What Sorosh says about the Master's in Pharmaceutical Technology

Sorosh from Iran

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your educational background?

"My name is Sorosh Ziarati, I am 24 years old and I come from Iran. I studied for my Bachelor's in the field of applied Chemistry at IAU Tehran Medical Branch. I also studied analytical chemistry for one year at Shahid Beheshti University."

Why did you choose Lund University and why did this particular programme appeal to you?

"I always wanted to explore Sweden. My goal from the beginning of my education was to have a career in the pharmaceutical industry. During my research, I found out that Lund University was introducing a new Master’s programme that was going to focus on all the aspects of the pharmaceutical industry – from discovery to production. That’s when I knew that I found my dream major."

What do you think of the teaching style and the way of studying here? What are the lecturers and professors like?

"I would say the teaching style at LTH (The Faculty of Engineering) is very industry-focused which I find very interesting. The programme provides students with the skills needed to implement their knowledge in the industry. In many courses, you get to listen to guest lecturers who are experts in their field and do study visits. My experience so far has been amazing, all the lectures provided me with basic and advanced knowledge in the field of the pharmaceutical industry. I would definitely say that all my professors and supervisors here at LTH gave me the best support and a very precise vision of the pharmaceutical industry."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far?

"Definitely, besides the regular labs, I have done two project courses so far. These project courses provided me with a useful experience when it comes to research, lab work and teamwork. I believe the most interesting experience I got was during my project which involved developing antibodies against the Covid-19 virus."

Have you had any opportunities for networking within the programme? Do you work with companies?

"During my studies, I was able to meet a lot of people from different companies and exchange ideas with them. I also managed to get a summer internship here at a small company in Malmö."

What it is like to be an international student at Lund University and how international is your programme?

"Sweden is known for its equality and I can say that it is also present in the education system. Based on my experience, there is no difference between a Swedish student and an international student. We are currently 8 international students from different parts of the world. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about different cultures and backgrounds."

What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in your country or other countries you studied in?

"I would say one of the biggest differences studying here at LTH compared to my previous education is the teamwork. Most of the assignments given to students here require teamwork and time management which is very interesting and useful. I think this method is ideal to prepare students for their future professional life."

How do you like living in Sweden? Did you feel welcome here? What surprised you the most about Sweden?

"Living here in Sweden has been amazing. I would say Lund is the best city to study and live in Sweden as it has a lot to offer students – the student life here is unique. The environment here is so fantastic and I am proud to call it home. I felt very welcome from the start and everyone here was so great that I didn't feel left out at all. The thing that surprised me the most here was calling my professors by their first names which was very new for me."

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"It's hard to predict right now, however, my time at LTH has given me a lot of ideas about what I want to do in the future. My goal is to start my career in the clinical trial area."