential to shape the future of healthcare. I feel genuinely lucky to be studying a subject that aligns so closely with my passion. I especially enjoy researching new technologies in tissue engineering and biomaterials, and with each year of my degree, my confidence in my knowledge and abilities has grown. This became especially clear during my placement year, where I was able to actively contribute to technical discussions with professionals across different disciplines.

I completed my Year in Industry with Perspectum in Oxford as a Visualisation Intern (Data Science), and it was one of the most valuable experiences of my degree. My day-to-day work involved developing neural network pipelines, creating 3D medical visualisations, optimising code and collaborating with the wider research and development team. One of my favourite projects involved Neural Radiance Fields, an advanced AI technique used to generate detailed 3D outputs from 2D medical images. Exploring this technology showed me the huge potential of artificial intelligence within healthcare.

One of my proudest moments was presenting my research and developed pipelines at a company-wide seminar, which sparked meaningful discussion across multiple teams. Outside of project work, I also embraced the social side of my placement — from organising a company-wide pool tournament to daily team lunches filled with interesting conversations and fun facts. That balance between technical challenge and community made the experience unforgettable.

Through my placement, I gained hands-on experience in AI and machine learning within a medical context, along with a strong understanding of areas such as medical imaging, MRI physics, and digital pathology. These skills have already proven invaluable since returning to Sheffield. I also significantly developed my technical writing, presentation and communication skills through documenting work to industry standards and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Being involved in intern recruitment and interviews even gave me insight into the hiring process, which will be incredibly useful for future applications.

My degree at Sheffield prepared me extremely well for the placement year. The strong foundation in programming, physics, anatomy and engineering design meant I could confidently apply my knowledge in a professional setting. Group projects helped me develop teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills, while presenting technical ideas in realistic scenarios gave me confidence working with industry professionals. The Engineering Placements Team were also incredibly supportive throughout the application process, helping me refine my CV and connect with students already working in industry.

I chose Sheffield not only for its academic excellence but also for the incredible facilities available to students. Access to spaces like the iForge, where students can freely use 3D printers, laser cutters and manufacturing tools, has been a huge advantage for both coursework and personal projects. Sheffield also offered the ideal balance between academic focus and student life, and I was very fortunate to receive both the International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship and the Engineering Excellence Scholarship, which made my studies here possible.

One of my favourite things about Sheffield is the balance it offers between city life and nature. With the Peak District right on our doorstep, I can easily escape into the outdoors, while the city itself is full of creativity, live music, independent markets and food from around the world. I’ve also loved getting involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities, from supporting students as a specialist note-taker, to working with Enactus on Project Free Flow, a social enterprise focused on menstrual equity.

Some of the most meaningful moments of my degree have come from hands-on projects beyond the classroom. I worked on an engineering project creating inclusive toys for children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s Hospital, and completed a summer research placement developing tissue-engineered nerve guidance conduits using electrospinning. This research led to me presenting at a national undergraduate research conference and being awarded Best Student Researcher by the University of Sheffield — an experience that truly shaped my confidence and future ambitions.

After graduation, I plan to return to the healthcare workforce before pursuing a PhD in biomaterials and tissue engineering. I want to gain first-hand insight into real clinical challenges and use that experience to guide my future research. Looking back, choosing Biomedical Engineering at Sheffield is one of the best decisions I’ve made.

My advice to anyone considering this degree would be to get fully involved — say yes to opportunities, join societies and projects, use the University’s facilities and resources, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Sheffield offers so much more than just a degree. It gives you the chance to grow personally, professionally and academically, while preparing you for a career where you can genuinely make a difference.