Student Perspective
By: Helene Engler, PhD Candidate | University of Edinburgh, Scotland
I was awarded the opportunity to come to Trent University in Peterborough (Canada) through the QES scholarship during the final year of my PhD at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). In Edinburgh I am supervised by Prof. Margaret Graham, Dr. James Watt, Dr Nicholle Bell and Graham Moore. My research investigates excessive concentrations of the naturally occurring trace metal, manganese, in Scottish drinking water reservoirs. Through a combination of long-term data analysis, field sampling, and laboratory experiments; we aim to deepen existing knowledge of manganese behaviour in soil, freshwater and sediment environments. The project is focussed on understanding seasonal release events in reservoirs and assessing the potential impacts of climate change.
During my studies, I had the chance to attend the IIES conference in Vietnam (2022) and Chile (2023). There, I met Prof. Andrew Vreugdenhil and members of his research group at Trent University. I was fascinated by their use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and other surface characterization techniques, which offer an innovative approach to exploring environmental samples, specifically metal oxidation states. Other Trent facilities, such as environmental chambers, were also very interesting to me, as I had been hoping to use them for my research for some time. This is one more reason why I found working with Prof. Vreugdenhil’s group an excellent opportunity. Prof. Vreugdenhil kindly drafted a project proposal for QES funding for me to apply to.
The project itself is an excellent addition to my doctoral research, however this was not the only reason for applying. As I approach the end of my PhD, I have also been thinking about what comes next. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could thrive in a new environment beyond my familiar structures. I had completed my undergraduate degree and am currently pursuing my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, where I have been part of Prof. Graham’s research group for the past four years. I feel deeply integrated into the University’s research community and have built a strong professional and social network there. However, I want to continue in academia after my PhD and gaining experience in a new setting and broadening my technical skills and connections felt like an important step.
I found the QES program to be a great opportunity to experience how research and teaching take place at another institution or country and to learn from a variety of approaches. For me, working within Prof. Vreugdenhil’s large and active research group at Trent University has been especially rewarding. There is a great sense of community and support in the busy lab; someone is always around to help whether it is for sampling support, data analysis, or technical training.
Image: Attending the Head of Trent rowing event at Trent University in Peterborough, Canada.
Beyond the academic benefits, I was excited to experience living somewhere new. After ten years in Scotland, my only time abroad had been a short semester at the start of my undergraduate degree, which feels like a lifetime ago. I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and the QES program has been the perfect platform for this. I felt well supported all throughout the application and the following administrative processes, and of course, the financial assistance made this possible.
I have also been incredibly fortunate to have an amazing friend at Trent whom I met at previous IIES conferences and stayed in touch with. Her support and friendship have made feeling at home in Peterborough much easier, and reconnecting with her has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. I was also very lucky with my accommodation in Peterborough, as my lovely roommate provides me with a window to life outside of the university bubble.
Nonetheless, there have naturally been moments I felt lonely and am missing my partner and friends back in Edinburgh. Even with cultural similarities between the UK and Canada, adjusting to a new country takes time and effort. Everyday interactions, expectations, and social dynamics differ in subtle but meaningful ways.
Image: Helene appreciating Indigenous Pictographs at Mazinaw Rock in Bon Echo Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.
Despite this the last two months have flown by, and I am sad to be leaving soon. The QES scholarship has offered me a chance to expand personal and professional circles and experience life abroad; supported financially, administratively, and personally. This experience has deepened my understanding of what it means to adapt, be open for new experiences and people, and to belong somewhere new.
To learn more about the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship, which made Helene’s student exchange possible, visit the QES Program page on our website or register for an information session about our QES Program before December 5th, 2025:
