After completing her bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, Nghi Huynh discovered something important about herself. “I realised that I wanted to pursue research and development within the biotechnology industry rather than academia,” the Vietnamese student says.
The journey to this revelation began at the University of New Hampshire, Durham. Huynh first specialised in Medical and Veterinary Sciences, where she built a strong foundation in biomedical sciences, biochemistry, organic chemistry, and microbiology. Eventually, she found her niche: “I was hoping to build further knowledge and a foundation for how biotechnology can be applied to therapy or drug discovery.”
Equipped with the critical thinking skills to pursue research that solves problems, Huynh signed up for theMS in Biotechnology: Industrial and Biomedical Sciences offered by UNH Durham’s sister campus: theUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester.
Of course, there’s a lot to consider when deciding which university to attend. For those seeking guidance on choosing the right graduate programme, UNH Manchester’s got your back. The university hosts a variety of information sessions, webinars, and on-campus events for those interested to learn more about the UNH Graduate School and its programmes.
Huynh herself attended the Biotechnology Programme Session. “I gained a clearer and better understanding of how the programme’s curriculum is structured, and how it aligned with my goals. The session reinforced my decision to apply to the programme at UNH Manchester,” she says.
UNH Manchester holds a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Source: University of New Hampshire at Manchester
For Prasanna Tamilselvan, it was a webinar hosted by UNH Manchester that convinced him to sign up for itsMS in Cybersecurity Engineering programme. And since joining, he’s glad he did.
“Everybody I’ve met is welcoming and friendly, which was really encouraging and needed especially during the first months when you fear the ‘new,’” he says. “Professors encourage doubt and are always detailed about clarifying it. Other faculty members are friendly and always up for a chat … always pointing to the right people to connect with.”
UNH Manchester’s graduate programmes equip you with the in-demand skills to succeed as a leader in your chosen field. Faculty members keep pace with industry developments, making a point to update the syllabus frequently so that assignments reflectrealchallenges. UNH itself ranks among the top 20% of universities nationwide in terms of research funding, giving students access to a wealth of opportunities.
“I’m currently working on my master’s project. With no past work experience in the field, it is challenging but nevertheless interesting,” says Tamilselvan.
Prasanna Tamilselvan at UNH Manchester. Source: University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Gain real-world experience right in a technological hub
UNH Manchester is situated right in the Manchester Millyard, which is growing into a technological hub. Minutes away from campus is the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, a nonprofit that aims to cure diseases and improve the quality of life through specialised regenerative medicine. You have access to startups working at the forefront of biotech, engineering, and more.
On campus, students conduct research projects using state-of-the-art equipment. As a biotechnology student, Huynh spends most of her days at the Biotechnology Innovation Centre, where instrumentation is spread across Biosafety Level 2 laboratory spaces. She has worked with mammalian cell lines, stem cell models, and 3D culture models, and trained in aseptic techniques and sterile environments.
Working as a graduate research assistant in Assistant Professor Dr. Won Hyuk Suh’s lab, Huynh got to research stem cell biology in-depth and learn to use a 3D bioprinter. “The most exciting part is seeing how biotechnology can be broadly applied as a tool to help scientists understand problems across various research fields,” she says.
Today, Huynh is completing a Stem Cell Biology co-op at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Lab in Lexington, which aims to find better therapy for cystic fibrosis patients. As graduation approaches, she plans to take what she’s learnt in stem cell systems and transition into a research and development role. Meanwhile, Tamilselvan seeks to become a security operations centre (SOC) analyst, cyber threat analyst, or Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) analyst.
With the pursuit of master’s degrees at UNH Manchester, Huynh and Tamilselvan are taking bold steps towards high-level careers — and all it takes is finding the right university.
Determined to take your career to the next level, like them? Check outUNH Manchester’s world-class graduate programmes and map your route today.
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