Maryam
MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering with Process Systems Engineering
Since I got here, Imperial has been like home away from home for me and I find that very comforting.
Maryam chose to undertake her postgraduate studies at Imperial after speaking with her mentor during an internship. She had always aspired to go to a world-class institution, but wanted to make sure her chosen course would align with her goals and interests too. Originally from Nigeria, Maryam has had an interesting journey to Imperial. She shares a little about why she chose Imperial, her experience getting settled in and how she's been prepared for the next step in her career.
I'm Maryam and I study MSc Advanced Chemical Engineering with Process Systems Engineering at Imperial. From an early age I was exposed to amateur chemical engineering experiments as my father is a Professor of Chemical Engineering. Being an expert in oil spill remediation, his involvement in numerous spill management in Nigeria gave me my first exposure to the “oil and gas” industry, inspiring me to make chemical engineering my professional path.
However, I was completely hooked on Process Engineering after my undergraduate internship with the Process and Flow Assurance Department at TotalEnergies EP Nigeria.
During and after my internship, I had several discussions with my mentor, who was very much aware of my newly found niche as well as my childhood desire to have my postgraduate study at an Ivy League School. As an Imperial alumnus, he told me the best way to achieve that goal and enhance my understanding of the fundamental principles of Process Engineering is by pursuing a Master’s in Advanced Chemical Engineering with Process Systems Engineering at Imperial College London.
He emphasised the significant opportunities and the prospect of participating in hands-on projects pertinent to real-world scenarios. I knew that this would be vital to preparing for my transition into the industry.
My chaotic but exciting start at Imperial
Since day one, my time at Imperial has been fantastic and intense. I literally came straight from the airport to school because I experienced some administrative problems. I had a significant delay in getting a response on my visa from UKVI. This resulted in me arriving in the UK two weeks after the session had commenced.
Through the help of the administrative staff of the department, I was able to complete my departmental and course registrations and my plagiarism and pre-sessional courses online from home.
Without their support I may have never made it to Imperial. When I finally arrived, in addition to the warmth and support from the department, I stopped at the International Student Support office, where I got tips and advice that greatly helped in getting my accommodation and lots of student discounts to help with my finances.
Navigating the application process
The application process was very straightforward for me. I nurtured my dream to study at Imperial College London since after my undergraduate internship before my graduation. Since I got here, Imperial has been like home away from home for me and I find that very comforting.
I put in my application as soon as the 2023–24 entry application cycle had opened back in September 2022. I got my conditional offer on 10 January 2023 and I immediately commenced the process of meeting all the requirements to make the offer unconditional. The entire process was online and very seamless. The international student support team were in contact all through my visa application process and provided me the much-needed support throughout until I arrived in London.
Laying foundations for the future
Upon graduation, I plan to take up a role in the upstream energy industry as a Process Engineer, which will allow me to hone my acquired skills and provide a platform to develop novel processes that are more intrinsically safe and energy efficient. My ultimate aspiration is to collaborate with seasoned experts in establishing a Process Consulting Firm, aimed at meeting the needs of the continually growing Process Industry.
My short- to medium-term objective is to gain the necessary process engineering knowledge and leverage my programming skill sets to build an integrated software for oil and gas surface facilities that can help in “decision-making” based on a field's potential, from the choke opening through the oil and gas processing units to the export points. This will, in my opinion, be an effective strategy for maximising an asset's potential within the boundaries of surface and commercial considerations while also reducing carbon footprint.
I plan to take up a role in the upstream energy industry as a Process Engineer, which will allow me to hone my acquired skills and provide a platform to develop novel processes that are more intrinsically safe and energy efficient.
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