Category: Graduate stories

Polyxeni Tsea profile photo

Making the leap to study in Brighton from Greece gave me tools for life

International Pharmacy alum Polyxeni Tsea tells us how her university experience as a whole, not just her degree, set her up for a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry.

As an international student coming to the UK, Polyxeni tells us how the University of Brighton equipped her both personally and professionally for life and career beyond graduation.

She tells us about learning independence in a new country, the experience of meeting people from all around the world working as a Student Residential Advisor and how her degree has directly linked to her career working for DEMO S.A.

Continue reading “Making the leap to study in Brighton from Greece gave me tools for life” →

Laura RubyLeave a comment
Wulan Koagouw receiving her award on stage

Brighton graduate receives top award for her impactful science research

University of Brighton graduate and leading ecotoxicologist, Wulan Koagouw, has won a Science and Sustainability Award for her pioneering research in Indonesia.

Wulan was honoured at the Study UK Alumni Awards in Indonesia for her research into environmental sustainability and water quality in her home region, Jakarta, which she started as part of her PhD in Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences at University of Brighton.

As an ecotoxicologist, Wulan’s research focuses on the harmful effects of toxic pollutants, such as man-made synthetic chemicals and their by-products, on the environment.

Continue reading “Brighton graduate receives top award for her impactful science research” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Shirin Alwash-standing in front of a canal

Pharmacist committed to providing opportunities for the next generation

Pharmacy graduate Shirin Alwash shares the importance of supporting new pharmacists and the positive impact of diversity at Brighton.

Shirin, who works as a Training and Development Manager for Paydens Pharmacies, is inspiring the next generation of pharmacists.

Reflecting on her own journey and experience to create work-based training programmes to help prepare and upskill new graduates for a career in the pharmacy industry; Shirin is a true example of the Brighton Effect. She is taking that energy and using it to help others embarking on a similar career path.

Shirin also tells us about how meeting people from different backgrounds during her time at Brighton was important for the communication and relationship-building skills she has carried with her into her career.

Continue reading “Pharmacist committed to providing opportunities for the next generation” →

Laura RubyLeave a comment
Headshot of Bamidele Farinre smiling looking off camera with a colourful background

Award-winning and trailblazing Biomedical Scientist

Meet Bamidele Farinre, a biomedical science graduate who has risen impressively to the top of her profession, including a “Biomedical Scientist of the Year” Award.

The Brighton Effect is that ripple of energy that starts during your time with us at Brighton, which you take with you for the rest of your life and career. There is no greater example than Bamidele, whose passion for science only grew during her time at the University of Brighton and has now gone on to the top of her field with multiple award-nominations and accolades and contributing pioneering work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading “Award-winning and trailblazing Biomedical Scientist” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Ruth Smith profile photo

Graduate stories: Ruth Smith

Ruth graduated from Geography BA(Hons) in 2018. Read about her time studying here and how her career is progressing.

Why I chose the University of Brighton and this course

I love Brighton as a city, the sea, the vibrancy and all the good things happening there so it was an obvious choice! Combined with this, I noticed that the course had the choice to opt in and out of a range of topics to adapt the course to my preferences and interests! I chose to go down the more social geography route rather than environmental but loved the choice of both.

Continue reading “Graduate stories: Ruth Smith” →

Laura RubyLeave a comment

Graduate stories: Harry McKenzie

I chose the University of Brighton because I’ve always enjoyed Brighton as a place and I chose the Geography BA(Hons) course because I’ve always enjoyed learning about the world and its inhabitants.

The course was a good mix of everything, and I really enjoyed the media modules in my final year. I didn’t enjoy my work placement much, but I learned a lot and the experience drove me to up my game in final year and really get stuck into the course. Some of the best times of my life were spent studying (and partying) in Brighton – no doubt. The highlights of my course were the field trip to Morocco, the final year media crossover module and the study of discourse and power.

Continue reading “Graduate stories: Harry McKenzie” →

Laura RubyLeave a comment
Jacques Burrowes in graduation gown and hat smiling at camera, Brighton beach in the background

I chose Geography mainly because of its employability

Jacques Burrowes recently graduated from our Geography BA(Hons) and is doing a job he loves all thanks to his degree. We caught up with Jacques to find out more.

I chose Geography mainly because of its employability – it’s one of the best degrees out there for job prospects. I was an Auto-Electrician before I came to University and I wasn’t really being developed by my employer, so I came to university to develop myself and have a shot somewhere where I could progress

Geography BA is a diverse course that gets you experienced in a multitude of geographical disciplines. It’s great that the course gets you experienced in a variety of geographic studies from digital geographies, feminist geographies and social and cultural geographies. It opened my eyes up to what was considered geography. It’s literally everything by the way!

Continue reading “I chose Geography mainly because of its employability” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
RTPI awards for research excellence logo

Graduate finalist in prestigious town planning awards

Congratulations to Town Planning graduate Laura Hemsley for reaching the finals of the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Awards for Research Excellence (Student Award).

Now in their ninth year, the awards continue to recognise and promote high quality, impactful spatial planning research. Laura was nominated for her masters dissertation, ‘The Effectiveness of Strategic Planning Arrangements in Mineral Planning’.

We caught up with her to find out more about her dissertation, the support from her lecturers and what it meant to be nominated for the award.

Continue reading “Graduate finalist in prestigious town planning awards” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Meghann Creffield head shot

My kids are so so proud of me

The Brighton Effect is that ripple of energy that grows with you during your time at the University of Brighton, and throughout your life. Uniquely individual, you carry it with you through time, careers, passions, curiosities, travel, discoveries, teaching and learnings. We spoke to Meghann Creffield, who graduated in 2020 with a degree in Applied Biomedical Science (BSc) through the degree apprenticeship route, to find out about her Brighton Effect story.

Meghann is a Biomedical Scientist, working in her local hospital’s Biochemistry department. “Becoming a Biomedical Scientist has been a dream of mine for a very long time […] I was very lucky to be granted an award for outstanding contribution to an employer by an employee. This award was granted to me for research I was facilitated to do at the Royal Sussex County Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. I helped implement a test in the biochemistry department that helps with the care of Covid positive patients. I was incredibly proud to win an award for the work I did in my degree. My kids were so so proud of me that they put a newspaper clipping about the award on the fridge!”

Continue reading “My kids are so so proud of me” →

Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment