Megan Wagstaff

Why did you choose to study at the University of Birmingham?

I chose the University of Birmingham due to its brilliant reputation for research and teaching in the biomedical and life sciences. Studying here has offered me the opportunity to complete my master's research project within a University of Birmingham lab and gain hands on experience from experts with extensive publishing records and actual impacts on the field of health and medicine.

What made you choose your course, and what interested you most about the subject?

I chose Genomic Medicine because of a fascination with how genetics and the wider genome effects health and disease, and because this course combines cutting-edge science with real world clinical applications.

What do you enjoy most about your course?

The opportunity to complete a research project in the labs has been life changing for me, allowing me to apply what I have learned in lectures and gain valuable practical skills.

How would you describe the teaching, learning environment, and support from your lecturers?

The teaching has been informative and engaging, with experts from a wide range of backgrounds coming in to give lectures. This course offers the opportunity to be taught by and engage with researchers and people working in clinical practice and industry offering a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

How has your course helped you develop the knowledge and skills you'll need for your future career?

This course has strengthened both my academic knowledge through lectures and workshops, and my practical research skills. I have learned how to critically evaluate scientific literature, strengthened my ability to analyse data and to give presentations, and have even managed to learn a little about bioinformatics (which is great because I'm practically afraid of computers I'm so terrible with them).

What are your career goals after graduation, and how has your course prepared you to achieve them?

My course has helped me to achieve a dream I have been working towards for 10 years as I am hoping to return to the lab I completed my masters research project in to pursue a PhD. This course has prepared me for this by building strong foundational knowledge, in cancer and genomics and equipping me with the connections and confidence to pursue this path.