My name is Nisanthei Gunasegaran, I graduated from IMU with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in 2020. I am currently employed as a Research and Development Chemist at Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) under the Nutrition Unit. My primary responsibilities at MPOB include research on nanotechnology, tocotrienols, palm phytonutrients, spray drying technologies, formulation technologies, and quality by design. I received my chemist licentiate from Institute Kimia Malaysia (IKM) in February 2023.
Within a year of starting my career, despite acquiring numerous analytical techniques as well as nutraceutical and pharmaceutical expertise, I was beginning to feel that I needed to learn more from what I was capable of. That is when I decided to pursue my MSc in Analytical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at IMU, because of its flexibility in offering both part-time and full-time options over a duration of 2-6 years, allowing me to remain in my current employment while studying. Furthermore, their robust research platform, which is already well-known to the public, gave me a strong sense of confidence in making my decision, not to mention the Programme Director and lecturers, who are unquestionably helpful in facilitating their students in all aspects.
People frequently question me how I maintain a balance between my studies and work. It can be difficult for me to study while working, as my schedule can become chaotic at times. Ultimately, it depends on our mentality and how we prioritise the assigned duties. It is true that you will have less personal time while studying, but as I previously stated, this is dependent on our mindset and perspective. In my case, I view this as an excellent opportunity to develop my independence and better myself.
There will be times when, I too feel like giving up, but I always remind myself that there are no shortcuts to any destination that is worthwhile. I am extremely appreciative of how meticulously IMU plans a detailed schedule and a systematic workload sheet for each module. These have aided me significantly with my planning.
