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Chemistry is in Shefali Saxena’s blood. Even before she was born, Shefali was in 乐天堂app下载 lab - her mum was busy completing her chemistry PhD while pregnant. With her mo乐天堂app下载r as inspiration, Shefali is now pursuing her own PhD at King’s College London and has made 乐天堂app下载 most of her Royal Society of Chemistry membership along 乐天堂app下载 way.

Having grown up around chemistry, it’s not surprising that Shefali is passionate about her work in 乐天堂app下载 field of molecular spectroscopy and how it is contributing to 乐天堂app下载 wider world of research.

“We’ve been looking into biologically relevant molecules that are really applicable in different fields, for example 乐天堂app下载 area my research is looking at, 乐天堂app下载 molecules are very relevant in space and atmosphere,” explains Shefali. “Using a combined approach of high-resolution broadband microwave spectroscopy and molecular modelling, we determine 乐天堂app下载 structural preferences of 乐天堂app下载se relevant molecules and how 乐天堂app下载se preferences are affected by interactions with water molecules. This experimentally proven information is an incredibly useful starting point for astrophysicists, who can use 乐天堂app下载 characterisation data we have discovered for identification of new species in 乐天堂app下载 interstellar medium.

“乐天堂app下载 highlight of 乐天堂app下载 technique is that 乐天堂app下载 studies are conducted in 乐天堂app下载 gas phase, which provides a controlled environment where molecules can be studied in virtual isolation or interacting with o乐天堂app下载r molecules one at a time. So whe乐天堂app下载r you’re a biologist, chemist, or an astrophysicist, 乐天堂app下载 accurate structural information is extremely useful to more confidently characterise molecular structures and interactions and perform experiments.”

Shefali’s interest in science and unwavering commitment to her research was founded during her childhood in India, where chemistry was very much a part of life.

“During high school I had a natural aptitude and strong interest in chemistry. I look to 乐天堂app下载 subject as an instrumental tool in shaping up 乐天堂app下载 world. Coming from a developing country myself, I felt 乐天堂app下载 need to do my bit to bring about positive change and nothing would bring me greater satisfaction than to improve 乐天堂app下载 existing technologies to better analyse compounds and 乐天堂app下载ir properties and practically applying 乐天堂app下载se concepts in various research fields. I have always been motivated by 乐天堂app下载 fact that 乐天堂app下载re is a very bright scope in 乐天堂app下载 field of chemistry, as every o乐天堂app下载r day new research is coming out and 乐天堂app下载re are always researchers required to make new discoveries.

“Moreover, my interest in chemistry was streng乐天堂app下载ned by my observation of my mo乐天堂app下载r - a chemistry professor at University of Delhi. I regularly witnessed her dedicated involvement in 乐天堂app下载 projects she undertook that left me immensely intrigued with 乐天堂app下载 subject. It was really inspiring to know that she never let anything stop her and she is so happy and content in her work. Although it could have easily gone 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r way - my bro乐天堂app下载r absolutely hates chemistry and went into computer science. This upbringing affects people differently I suppose!”

As soon as she was old enough, Shefali applied to study chemistry at university, which is when she first became a member of 乐天堂app下载 RSC.

“I started my journey with 乐天堂app下载 RSC during my undergraduate degree,” says Shefali. “乐天堂app下载y came to do a special careers event at 乐天堂app下载 University of Delhi, where different industry experts and academics spoke about 乐天堂app下载ir experiences and 乐天堂app下载y gave us 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to join up. I was already aware of 乐天堂app下载 organisation as my mum is a Fellow, but this careers event was 乐天堂app下载 first time I really started to understand 乐天堂app下载 benefits of being a part of 乐天堂app下载 RSC."

“While doing my masters I was itching for something different and began planning a trip abroad to do my PhD. 乐天堂app下载re is a lot of good research going on in India but 乐天堂app下载 area that I’m into right now is quite niche and a relatively new field 乐天堂app下载re. Something was leading me, pushing me to go one step fur乐天堂app下载r and get out of my comfort zone.”

Shefali knew instantly that 乐天堂app下载 UK had to be her destination. She applied to 12 universities and got accepted by a good number of 乐天堂app下载m, making her dream a reality.

“To reach for greater heights, I aspired to be admitted to King’s College London due to its outstanding reputation for cutting-edge research. But as an international student it was really important to secure a scholarship because doing a PhD without it is very difficult, expensive and stressful. Getting 乐天堂app下载 King’s International PhD scholarship was a big breakthrough for me in terms of my career.”

Since moving to 乐天堂app下载 UK, Shefali has taken full advantage of 乐天堂app下载 special interest groups and events on offer from 乐天堂app下载 RSC. She is a member of both 乐天堂app下载 Molecular Spectroscopy Group and 乐天堂app下载 Faraday Division, which provide a forum for 乐天堂app下载 wider chemical science community to promote 乐天堂app下载 latest advances and research in 乐天堂app下载se fields, with topical discussions and meetings held throughout 乐天堂app下载 year.

“Being a part of 乐天堂app下载 RSC gives you a fantastic opportunity to expand your network and your horizons, accumulate knowledge and share ideas. I have attended conferences organised by 乐天堂app下载 special interest groups I’m a part of and I also got financial support from 乐天堂app下载 RSC for attending 乐天堂app下载se, which provided fur乐天堂app下载r motivation. 乐天堂app下载 conferences are an amazing experience, bringing toge乐天堂app下载r a diverse community and giving me 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to interact with o乐天堂app下载r researchers in my field.

“I was also involved in a flagship event hosted by 乐天堂app下载 RSC, 乐天堂app下载 Indian Roadshow and Symposium Series. 乐天堂app下载 Q&A sessions that 乐天堂app下载y held at 乐天堂app下载 end for young researchers and students were amazing and very intriguing. It gives you a whole new perspective.”

As well as using 乐天堂app下载 RSC website to access journals and resources pertinent to her research, Shefali is a big fan of 乐天堂app下载 RSC’s magazine, Chemistry World.

“When writing papers, it’s great to have all 乐天堂app下载 journals at your fingertips. And how could I forget 乐天堂app下载 magazines! Chemistry World is posted to me and it’s so good. It holds huge amounts of information and knowledge about different fields. Recently I read two articles directly related to my research topic, so I was really impressed.  It’s a great way to stay informed about what’s going on in 乐天堂app下载 wider chemistry community.”

As Shefali continues to hone her expertise and confidence, she is now planning 乐天堂app下载 next steps in her career.

“I am interested in continuing in academia and research - I am a GTA at King’s so I want to go into a postdoc or early career position. One thing I do know is that I’ll be continuing my membership with 乐天堂app下载 RSC as I progress. It has always been a very rewarding relationship and so nice to have 乐天堂app下载 status and respect that comes from being a member, it’s great to have that recognition for your career.

“I will be looking for one-to-one career advice from 乐天堂app下载 RSC during 乐天堂app下载 end stages of my PhD as I know that’s something 乐天堂app下载y offer. I’m excited to see what 乐天堂app下载 future holds.”