Dr. Murray Completes PhD in Analytical Chemistry
“Ensure that you're doing something you really want to, as studying is a huge commitment of time, energy and resources. If you're studying overseas, make sure you have a good support network. Find low priced international call plans and try to make friends as soon as possible. Don't be afraid to mix with people who are different; don't just look for Barbadians or Caribbean people. My closest friends are British, French and African! Also make sure you've got all the money you will need as the option of working while studying isn't ideal.” These are the guiding words of Kathryn Murray, a twenty nine (29) year old, past student of Harrison College and a recipient of a Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) loan.
After graduating from secondary school in 2000, Kathryn went to the Cave Hill Campus at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and did a BSc in Chemistry, where she graduated in 2003. She then worked for a year as a Senior Laboratory Technician at Barbados Dairy Industries before travelling to UWI Mona to do a two (2) year MPhil in Chemistry; focusing on atmospheric monitoring of pollutants.
In 2006, Kathryn went on to Nottingham, England to do a PhD in Analytical Chemistry where she looked at new methods for diagnosing dengue fever faster and more effectively, using imaging and nano-particle chemistry. This PhD was funded by the European Union (EU), however, because Kathryn was not a EU Citizen, she had to pay fees of £6000/year from a monthly stipend of £1000 leaving her with limited funds to survive. It was after this realisation that Kathryn sought out funding possibilities. “A loan from the SRLF allowed me an additional ~£100/month, which meant that I didn't have to rely on my parents for money. It seemed the easiest option for a loan, as I didn't have to start paying back immediately and the interest rates were low. I didn't want debt at all, but I'm glad I had the option of a SRLF loan.”
Kathryn relayed her study experience, “it was interesting and very hard work, but God brought me through. As a PhD student, work is dependent on how much you put in and I'd spend all day in the lab, then come home and spend all night analysing data! Also as a research student you come to realise that research rarely goes as planned and quite often it's about accepting that fact and looking for solutions to the problems. The good thing was that as part of my degree I had to travel to Spain, Germany and the Netherlands and that meant interacting with different cultures and ways of life. I've worked with Iranians, Chinese, Americans, Argentineans, Dutch, Italians... the list goes on and on! On the other side of things, there was the weather to get used to; which probably never happens, and the distance from family is also an issue, especially when one of them falls ill. Still I wouldn't trade the experience for anything, it was a perfect platform for life in the research world.”
Dr. Kathryn Murray graduated from Nottingham Trent University in July 2011 and currently has a short-term contract doing research in gastrointestinal magnetic resonance imaging. Her plan is to do research and lecture at UWI Cave Hill. “My work with dengue fever and earlier work with atmospheric pollution also puts me in a position to give something back to the wider community of Barbados, as both of these are issues which affect us all,” she said.