“Chemistry was always my favourite subject” — how Alex turned his passion into a career
"Chemistry was always my favourite subject at A-level – the one I enjoyed most and felt naturally drawn to. I wanted to deepen my knowledge and explore it further at university."
Alex Tower chose to study BSc (Hons) Chemistry at Sheffield Hallam University – a decision shaped by both the facilities and the friendly, welcoming support he received during the application process.
"I was really impressed by the wide range of equipment and facilities students had access to, and the modules aligned perfectly with my interests. The staff I contacted during my application were so friendly and helpful, which made me feel confident I’d be supported here."
Learning by doing
From the start, Alex was immersed in practical chemistry.
"I remember seeing specialist equipment at the open day and thinking how cool they looked – and now I’ve actually used them! Doing things like reflux reactions, liquid-liquid extractions, rotary evaporators and distillations in my lab sessions has really helped me link theory to practice and deepen my understanding.
I’ve worked with spectroscopy, spectrometry and chromatography. Using these techniques really helped me understand their purpose and gain graduate skills for after my degree. It showed me how analytical chemistry has real-world applications – like learning about someone just from a trace of their fingerprint."
Taking learning further
Alex also built on his real-world experience through mini projects.
"My second-year project really stood out. I planned a three-step synthetic pathway for a chemotherapy drug. I carried this out in the lab over six weeks and analysed the sample using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Low-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. It brought together everything I’d learned – not just lab work, but also time management, problem solving, teamwork and communication."
Outside of his academic work, Alex embraced opportunities to inspire others through teaching.
"I became a ChemBoost tutor and spent a year supporting A-level students – going through worksheets, helping with practical, and answering questions about uni life and UCAS. I also helped design the resources and supported the lab Olympics at their launch event.
"Then I successfully applied for the Get Into Teaching summer internship. I assisted in real chemistry lessons at a placement school and put everything I’d learned into action in the classroom."
The careers team also played a vital role in helping Alex feel ready for life after university.
"They helped me improve my CV and gave me excellent interview advice. You can book one-to-one sessions, practise interviews, and ask anything you need."
Ready for what’s next
The combination of hands-on learning and career support has given Alex the confidence and skills to move forward after graduation. For Alex, that next step is already in focus.
"I want to be a secondary school chemistry teacher, so this degree is essential before I start my PGCE. This course has helped me gain the skills I’ll need – academically and through the opportunities I've had to teach, lead and support others."