My First Month as an Exchange Student in the UK

By Rawirat Pansomsuay

My First Month as an Exchange Student in the UK

🌱 The Science Part

Hello everyone, and thank you for reading my very first blog!

My name is Rawirat Pansomsuay, and I am a second-year PhD student from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Thailand. My supervisor in Thailand is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cherdsak Maneeruttanarungroj, who has supported and guided me throughout my research journey.

I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to join Pandhal Research Group at the University of Sheffield. The group is part of the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, and I am here as an exchange student to work on a research collaboration under the supervision of Prof. Jags Pandhal.

My project focuses on developing Chlorella sp. KLSc59 strain with increased omega-3 accumulation, especially EPA and DHA. This is a continuation of the work I started back in Thailand.

I am passionate about genetic engineering of microorganisms because it is both challenging and exciting. It combines knowledge from multiple disciplines and requires learning how to use various bioinformatics tools. I am not an expert yet, but I love learning and improving step by step.

 Everyone in the lab has been so kind and supportive since my first day. A big thank you to Jags for giving me this amazing opportunity, and to everyone in the team who has made me feel so welcome.

🇬🇧 The UK Life Part

This is my first time living abroad, and it is in the UK. I arrived on September 13, 2025, and now, one month later, I am finally writing my first blog.

To be honest, it has not been easy. The weather is very different from Thailand. I have had to adjust to speaking English every day, and I have never studied in an international program before. I also caught a cold for two weeks right after I arrived.

Even with these challenges, I have fallen in love with the atmosphere here. Everything, from the buildings and the streets to the weather, feels like I have stepped into a Netflix series. Sometimes I still cannot believe I am really here.

🚆 The Little Adventures

During the past few weekends, my partner and I have taken trains to visit different cities around the UK. It has been a completely new and exciting experience to travel, explore, and see so many beautiful places with my own eyes.

I also joined a “Bib Ross Painting and Pizza for Postgraduate Students” event recently at the University of Sheffield. It was something totally new for me, but I enjoyed it so much. I love that there are so many opportunities to experience life outside of the lab as well.

✨ Looking Forward

Becoming an exchange student here is truly one of the best experiences of my life. I am deeply grateful for everyone who made this possible and helped me through the adjustment period during my first month in Sheffield.

In the next seven to eight months, I hope to learn advanced research techniques, gain valuable experiences and unforgettable memories, and grow both as a scientist and as a person.

Thank you so much for reading my story. See you in the next post! 🇹🇭✨