Aliya Seelarbokus

Studying for a Master's degree at University College London

My decision to move to Newcastle all the way from Mauritius to pursue my undergraduate degree in Food and Human Nutrition has been one of the best decisions I have made. Studying at Newcastle University was a remarkable learning experience. I have been surrounded by the most supportive lecturers and leading researchers who have built my core foundation and fuelled my passion for nutrition, health, and disease. During year 1 and 2, I have been exposed to an array of modules which have stimulated my intellectual curiosity for nutrition and its role throughout the lifecycle in distinct population groups under varied environmental conditions.

One of the highlights of my degree has been my placement year at the Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre which has allowed me to build on the knowledge I accrued over my first two years and increased my eagerness to follow an academic career pathway. Owing to my genuine interest for the academia, my final year was the most enjoyable where I have had the opportunity to undertake my first research project along with my supervisors who expertly guided me on the associations between the Mediterranean diet, cardiovascular health, and memory performance in older adults. I have since then been fascinated by nutrition in healthy ageing and excited to delve deeper in this area of research.