Molecular Engineering - MRes

Hanwen Zhang, from China, recently graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from Imperial. She was attracted to the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering because she wanted a better engineering perspective and to gain experience working in industry with people from a diverse set of backgrounds. Hanwen hopes to a pursue a PhD after the completion of the course.

Konstantinos Zinelis first became intrigued by the ‘magical’ world underlying mathematics, physics and chemistry while he was in high school in Greece. He went on to study Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate at the National Technical University of Athens, and has also worked as a tutor at the ALFA Institute of Vocational Training.

During the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering, Konstantinos is excited to study both advanced scientific and engineering modules, and to get to grips with how future fundamental research can be advanced to impactful industrial applications.

New to Imperial, Konstantinos is impressed by Imperial’s modern facilities and hopes to continue his studies here as a PhD student. Ultimately he hopes to focus his research on the development of new algorithms for chemical engineering problems.

Masahiro Takenaga comes to Imperial from Japan, where he has worked for Canon as an engineer since he graduated from his undergraduate Chemistry degree.

Masahiro was particularly attracted to the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering because it provides the opportunity to master both the theory and application of a variety of computational techniques, to help solve practical problems. He is also enjoying gaining a deeper understanding of molecular structure and behaviour, and how this can provide greater insight into fundamental science and applied engineering topics.

Upon completion of the MRes, Masahiro plans to return to his company in Japan, and use his training to develop novel products.

Spaniard Victor Riesgo Gonzalez has a degree in Chemistry, but applied for the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering because he wanted a broader understanding of the challenges in the chemical industry as well as the approaches that are needed to tackle them.

He finds the use of state-of-the-art scientific techniques in molecular science and engineering, as well as the intrinsic multidisciplinary nature of the subject, particularly interesting. He is also enjoying the challenge presented by the engineering aspects of the course, and hopes to pursue a PhD in theory and modelling in the future.

Although new to Imperial, Victor is extremely happy by the calibre of the teaching staff and by the huge range of extra-curricular activities on offer.

Victor Thamrin comes to Imperial from Indonesia, via Newcastle Univeristy where he completed his undergraduating chemical engineering degree. He first became aware of the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering when he attended a postgraduate open day in 2016 and met the Programme Director, Professor George Jackson.

Victor was particularly attracted by the chance to study both science and engineering during the course and to gain experience working on real-world challenges during the industrial placements. He is passionate about improving the efficiency of manufacturing processes, and to thus deal with sustainability issues in industrial settings. Indeed, going forward, Victor hopes work on increasing sustainability in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

So far, Victor has been impressed by the diversity of Imperial and the quality of support that is provided to students. He has also particularly enjoyed a module on the synthesis of bio-based polymers, as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastics.

Xabier Jimenez Garces grew up in Sangüesa, Spain, with a father as an engineer and a mother who is a doctor, and so it is unsurprising that he developed an interest in science and engineering at an early age.

Xabier has long been intrigued by the complexity and delicate nature of human bodies, and has become more and more fascinated about technological advances in the health field. Realising that molecular engineering underpins many of these advances, the MRes in Molecular Science and Engineering is a perfect fit.

Xabier already has a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mondragon University, and has worked as a technology consultant and a researcher in the health field, but he believes that the transdisciplinary collaborative training he is now receiving at Imperial is absolutely necessary if important real-world challenges are to be tackled effectively. He is especially keen to gain a new understanding of molecular processes on multiple scales, and to apply the theoretical aspects of the course in his research project.