Structured PhD, Development of Nano-Technology Monitoring Systems

Name: Rosemary O'Keeffe

Age: 25

Primary degree: BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering, UCC (2008)

Postgraduate degrees: MEng Science, Microelectronic Design and Engineering (2010); Structured PhD, Development of Nano-Tenchnology Monitoring Systems for In-Vivo Applications, Tyndall National Institute, UCC (2015)

I had an aptitude for physics and maths at school and I've always been fascinated by how things work, so engineering seemed to fit the bill as a career path. I also really enjoy playing with things – studying engineering gives you the perfect opportunity to do plenty of this!

My MEng whetted my appetite for further study – I loved it – so when the opportunity arose to keep on studying at PhD level, I jumped at it. As my academic background is very specific, the structured PhD allows me to broaden my range by taking a variety of courses in areas that, as an electronic engineer, I wouldn't otherwise have had any experience in, such as biomaterials and toxicology.

The engineering field is becoming more and more competitive and nowadays companies commonly expect their employees to have advanced degrees. Structured PhDs can also be great differentiators: they actively increase students' employability because they often include a number of courses on business and other skills, for example communication or management. These sorts of courses simply aren't offered at undergraduate level as part of an engineering degree.

I'm six months into my PhD and I'm starting to get the hang of it. For the most part it's what I expected, but it's quite a scary undertaking nonetheless. This is because it's really the first time you're expected to know what you want to achieve and how to go about doing so (as opposed to just doing whatever you're told). The best way to combat this, in my opinion, is to take one small step at a time. Rather than panicking over the amount of work I need to have completed by the end of the year, instead I think: by the end of the month I need to have reached this particular point. Then it's less frightening and easier to handle.

During my primary degree and my masters there was a big focus on modules – you have to complete a certain number regardless of your interest in them – but now the focus is on my own research: the modules that I do supplement my research rather than the other way around. I much prefer this as I can choose the direction of my own study.

In the engineering sector you have to have a further degree to get ahead in industry. There are a number of companies that focus on medical devices in Ireland and I'd be delighted to work for any of those. I'd like to experience the difference between the academic and industrial worlds. Having said that I'd be happy to stay on as a researcher here at Tyndall as I think here you get the best of both. But it's a long way off at the moment and I've many other things to focus on before then.

Advice for postgraduates

You have to be passionate about your subject if you want to study at this level. It's also important to have a strong, supportive network of people around you – other researchers and staff – as no one can achieve a PhD by themselves. Unlike the old-fashioned stereotype, you are not stuck in a little box sheltered from the world doing your research all by yourself – as a doctoral student you are part of a wider, collaborative research community. PhD research can go in directions you could never predict, and your research community and support network is vital and enriching. This is probably one of the best things about Tyndall – the knowledge I need is already here in the building.