Jaspreet, a Biological Sciences BSc graduate and MIBTP PhD student, shares her experience at Aston University
Jaspreet Bansal progressed to an MIBTP PhD student after completing her BSc and MRes in Biosciences.
She discusses her discovery of her love for research in the lab setting, her experience in the Aston Sikh Society, and her bioengineering placement.
Why Aston University and Biological Sciences?
Having undertaken my undergraduate degree here, I knew Aston well, and I really liked the modules taught here and that we get a lot of contact time with our lecturers. I chose the MRes as I found I enjoyed working in a laboratory setting where I could apply the knowledge I learned to my research. I also knew I wanted to do a PhD and this degree is designed to equip you with the skills you require for a PhD. On top of this, I liked that the course had a 6-month laboratory project which would give me the opportunity to dive deeper into my research.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I really enjoyed the 6 month laboratory project the most as it was the first time I had the opportunity to work independently on a research topic in depth. It allowed me to be creative and make important mistakes, which made me an overall better researcher.
The length of the project enabled me to learn a wide array of techniques and understand how research in academia is conducted.
Extracurricular activities and clubs
I was in the Aston Sikh society during my undergraduate degree, where in my second year I was on one of the committees helping organise and coordinate sports for members.
Placement experience
In my undergrad, I did a placement in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston. I was given the opportunity to dive into learning more about bioinformatics in that department.
This was a great opportunity as it pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me reflect on what I enjoyed.
Student and career advice
The course is well-designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to pursue a career in research. If you enjoy research and wish to pursue a career in research this is a fantastic course. Remember, it is okay to make mistakes and fail. You’ll make many mistakes and have failures along the way but they teach you so much. Try to fail forward.