Sreenath Chandran, India

Institution Attended: NUI Galway

"I am Sreenath Chandran from India, doing my PhD in Bioinformatics at the National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES), NUI Galway. This is my first experience of being out of my country and I have to say that the people both in Galway and at NUIG have never made me feel - ’away from home!. I have found the staff that I have dealt with since I arrived at NUI Galway to be very warm and friendly.

The support services are superb - whether its the paperwork you have to complete, settling in to Galway, registering with the Garda or whatever the question, the staff are on hand to help. The university also arranges small tours and meetings, which act as an arena for people from different places and backgrounds to meet, get to know each other and share their views. This helps build human relationships and friendships among the fellow students.

The University has an excellent campus with the necessary infrastructure in place From the bank to the canteen, cafeteria and bar, everything is there. The University has a state of the art library and internet facility for students to make use of. NUIG is well placed in Galway, where everything, including accommodation is just a few minutes stroll from the campus. With the river Corrib flowing alongside, there are spectacular views and lovely places to relax.

NCBES has one of the most sophisticated Biotechnology and Biomedical labs that I have ever seen. Together with ultra modern facilities & equipment and the warm people working there , I think I am in the best place where I can learn new things and nourish the scientist in me. I am looking forward to the wonderful time that I am going to spend at NUI Galway! "