Emmajay Sutherland

4th year

Emmajay is studying Chemistry with Materials and Nanoscience

Why I chose Heriot-Watt

I first heard about Heriot-Watt when it was ranked as top in Scotland for student satisfaction and it was easy to see why when I stepped onto the campus. It was a comfort to know that all of Heriot-Watt's chemistry degrees are accredited by the Royal Society of Chemistry and I had a wide array of choices available to me, which led me to applying for an industrial placement. Heriot-Watt has links all over the world and having a campus so close to the capital is the perfect opportunity to form links with companies looking for graduates.

My experiences

Being at Heriot-Watt has allowed me to expand my horizons and work with people from all walks of life. I'm honoured to have been voted as class representative for third year and this position has allowed me to form a close bond with the staff and students alike. The staff couldn't do more to help students, from organising workshops to offering one-on-one help outside of class. I doubt I would've secured a placement for my fourth year, if it hadn't been for the great guidance and support from lecturers (as well as the amazing character references).

When I graduate

I want to further my education by studying for my doctorate, specialising in pharmaceutical chemistry. It has always been my goal to work in cancer research and other such diseases which are currently incurable and bring accessible and widespread healthcare to the world. I hope to encourage other young women to pursue STEM careers and finally bridge the prevalent gender gap that's still a problem in today's society. In the long term, I aspire to win a Nobel Prize for my contributions to Chemistry which will have improved the lives of many for the better.