"I felt a mix of gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility."

Rafaela Marinho-Fonseca is a first-year PhD student in Chemistry from Brazil. She is one of two new Wolfson students to receive fully funded three-year studentships through a partnership between Wolfson College, the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, and the Cambridge Trust.

"I am thrilled that donations to the Wolfson College Fund for Women in STEM have enabled us to create funding partnerships to support Rafaela and two other brilliant new PhD students this year," noted Senior Tutor Dr Susan Larsen." The Fund for Women in STEM is central to our strategic plan to attract and support talented postgraduates in fields where they are currently under-represented. We are hugely grateful to the donors who sustain this Fund and to our University partners who recognise the importance of supporting Women in STEM."

Rafaela's work in battery research has important implications for the future of energy provision and ensuring global access to energy resources.

Can you briefly summarise your route to Wolfson? What did you do before starting your PhD here?

The route to Wolfson was not an easy one! I am a chemical engineer by formation, having completed both my master's and undergraduate degrees in Brazil. I was involved in scientific research early-on in my degree working in multiple fields, so moving on to a PhD seemed like a natural progression. But I never would have imagined that I would end up doing a PhD in Chemistry at Cambridge.

Cambridge always seemed like an unreachable goal. But I mustered the courage to give it a few tries, as I did not get funding on my first attempts, and now here we are! I think this is one of the messages I would like to pass along: if it matters to you, do not give up. Keep trying. Tomorrow may be your lucky day.

Can you explain your project in simple terms? Why is your research topic important?

My PhD project involves the development of new additives for battery electrolytes to prevent degradation and extend battery life. As the challenges imposed by a changing climate and resource instability continue to grow, new technologies and materials are key to diversifying our energy systems and guaranteeing global access to energy.

I believe next-generation batteries have a huge potential to change the way we experience energy in the future.

You were awarded a full studentship made possible through donations to the Wolfson fund for Women in STEM. How did you feel when you found out that you had received this funding?

It is difficult to express what I felt when I got the news, but I believe it was a mix of gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility. I come from a place where not many people, women especially, progress in their studies, let alone in STEM-related topics.

I hope my story may motivate more women from all backgrounds to pursue careers in STEM. I feel that there are still not many of us out there, but initiatives such as the Wolfson Fund for Women in STEM may provide the much-needed incentive and support to allow women to pursue and strive for careers in science.

How have you found settling into Wolfson life so far?

Settling into Wolfson was incredibly easy. It is truly a welcoming, inclusive, and incredibly supportive College where student wellbeing is taken very seriously. I hope to get involved in the Science Society and non-academic related activities such as yoga practice and maybe gardening. We were given an amazing tour of the gardens in our welcoming week, and I feel that this could be a great way to reset and take my mind out of the science for a little bit.

What does your day-to-day life look like as a PhD Chemist? How do you structure your time?

For those who work in research, no day is the same, and that is actually one of the things I enjoy the most about it.

Each day presents its own challenges - some days run smoothly, whereas others do not go so well. I spend most of my time in the lab or reading papers and studying, but I am lucky to be part of a group that recognizes the importance of taking some time out, having coffee and chatting with each other. I also find it essential to take some time for yourself, engage in daily physical activity and look after your mental health.

Do you have any tips for prospective students looking to start a PhD?

My best tip for anyone who is hoping to apply is to start your preparation early, take some time to search for a suitable supervisor and get in contact with them. This would not only lead to a stronger and more focused application but would also contribute to developing your future relationship.

What surprised me the most about Cambridge was how welcoming and inclusive it is. I worried that it could be too intimidating, but instead, I felt very supported, which made it easy to make friends and connect with people from all walks of life.

What are your goals for the future? Do you have any idea where your PhD might take you?

I hope to pursue a career in science, hopefully in the industry, aiming to deliver new technologies in energy storage. I do not know for sure where this PhD might take me, but I believe it will certainly provide invaluable skills and knowledge that will contribute to different aspects of my life. I have a feeling that exciting things are ahead.

This article is part of the 2023/4 Postgraduate Student Profile Series: