IBERS Zoology Graduates embark on research careers

Left Image: Emma Ackerley working as a field assistant in South Africa. Right Image: Rachel Chance presenting her research at the European Association of Fish Pathologists’ International Conference in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

Left Image: Emma Ackerley working as a field assistant in South Africa. Right Image: Rachel Chance presenting her research at the European Association of Fish Pathologists’ International Conference in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

02 February 2016

2014 Zoology graduates Rachel Chance and Emma Ackerley are building on the foundation of their IBERS degrees and embarking on research careers.

Rachel is currently undertaking an NC3R's funded Ph.D Studentship at the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with Marine Scotland Science, working with world-renowned scientists at the top of their field. Rachel explains "my time studying Zoology at IBERS provided me with a foundation of biological knowledge and skills that allowed me to progress straight to Ph.D research after my graduation. Highlights of my undergraduate career at Aberystwyth include the stunning location, sense of community between staff and students, and the wide variety of modules offered”. 

Emma is about to begin a master’s degree, studying wildlife conservation with an emphasis on human-baboon interactions in Tanzania for her research project, having already worked as a field assistant on the Dwarf Mongoose Project in South Africa. “Studying zoology at Aberystwyth was one of the best things I could have ever done in one of the best places for it”, explain Emma. “Living in such a naturally beautiful environment always inspired me to complete my projects and get outdoors interacting with nature”.