Debbie McIntosh

Debbie McIntosh, from Dundee, graduated in 2010 with a BSc in Molecular Biology. She's now working towards a PhD in the University's Gene Regulation and Expression Division.

Why did you choose to study at Dundee?

Dundee is one of the best universities in the UK for their undergraduate science degrees. It was important to me that I chose a university with a great reputation in the science community and also somewhere that I believed would give me the best education.

Another reason for choosing Dundee was the fact that it has a great range of extracurricular activities and has a great reputation for its social events, which I thought was important if I was going to enjoy being at university for 4 years.

What have you done since graduation?

Since graduating, I took a short break so that I could enjoy having no essays/deadlines and also catch up with family and friends whom I had not spent much time with over the exam period! In August, I started my PhD in the Gene Regulation and Expression Division at the School of Research, University of Dundee.

How has your degree helped you in the 'real world'?

Well I wouldn't be doing a PhD without the degree and the experience I gained throughout my time as an undergraduate. I am certainly more knowledgeable about science and doing the degree allowed me to identify fields in science that interested me more than others. The University also gave us the opportunity to gain experience in the research world and this made sure I was 100% certain that I wanted to do a PhD. The degree helped me to become more independent and also helped me gain generic skills, which are required in the 'real world'.

What was the most enjoyable thing about your degree and why?

There were many aspects of the degree that were enjoyable. The year I enjoyed most was final year as it allowed me to do more independent thinking, something that I really enjoyed. It also allowed me to gain experience doing a research project in a laboratory. Over the 4 years, I enjoyed making lots of new friends from all over the world and enjoyed the social life that came with doing the degree.

Do you have any advice for potential new students?

Always work to the best of your ability as it will all be worth it 4 years down the line! But, do remember to enjoy the social aspect of university as it makes the whole experience even more enjoyable and leaves you with memories that will last a lifetime!