Rachel Alkalay, Law PhD (2021)

30 November 2022

Year of graduation: 2021
Name of programme: Law PhD
Country: Israel

What influenced your decision to choose Queen Mary?

I was looking to do my PhD in CCLS because I got very good recommendations from a colleague of mine in Israel about its Intellectual Property expertise and good reputation in this field. 

How did you find the teaching and learning?

I found both the courses and my work with my PhD supervisors of a very high academic level.  

What was key about your programme/ were there any highlights? 

The conferences I attended, the opportunity to meet with key players from the industry I wrote about to interview them, the networking with other PhD students in CCLS seminars and especially in the IP library. 

What are you working as now? 

I am working for the startup company Novel Concepts Medical. And we are delighted to announce another major breakthrough in its research of COVID-19 we made in February 2022. 

Its novel plant-based treatment has resulted in successfully inhibiting the COVID-19 Omicron variant and blocking its connection to human cells. 

What piece of insight or advice would you offer for future students?

For future students I would recommend being very focused in their work and choosing a topic which they are really interested in because this enthusiasm is what kept me writing all along. Be curious and keep your mind open to learning all the time. 

What was your best experience of studying at QMUL?

The opportunity to learn from so many great teachers and the opportunity to get involved in teaching and other research projects myself. It is an academic community which I am very proud to belong to. 

Would you be willing to share your Testimonial? If so, you could help a prospective student to make an informed choice to study at Queen Mary.