Before this summer, I had never been to the UK. I’m currently a fourth year undergraduate in the department of chemistry at Mahidol University in Bangkok, but I’m originally from a province called Chachoengsao to the east of the city.
My advisor told me about Sussex’s new international Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme. Another student from Mahidol and I were the first students to take part, and we were lucky enough to spend two months at Sussex working on our research projects.
My JRA project was in the field of drug discovery. I had a unique chance to join the Translational Drug Discovery Group in Sussex’s school of life sciences. While working in the lab, I learned new techniques and also gained a better understanding of organisation and safety management. It’s knowledge that I’m now going to apply in my laboratory at Mahidol.
It was inspiring to get a real insider’s view of the drug discovery process in such a friendly atmosphere. I learned so much about researching simply by observing other members of the lab at work and by giving them a helping hand when they needed it.
The other JRA students were all Sussex undergraduates from across the university, so their projects were really diverse. As part of the scheme, we all had additional training in how to use the research database in the library and in how to discuss our work in poster presentations. My advice for next year’s JRA students? This is a unique opportunity, so learn as much as possible – and don’t forget to have fun!
Having only previously seen Sussex from the website, when I arrived it was even better than I imagined. It’s more like a small town than a university. I was very impressed by the UK’s transport systems – unlike at home, there was nowhere I couldn’t get to by train or tube. I spent my spare time visiting the sights of southern England, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Historic Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth, and I certainly didn’t run out of places to go.
What’s next? I’m planning to get my master’s in organic chemistry – and if I can secure another scholarship I would love to study abroad again. Maybe even at Sussex.
About the scheme:
The University of Sussex Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme is a pioneering project, which aims to develop future research leaders. It encourages talented and ambitious undergraduates to consider a career in research following graduation. The scheme recognises academic excellence and drive by supporting academically gifted undergraduates during the summer vacation as they work alongside Sussex’s top research faculty on real-life research projects. The scheme is also open to international students studying at Sussex’s partner institutions.
