I started out studying Microbiology in India and later moved to the UK to complete my Master’s in Clinical Immunology at the University of Manchester. Since then, I’ve worked in both a CRO and a biotech, building 3 years of experience in the life sciences industry. I often get questions on LinkedIn from students in India about how I found my course, landed my first job, and managed life abroad. While everyone’s story is different, I’m here to share mine honestly — the strategies that worked, the mistakes I made, and the lessons I picked up from the inspiring people I studied and worked with. This space on Topmate is my way of dedicating time to those conversations, beyond the quick back-and-forth of LinkedIn messages. Whether you want to know about studying abroad, job hunting in the UK, working in CROs/biotech, or simply what life as an international student is like — I’m happy to chat.