Jerzy D.
About me
| Jerzy D. | |
| Biology | |
| Molecular Cell Biology (BSc) / Bioscience Technology (MSc) | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Langwith | |
| 2011 | |
| Poland |
My employment
| PhD | |
| Molecular analysis of antimalarial therapies: from drug development to its mode of action | |
| Nanyang Technological University | |
| Singapore | |
| 2014 | |
| 2018 |
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Biomedical scientist - Malaria and other Neglected Tropical Diseases
Why I continued studying
To obtain further training as a scientist. Also, because without a PhD you will never be able to decide where your research is heading.
How I have funded my studies
Singapore International Graduate Award (Scholarship)
My career goals when I graduated
Initially, following BSc I wanted to become a business developer in the Biotech sector, as that job offered fast pace, changing projects and good money.
My career history
I did my Masters to get a wider scope of training in all modern techniques used nowadays in research, meanwhile changing my future plans and deciding that if I stay in science a PhD could always come handy (particularly in later stages of career development, where lack of PhD is an obstacle). As a PhD is a big commitment I wanted to do it only in a topic that would passionate me ~ ending up with the idea of working on Neglected Tropical Diseases. Having no prior experience in that field or relevant training I was looking for opportunities that would help me develop my understanding of the topic further - applying both for PhD positions and jobs worldwide.
What has helped my career to progress
Having attended several PhD interviews (UK, France, Germany, Spain and Netherlands) I got offered a place for few of them, but decided they were not exactly what i wanted to do. Meanwhile, I've been in email contact with the director of Oxford University-run 'tropical diseases' research station on Thai-Myanmar border, who offered me a place as a volunteer researcher for 3 months. I ended up staying there for 6 months as a volunteer running a project on Malaria-Lymphatic Filariasis coninfection patterns within Eastern Myanmar and then being offered a paid position for another 6 months. This was the most exciting and rewarding research I have ever done! During that time I met my current PhD supervisor (who I was collaborating on project with) and developed the idea of my PhD project research.
How my studies have helped my career
University of York have provided me with great training in Biological research and those skills were appreciated everywhere I have been.
What surprised me about my career so far
I did ignore what my York professors told me - 'no point in doing Master's degree' and 'no point in taking a break before starting the PhD'. If I had started a PhD straight after my BSc, I would have probably ended up doing something what doesn't really interest me and is not as rewarding as my current work.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
Post Doc in central Africa doing applied research on malaria and other Neglected Tropical Diseases
My advice to students considering further study
Anything is possible, you just need to pursue whatever you really want to do.
Contacting me
Anything related to my career path; Singapore; Field work in Thailand; Malaria Research
Next steps...
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