Feeling unsure if you want to join us for a full semester? Why not join us lika Natalia did? She joined SU as an Erasmus-student and she is still with us some six years later.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself? 

My name is Natalia and I come from Poland, however I spent most of my adult life in Stockholm. I have been spending my days at the Chemistry section of SU for nearly six years now, as I completed my bachelor and master studies here and currently I am working as a PhD student at the department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry. In my research I focus on 3D printing of biomaterials for water treatment applications. 

How did you end up at SU?

I ended up at SU thanks to the Erasmus+ exchange program! During the first year of my studies at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan I decided I wanted to spend a year studying chemistry abroad. At the time, Stockholm University offered several courses in neurochemistry, which sounded extremely interesting to me, so I had decided to give it a shot. I came to study at SU in August 2015 intending to stay for just two semesters and here I am, six years later 

Which program did you choose? Why did you choose it?  

During my bachelor studies at SU I took up several different courses offered by various departments just to find out what interests me the most. At the end, I chose the Master’s program in Materials Chemistry, because I developed strong interest in biomaterials. At the time, I dreamt of designing my own clothing line based on 100% bio-derived, eco-friendly textiles. The Materials Chemistry Master’s program seemed like the great first step to fulfil that big dream! Moreover, the program seemed like the perfect preparation for the career in both academia and the chemical industry. Knowing the quality of teaching from the previous years, I knew I am going to build strong theoretical and practical skills. I would certainly make the same choice again. 

What does chemistry mean to you? 

Understanding chemistry gives me the possibility to understand the world. Starting from the fun stuff like being able to recognize chemical ingredients of my hair shampoo (and being able to imagine their structural formula J) to having the ability to actually make a difference by developing new, eco-friendly materials in my research work.  

What do you think about studying at Stockholm university? 

I think it is a great place to get your education! The quality of teaching is very high. I always appreciated the great communication and openness between students and teachers. Moreover, studying chemistry at SU offers the opportunity to work very closely with professors on real, emerging research problems, basically from day one. Experiencing this ensured me that I would like to pursue my career in academia – studying here made me curious! 

What do you like the most about Stockholm and Sweden?  

Stockholm is a really great place to live. Even though it is the capital, there are not so many big-city issues around here. The proximity to beautiful nature, abundance of green areas within the city and fantastic public transportation make it feel very cosy. I love that I live 10 minutes away from the city centre and at the same time no more than 15 minute walking distance from the beautiful, lake-side forest. I think everyone can find something they like in here. 

If someone is considering applying to the program, what would you tell them? 

Just do it! J I believe completing studies at SU prepared me in the best possible way to pursue my career within chemistry, whether it will be academia or industry.  Thanks to the knowledge and skills gained during my education here, I was a competitive candidate for internships at University of Tokyo and at AstraZeneca. The SU Chemistry Section offers so many fantastic opportunities for students. Everyone is being treated fairly and equally here. The students are prioritized and individually-approached. Being a foreign student myself I have never experienced anything else than kindness and help from all the professors and administrative staff.

I truly recommend studying here!

Natalia is a PhD student in the research group of prof. Aji Mathew, read more about the group and Natalia's project below.

The Mathew group

3D-printing of biobased filters functionalized with nanocellulose for water purification

 

Contact

Chemistry Section

Chemistry Section & Student Affairs Office

chemistry@su.se

08-16 37 09

• Visiting address

• Arrhenius laboratory, room M345

• Svante Arrhenius väg 16 A-D

• Here you will find:

• Student administrator

  International coordinator

  Study advisor

  Director of studies

• Office hours

• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 09.00-11.30 and 12.30-15.00

• Phone hours

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