Wafa Ali

What are your 3 favourite things about Swansea?

Swansea is a very welcoming place and a peaceful city. I met new friends from different countries around the world which allowed me to learn foreign languages, try dfferent traditional food, and improve my cross-cultural communication skills.

Why did you choose to study your degree at Swansea?

I chose Swansea University because of its quality of education, high ranking, and great reputation in the field of chemical engineering. Also, it presented many new concepts that improved my understanding of global perspectives and changed my view of the world. 

Would you reccommend Swansea Univeristy to someone who is thinking of going to univeristy?

Swansea University makes you grow and learn new things every day.  It will give you the perfect balance between international exposure to different foreign cultures and a homely environment. Even though the course is challenging, tutors will support in preparing  assignments and other coursework through emails as well as in person. Studying at Swansea University was my most rewarding experience.

How did your degree prepare you for your career?

At Swansea University, there was a placement opportunity over the last year which gave me the chance to work with experts from different disciplines from different industrial companies and universities. This built my confidence, improved my hand experience, and gained real-world experience in the industry. This was beneficial for my research work at the university and for my future career.

Where are you working now? What is your current career?

I'm conducting research on the development of robust polymeric membranes for different environmental applications. Also, I'm working on hydrogen production from seawater electrolysis using highly selective earth-abundant catalysts and membrane electrolyzer. I’m mentoring undergraduate students and assisting them in their research portfolios. I help students in implementing experiments related to their research. I advise and provide support to the students during lab work. I help them in writing reports and research articles.

In addition, I’m a member of the researcher development program council at the university. I’m a reviewer for prestigious international journals such as The International Journal on the Science and Technology of Desalting and Water Puri􀋡cation Journal (Desalination) and Chemosphere.

I’m an editorial board member of the theoretical and applied computational intelligence journal. I’m an early career editorial board member of the Journal of Water Process Engineering. Recently, I become a member of the Applied Energy Academy.

What advice would you give to students who want to pursue your career?

Students should enhance their knowledge and research skills. They have to pursue internships in renowned research institutes or in the industry to learn new principles, develop their critical thinking, and keep their skills up to date.