Jennifer Clarke Chemistry with Ocean and Earth Sciences, 2011

PhD, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical and Physical Oceanography, & Sensor Development, University of Southampton

Hi, I'm Jennifer Clarke and I studied Chemistry with Ocean and Earth Sciences within Chemistry at the University of Southampton.

My course is unique and allows me to choose what subjects interest me both from Chemistry and Ocean and Earth Science so I have quite a range of topics to choose from.

What attracted me most about Chemistry here was the community feeling. When I came for an applicant open day my student tour guide seemed to know everyone from people who were students, to postgrads in the lab and the lecturers themselves. It seemed like a good community with excellent facilities to match! The department has excellent support network – from lecturers, personal tutors, and project supervisors to ChemSoc and our chemistry “families”.

My course is unique and allows me to choose what subjects interest me both from chemistry and Ocean and Earth Science so I have quite a range of topics to choose from. I enjoy the lectures, especially when the lecturer is telling you about their research and you can see how passionate they are about it. It’s also good that we have tutorials, workshops and labs with not only lecturers but postgrads as they can often explain things in a different way to help you understand and it gives you a wider circle of people you can ask for help.

During my time at university I have tried to get involved as much as possible, from volunteering to take UCAS tours around campus and the department to going to schools and doing outreach with younger children. I’ve really enjoyed these aspects as it makes me realise how much fun chemistry can be and what a nice place Southampton is. I’ve also taken part in an organic summer school at the University where each week a different company came in and gave us some work to do for them – it was really enjoyable to not only see the applications of your work, but also to talk to people in industry and make contacts as well as improve my confidence in my practical skills.

The University also has opportunities to undertake internships over summer – I stayed at University over one summer working with Dr David Read developing resources for students in areas I found difficult and helping with more outreach. It allowed me to use my initiative as I decided what resources to make and how best to do them.

I am currently looking into graduate jobs, though the thought of doing a PhD is appealing.