"Everything about ÐÔÊӽ紫ýticks a box for me" - life in College as a part-time student

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

Hello! My name is Danielle. I'm 30 years old and I'm from a small town in Cheshire, UK. I am studying for a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry, and I'm based at the Institute of Metabolic Science on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

"I had an epiphany a few years back that I could actually do anything I wanted, and have since become a bit obsessed with learning new things from scratch."

This includes learning to row (before, I was exclusively a land-only sports type of person), playing the guitar, and maintaining a 1000+ day streak on Duolingo. 

What led you to ÐÔÊӽ紫ýand to your PhD? 

I moved to Cambridge in 2018 after finishing my Master's in Human Nutrition at the University of Sheffield and joined the as a Research Assistant. My original plan was to gain a few years of 'real research experience' before heading home and applying for PhD programmes nearby. It was during this role that I collaborated with my current supervisor. She discovered that I wanted to do a PhD, and she was coincidentally looking for a student. 

What are you researching for your PhD project? 

The focus of our research is maternal health and, more specifically for me, the influence of diet on the health outcomes of women experiencing diabetes in pregnancy. Most of the data that I use is derived from our clinical trials () and a large cohort study that I co-ordinate called .

How have you found the combination of research and PhD study? 

My setup is somewhat unusual in comparison to other students in our department. I work full-time as a research assistant and complete the PhD alongside that. 

"Whilst there have been challenges in terms of managing my time and expectations, this approach has provided me with a well-rounded experience and opened up more doors than a more conventional route might have."

The trouble with this way of working is that you can easily treat the PhD like a 9-5 job and not experience all of the many wonderful and unique things that Cambridge and College life has to offer. This is what I did initially and lived outside College, but once I'd joined my first ÐÔÊӽ紫ýsociety (boxing - again, a new hobby!), I soon discovered all that I was missing out on. The rest is history.

I am now a proud member of, and Social Secretary for, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Boat Club, and feel fully immersed in College life despite not living there. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.

What are your impressions of Wolfson? How would you describe its atmosphere to others?  

Everything about ÐÔÊӽ紫ýticks a box for me: the people, the culture, the beautiful gardens! Friends at other colleges often refer to ÐÔÊӽ紫ýas 'the friendliest college'.

My advice for prospective students would be to jump into College life with both feet and don't let being part-time, a mature student, or living off-site stop you from getting involved. 

The time flies by quickly and Cambridge is unique, so be adventurous and fully immerse yourself. Also, the people of ÐÔÊӽ紫ýare incredibly friendly, so reach out to them if you want to know more!

Do you have any idea where your PhD might take you?

I'm now in my final year of study and will hopefully be wrapping up in 2025. My plans for the future are still yet to be worked out – I want to let these be shaped by the interesting people I meet and the new experiences I'll have. And I will probably be looking for even more new hobbies to try!

"I'll be sad to leave Wolfson, but I know that I will come away feeling empowered, and a more confident and resilient researcher with some fantastic memories to share."

Read more

This article is part of the 2024 Postgraduate Student Profile Series.

• MPhil Education student Grace Batley finds her authentic voice in academia
• PhD student Éireann Attridge launches podcast in campaign for educational equality
• PhD Public Health student Cass Dawson explores socioeconomic adversity and children’s mental health
• PhD Neuroscience student Sally Zeidan helped her supervisor set up a lab group from scratch

You can discover more about the opportunities for part-time students in College. Wolfson has more part-time students than any other Cambridge College.

Part-time students are welcome to participate fully in College life and to take advantage of all College facilities, societies, and events (including online events).

The College hosts various events specifically for our part-time students, including an annual Summer Study Week.