Feza Haque currently works in the Devices division at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
What are your career experiences since graduating from the University of Birmingham?
After graduating from the University of Birmingham, I worked as a Research Assistant in the Tissue Engineering lab at Imperial College London. Afterwards I started postgraduate studies at Queen Mary University of London where I graduated with an MPhil in Materials Research. Following this, I worked briefly in publishing and then left it to become a government scientist at the MHRA.
What is the best thing about what you are doing now?
My job is linked to my studies. I studied Biomaterials and now I am regulating medical devices. I utilise skills and knowledge gained on the Biomaterials course. Also, working here has shown me the different types of roles available to scientists.
Why did you originally apply to do Biomaterials at Birmingham?
I liked the multidisciplinary nature of it and I tried to stand out from the crowd by trying something different.
What did you think were the best points of the Biomaterials degree and the University?
Studying Biomaterials allowed me to be taught in different faculties and so experience resources available in several schools within the same university. The University is located in beautiful surroundings and people come here to study are serious about their education.
What advice would you give to current students studying on your degree programme?
Work hard and start thinking about what aspects of the course you like best and then decide in which direction you want your career to go.
How did you grow as a person by coming to University? Did it change your life in any way?
Being away from home meant I had to be independent. Also, meeting many interesting people and making new friends brought out my confident side.