PhD, Chemistry

Name: Mark Hanniffy

Age: 24

Primary degree: Chemistry (2003)

Postgraduate degrees: Research Phd, Chemistry, NUI Galway

Why postgraduate study?

I worked as part of my final-year undergraduate project with the research group I later joined, and the area of work interested me. Therefore, when a vacancy for a PhD student in the group arose I decided I'd like to stay on. I had also considered working in the US but, having looked into my options, it seemed as though it would take longer and that I'd have less freedom than I would in Galway.

What's postgraduate study really like?

Postgraduate work is liberating: you impose your own working structures and can never really tell where your work will lead or what skills you'll require on any given day. But as a result you have to be motivated and self-disciplined. I find the ease with which you can lose touch with the wider developments within your subject surprising. It is necessary to make a real effort to keep my knowledge of general chemistry up to date.

Working hours can be long, but much of the time is spent waiting for things to happen. These delays can be frustrating but they develop time management skills, and a good supervisor helps to keep me focused. It can be disheartening when things don't work out the way you hope but, equally, it is very satisfying when they do.

I am currently funded by a scholarship that pays my fees and contributes to my living expenses, research material and other eductional expenses, including travel costs to conferences. My doctorate has opened up lots of career opportunities for me: it could be the first step in an academic career; I could move into industry to work in a technical area like process development; and my background would be advantageous in careers such as patent law or environmental policy.

Tips for graduates

The number of postgraduate research opportunities is increasing at a fast rate so look at all the different options and be selective when you're applying. Also talk to current PhD students to get a candid view of what lies ahead.