海角直播

海角直播 graduates with shared bond from primary school to PhD

Two 海角直播 graduates, who first met at primary school and went on to become a couple, have celebrated academic achievement by graduating on the same day.

Dr Nathan Coles and Dr Lucy Butler, both 27 and from Ingleby Barwick, received their PhDs in Biochemistry, joining other graduates in the University鈥檚 first academic awards ceremonies held in the University鈥檚 new state-of-the-art Digital Life building. Lucy and Nathan first met as children at Whinstone Primary, before going on to attend All Saints Academy and Bede Sixth Form, both then joining 海角直播 to initially complete undergraduate degrees - Lucy to study biological sciences, while Nathan studied biomedical sciences.

Both graduated from their degrees with First Class honours before progressing to PhD study at the University鈥檚 National Horizons Centre.

Nathan and Lucy became a couple during the second year of their PhD in 2021, before getting engaged this year. Lucy, who works as a lecturer in bioinformatics in the University鈥檚 School of Health & Life Sciences, said: 鈥淎fter graduating from our first degrees, we learned about the opening of the National Horizons Centre, an incredible, state-of-the-art facility for biological research.

鈥淚t was the perfect opportunity to stay close to home while progressing in our academic careers. I joined as a PhD student, and Nathan completed his Master of Research before also starting a PhD at the NHC.

鈥淭he centre's cutting-edge resources and supportive environment made it an ideal place for our research. My career journey has been proudly rooted at 海角直播.鈥�

Nathan added: 鈥満＝侵辈� has truly shaped who we are, both personally and professionally. From being students to becoming researchers and now staff, it鈥檚 been an amazing journey.鈥�

鈥淭he main reason we chose 海角直播 is that we're very family-oriented and wanted to stay close to home to support our loved ones. That said, the University鈥檚 growing campus, and new courses, made the decision even easier.鈥�

Lucy added: 鈥淲e鈥檝e made great friends, found our passions, and been part of a university that genuinely cares. We鈥檙e proud to be part of the 海角直播 community, and we鈥檙e excited to see where it takes us next.鈥�

A total of 11 graduation ceremonies are being held throughout the week having started on Monday, all of which are being hosted in the University鈥檚 recently completed Digital Life building.

Graduands and their guests are among the first to see inside the University鈥檚 first dedicated events space which forms part of the new building, designed to transform digital and technology education in the Tees Valley and beyond.

Proceedings from each ceremony are being shown on the big screen in the Campus Heart, as well as in the Students鈥� Union in the centre of the campus. The May ceremonies take place ahead of the traditional summer graduations, which will continue in July.

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