Louie, MRes Bioinformatics and Theoretical Systems Biology

My university life actually started at Imperial College London way back in 2019, when I was studying an undergraduate course in Biological Sciences. Despite going through the pandemic in the middle of my studies, I enjoyed the course.

My highlight was the final year project, where I investigated how bumblebee colonies are affected by exposure to antimicrobial chemical pollution.

I was curious about how big data is managed in biology, which is why I chose to study the MRes in Bioinformatics and Theoretical Systems Biology. At the same time, I wanted to improve some of my quantitative skills, such as programming and statistics, while still working within the field of biology. The Master’s course at Imperial also covers topics such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, which are not only super interesting, in my opinion, but are also increasingly relevant in today’s world with AI being integrated everywhere.

Applying for a Master’s

Imperial was an obvious first choice for me due to its worldwide prestige and being renowned for its STEM subjects. Having studied an undergraduate course at the University, I got to know some of the leading research staff in the Department of Life Sciences and the amazing work they do. Furthermore, Imperial is host to the Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (CISBIO), an organisation that has published very impressive bioinformatic resources for researchers of any affiliation to use. All of these aspects combined made Imperial stand out compared to other universities when considering a bioinformatics degree.

(Re)joining Imperial

Having previous experience of studying at Imperial, I was accustomed to my way around the Campus. So, when my Master’s course began with the taught components, it didn’t feel too different from attending lectures at my very first year at Imperial.

Since Master’s class sizes are much smaller than undergraduate courses, I felt I really got to know the people learning alongside me. Some of them are also Imperial alumni, but others came from different universities, and some of them from different countries entirely!

Naturally, using my status as a ‘veteran’ of Imperial, I spent the first few days of the course showing my new classmates around the campus to help them get settled into a new environment. In addition, each academic year at Imperial begins with a ‘Welcome Week’ where a range of activities are hosted, which was definitely a golden opportunity for me to meet new or familiar Imperial students.

Studying the course

The most gratifying part of the course so far has to be my group project. There is a real feeling of accomplishment when I get to collaborate with three other students on an enormous task. The best part is that since we’re all good friends, discussions between us are often casual, and a strong sense of teamwork is evident as we talk openly about our progress and problems.

As someone with a Biological Sciences undergraduate degree, I have found the statistical and mathematical side of the Bioinformatics and Theoretical Systems Biology course challenging at times. One minute I understand where the concept is going, and the next I’m completely lost! Luckily the professors are all very accessible for help, and I have managed to grasp an understanding of the more complex statistical concepts.

While studying for this Master’s course, I am also an ambassador for Imperial via the Unibuddy platform, where I chat with prospective students from all over the world.

I answer all kinds of queries, ranging from information about the course, the application process or just general life at Imperial. More importantly, I try to foster conversations with these prospective students, getting to know a bit more about their background or motivations to understand what kind of advice they need. Overall, being a Unibuddy ambassador is really building on my mentoring skills!

Beekeeping with the Environmental Society

I have been actively involved with Imperial’s Environmental Society (ESoc) since my undergraduate years. In fact, I am currently the Head Apiarist of ESoc, where I look after two beehives in our very own ‘secret garden’ located on campus.

Having been a beekeeper for almost three years now, I’ve learned so many fascinating things about the complicated lives of honeybees. When I’m not pondering about the intricacies of honeybee biology, I simply enjoy the calming activity of inspecting a beehive after a long day working.

I have also hosted beekeeping sessions where I teach ESoc members the basics of beekeeping, and I thoroughly enjoy opportunities where I get to share my beekeeping journey with others.

Living in London

To be blunt, life in London is expensive, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The challenge of living in a city like London has taught me how to be self-sufficient on tight budgets.

With that said, London can be a fun city to live in if you know what it has to offer. The population of London is amazingly diverse, so there are many places to visit that offer native cuisines or ingredients. I have certainly paid a visit to Chinatown multiple times to get specific ingredient, or to satisfy cravings of nostalgic snacks.

There are also many attractions to see around London, most notably all the different kinds of museums. If you do a little bit of digging, you may even find some eccentric activities to do in London, such as cookery class for eating bugs! (Yes, I learned cooking recipes with bugs, and yes, they tasted delicious!)

Overall, living in London is both a challenge and an opportunity. Even on a tight budget, you’ll be sure to find some fun stuff to do around the city.

Future plans

Imperial’s Careers Service has been a great help to me for showing me the different career options that are available to me, notably the diverse and rapidly growing data science sector. The Careers Service also host fairs to get to know hiring businesses and provide support on writing CVs and resumes for a strong application.

My original plan was to study a PhD straight after my Master’s course. But after a period of consideration, I think it might be better for me to take a break from studying for a while before I decide if a PhD is right for me. So right now, I’m planning to apply for graduate roles.

Final thoughts

I cannot imagine a version of me where I had not gone to Imperial. The many years of undergraduate and postgraduate study, being a Unibuddy ambassador, and even the hobbies I do outside of studying like beekeeping. These are all experiences I value greatly for all the knowledge and joy I have gained.

From all the friends I have met along the way, to the staff that have supported me at every part of my academic journey, I feel grateful for the university life that Imperial has given me.