Case studies: University of St Andrews: Katy Mould

Katy Mould is studying for a PhD in natural product chemistry, involving organic synthetic chemistry, at the University of St Andrews. She hopes to work towards the synthesis of an anti-cancer agent that could help treat medical conditions

I chose to do my PhD at St Andrews as I did my undergraduate MChem Medicinal Chemistry course here, and enjoyed being a part of the university and town so much that I decided to come back.

My PhD is lab work focused, with the majority of my research conducted in a fumehood. It also involves a write up period at the end of my research to include my results as part of my thesis. In addition to lab work, we attend lectures and seminars on research relevant to our particular area of chemistry. We also get to broaden our knowledge of other areas of chemistry and biology that may result in collaboration with other academics within our department or further afield.

Being a postgraduate at St Andrews is quite different from undergraduate life, but it largely depends on your chosen field. There are plenty of opportunities to party, but you find your priorities change when you are required to manage your own time as a PhD student. As an organic chemist, the hours spent in the lab can vary depending on how your research is going, but it is usually 9am-6pm Monday to Friday (and sometimes longer if you're working towards a big result or publication).

Sure, you become an expert in your field and get the opportunity to present your research at conferences to some of the most respected academics, but what I will take away from my postgraduate experience is how it has changed me.

I have learned to manage my time in order to prioritise my research and also the things most important to me: my family and friends. It's in my nature to want to please everyone, however, now I find that I stick up for myself and the things that matter.

If you think you can multi-task, then a PhD can take that to a whole new level. In addition to juggling many different projects in the lab, I have been vice-president of the Chemical Society for two years, chair of the Postgraduate Affairs Committee, and also spent the entirety of my postgraduate life being a deputy warden in one of the halls of residence and a lab demonstrator to undergraduate students.

Postgraduate life here is what you make it. You can be as involved as you like, or become lost in your research. Students come to St Andrews for the prestige of studying at a world-class institution and remain here because of the student experience.

Come and visit. St Andrews is a magical place, however, in my experience, the only reason postgrads don't enjoy life here is because it's not what they expected; some people find it small and suffocating if they are used to bustling cosmopolitan life. However, most love it and find it quaint with its rich history and tradition.

My other tip would be to visit your potential supervisor or department while you are here, as the one thing that will get you through the challenging periods of your PhD (and there will be many) will be the support and advice of your supervisor and the other research students you work alongside.