JJ, PhD Bioengineering

After studying Pharmacology at Cambridge and working on cancer therapeutics at A*STAR in Singapore, JJ chose a PhD in Bioengineering at Imperial where he now studies skin wound healing, inspired and motivated by his own experiences with eczema. JJ shares what it’s like to do a PhD at Imperial, how the inclusive and diverse communities allow him to be himself and his favourite things about living in London.

Applying for a PhD at Imperial

I applied for lots of PhD opportunities in 2020–2021, one of them being to join Dr Claire Higgins’ lab in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial. I applied directly to join this lab because of the glowing reviews from Imperial students of the excellent welfare support from the department. Knowing how diverse and international-friendly Imperial is also made it an easy decision to apply, especially in a rather rapidly changing world post-COVID. Being in one of the best universities in the world for engineering could also unlock opportunities for me to work on a wide variety of research projects.

Knowing how diverse and international-friendly Imperial is also made it an easy decision to apply.

The application process was really simple as an international student and generally much easier than most other universities I applied to. The calls with the principal investigators (PIs) during my interviews felt more like friendly chats about ideas, rather than an intense interview, which made me feel even more welcome.

Doing a PhD at Imperial

My PhD is funded by the National Science Scholarship from A*STAR in Singapore and covers all my living expenses. My research aims to assess cellular changes during skin wound healing using discarded human skin. This skin wound healing model can then be used as a painless platform to test for potential wound-healing enhancers. Having eczema myself, I was drawn to working on skin in the hopes that I can work on – and be part of – research that pushes better treatments for atopic dermatitis forwards.

Entrepreneurship in Imperial is also huge and brings a much-needed additional perspective to translating my research. My PhD project was also given a small grant from Imperial’s Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship – DT Prime which helped secure more resources for my project.

Over the four years of my PhD, I’ve faced several challenges – balancing lab work, health issues and personal life hasn’t always been easy. Fortunately, I’ve been surrounded by supportive people like my lab mates and staff who have helped at every step of my PhD journey. I’d like to especially mention the Bioengineering Technician team and Level 3 at the Sir Michael Uren Building for being a pillar of support – both technical and emotional – throughout these years. I’m especially grateful to everyone for their support that has helped me get this far – I wouldn’t be close to completing my PhD now without them!

The department as a whole has also been very accommodating, particularly in helping me manage my skin condition. They provided cotton glove liners to prevent direct contact with lab gloves, which makes it much easier for me to carry out wet lab work which is the majority of what I do.

I’m especially grateful to everyone for their support that has helped me get this far – I wouldn’t be close to completing my PhD now without them!

South Kensington Campus main entrance on Exhibition Road

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Imperial's communities and societies

Imperial’s community is incredibly international and friendly, with students and staff coming from all over the world with a variety of backgrounds, bringing with them a diversity of viewpoints. This diversity allows you to feel more comfortable to be yourself in a fast-paced STEMB research environment as everyone is so accepting and welcoming.

Imperial’s community is incredibly international and friendly, with students and staff coming from all over the world, bringing with them a diversity of viewpoints.

Specifically for my field, in skin and hair biology, I’ve found London has a very friendly group of PhD students, scientists and researchers who often get together to share their research at events like the biannual London Skin Club, as well as putting on socials that add to the fun and collaborative experiences of working in this field.

Within Imperial, there’s a huge range of clubs and societies to try your hand at, including most sports – I’ve attended some of the squash, tennis and badminton sessions put on by the societies, which has saved me the hassle of trying to book courts myself and organise friends to join games.

JJ in sportswear with a group of friends

With friends on the White City Campus after a run at Little Wormwood Scrubs

At a farewell party for a post-doc and fellow PhD graduate

Students walking in London on the Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral in the background

Living and studying in London

Choosing to study in the UK in London was an easy decision. Not having to drive a car to get around the city, everything you want to see and do being just a Tube ride away and the easy access to the rest of Europe for short breaks are just some of the many pros of moving here.

I love the pub and bar scene in London as well as there’s so many uniquely themed places. Any of the Mr Fogg’s Bars are excellent – I’m content just sitting inside and admiring the interior design. As a foodie, London also has loads of relatively cheap food options to spoil yourself and your friends with, no matter what cuisine you’re craving!

If you're based at the White City Campus, there are a few places I’d recommend if you want to take a break from work. The Grand Union Canal near campus is an excellent place to go for a long run and there’s also a couple of parks and green spaces to walk around if you fancy getting out and about in nature.

Living in London can cost quite bit, so it’s worth thinking about planning your expenses wisely so that you have a comfortable student life – for example, I prioritised spending a bit more on my accommodation so I had a good home base and wouldn’t need to deal with any housing issues while I was in the middle of my studies.

I’m currently living on White City Campus in the purpose-built student accommodation, GradPad Wood Lane Studios. It’s not the cheapest option, but given the proximity to work, having supermarkets within walking distance and being able to live on my own makes the cost worth it in my opinion.

Having a short walk and a chitchat along a canal near King's Cross

JJ with two friends standing in front of a scoreboard for 'Delta Force Paintball'

Paintball at Effingham Junction, a little bit outside central London

The PhD experience is almost always challenging, but the support from the diverse and inclusive staff and student body at Imperial will help you gain more confidence in yourself and make the learning experience so much better.

My advice for future Imperial students is to take time to explore the many societies and events Imperial has early on, before your studies and work get too serious! Also, don’t be afraid to reach out if you need support – lots of people will be going through the same thing and it’s always better to tackle a problem together, rather than alone.