Megan
Dilley - Salter

Megan Dilley-Salter from Derby, is a our fourth-year MSci Forensic Science student at NTU. Her passion for science and the broad range of disciplines covered by forensics inspired her to pursue forensics at a university level. Recently, we had a chance to hear about her placement journey at NTU that was filled with empowering moments, new skills, and lasting memories. Her story is a testament to the benefits of embracing all the opportunities at university as this can support your personal and professional development.

Megan's passion for science and the broad range of disciplines covered by forensics has inspired her to pursue our course at NTU:

Megan: The inspiration to study forensics comes from my passion for science. I always struggled to narrow it down to one subject as I enjoyed the challenges brought up in all areas. Forensics is an applied science that that covers a broad range of disciplines and understanding all of these is still beneficial even if you only work in one area. This appealed to me because it feels like you use more of your degree than in other courses. Not to mention I also get to watch crime documentaries for homework!

University life isn't always a breeze, and Megan's biggest challenge was figuring out how to balance work and fun:

Megan: The toughest thing about university was balancing work and life. It's crucial not to get so caught up in work that you get burnt out. I was pretty disorganised, so I found this really hard in my first year. Despite that, there were loads of things that I was excited about, and one that sticks out was working with the POLSA team to conduct a thorough search of a mock scene in our crime scene house. I really enjoyed the opportunity to put what I'd learned into practice whilst also getting an expert guidance at the same time.

Megan appreciates the extensive support available at NTU, from lecturers who listen and address concerns:

Megan: NTU offers a lot of support, but you've got to know where to look and who to ask. My lecturers are always a good place to start if I have any worries. They really listen and take what I say seriously. Even if they can't fix the problem themselves, they'll usually take the time to pass it on to someone who can help.

Megan's time at NTU has been marked by memorable moments, including her involvement in practical yet unusual tasks:

Megan: My own journey in the course had its ups and downs, but it's been super rewarding. I've always had a bit of a tough time academically because I'm dyslexic, but my friends and lecturers have been amazing and supportive. The parts of the course that left a lasting impression on me involve doing something practical and a little bit odd! Like watching a room being burnt down or getting my brain scanned in an MRI – all for learning, of course! The people I've met and the things I've learned along the way have really stayed with me.

On the course, Megan contributed to the identification of a World War 1 soldier through her dissertation research on Craniofacial Superimposition photography:

Megan: For my dissertation I dived into Craniofacial Superimposition photography. This is all about piecing together the identity of unknown people from their remains and then matching it with known photos of possible victims. I worked on a case there I superimposed the remains of a World War 1 soldier onto a photograph of them which helped in formally identifying them and giving them a proper burial.

Megan joined NTU Forensic Society and became a Student Mentor. Those experiences helped her discovered her leadership potential and is now considering managerial roles in her future career:

Megan: I had a great experience working both as a Student Mentor and also as the President of the Forensics Society - now the Chemistry and Forensics Society. Both roles put me in new positions that I hadn’t been in before and helped push me out of my comfort zone. Running the Forensics Society led to me realising that I felt far more comfortable in a leadership role than I would have expected, which in turn made me consider the possibility of managerial style roles at some point down the line.

We asked for some tips she could offer to fellow students who would like to get involved in extra roles at NTU:

Megan: I can’t recommend it enough! It's a great way to boost your skills and earn respect from your friends and lecturers.

Start by looking for opportunities – most courses need course reps or student mentors, and NTU is always on the lookout for ambassadors for events. These roles might seem scary at first, but they're not as bad as they seem. Once you get into it, and get more comfortable in the role, that’s when you can really start to make an impact on yourself and on other people. I put all my developments to the test when I was asked to help manage and host a Forensics Conference with the East Midlands Forensic Network. It was one of the scariest things I've done, but it was totally worth it. Even if it does still make me a little nervous just thinking about it!

During her time at NTU, Megan took on a placement to revamp a first-year biology lab, an opportunity that allowed her to work independently and make a tangible difference in the learning experience for her peers:

Megan: In the summer of 2023, I did a 6-week placement with NTU to revamp one a first-year biology lab to monitor the action of the enzyme glucose oxidase. I found I was particularly motivated to work on this project because I struggled with this lab in first year. It was hard to follow the script and understand the instructions of what we were trying to do, so I rewrote the whole script with color-coding to make each step clear. I have since heard from lecturers that the new script has been a huge hit, and students are now getting better grades on average than before.

I first heard about the placement from an email and almost immediately began researching the topics and getting my application ready for the roles. When I found out that I had been accepted for an interview, I spent a decent amount of time practicing interview skills with my partner and testing my knowledge on the topics to make sure I would feel confident during the interview and comfortable in the placement if I got it.

Megan shares why placement experience at NTU was a transformative chapter in her academic and personal development:

Megan: I really enjoyed the opportunity to work independently and being trusted to work competently without the need for supervisor. It gave me a massive confidence boost knowing I could handle things without needing constant help or checks on my work. I think this helped me develop a new way of tackling tasks and made me less anxious about taking on new projects or deadlines.

The placement was not without its challenges:

Megan: Not long after I settled into the placement, I had to prepare a control stock solution I would use over the 6 weeks to collect sample data for students who couldn't come to the lab. Unfortunately, due to a problem with the fridge I was using, my stock solution completely froze overnight, which meant it was completely useless until it thawed! Even though this messed up my schedule, I was able to get everything done that I'd planned before the 6 weeks were up. This was partly because I was really enjoying the placement, so it ended up being just a small setback. I was able to maintain my positivity and not let myself get too worked up over something that was out of my control.

While the placement was not directly related to Megan's future career path, it provided her with a wealth of transferable skills:

Megan: Although the future career I am aiming towards is completely dissimilar to the placement I took part in, there were still a number of transferable skills I learnt on this placement that would put me in good stead for any job going forwards. Things like staying organised and thinking critically were part of the placement and will definitely come in handy later on. Plus, the placement gives me a great example to talk about in job interviews when I need to show off those skills!

Megan encourages all students to consider placement as a way to differentiate themselves and build industry connections:

Megan: I will always encourage doing a placement to anyone who asks. It presents such an incredible opportunity to work on yourself and give you something unique that will help set you apart from other students and colleagues. Furthermore, placements like mine and full year ones help you develop relationships with the industry professionals and gives you the chance to leave an impact on the people who, once you graduate, might be working alongside you or even interviewing you. Placements can come in many different shapes and sizes so I think it would be doing yourself a disservice to not at least look around to see if there is something that would suit you.

If you are looking to apply for placement, Megan encourages you to step out of your comfort zone as you might then discover a newfound interest:

Megan: Even if you're not super excited about doing a placement, it's still a good idea to apply just to get the experience of applying for roles. And if you go for the interview, even better! You might find that you start to like the idea of the placement after you learn more about what it involves.

We asked Megan how NTU shaped her career goals:

Megan: When I first stepped into NTU, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my forensic science degree. Fast forward nearly 4 years, I still have no idea exactly what I’d like to do! The beauty of my course is that it's opened up a world of possibilities, giving me a taste of everything forensics has to offer. Choosing just one path is tough, but I've learned that every forensic role benefits from "forensic awareness" – understanding how each role contributes to the bigger picture. This helps bring specific disciplines together and ultimately making the forensic team work seamlessly together.

Outside of studies, Megan enjoys the diversity, vibrancy, and hidden gems of Nottingham. She recommends various locations and activities:

Megan: I suggests exploring the Forest Recreation Ground, which is perfect for leisurely walks and hosts the lively Goose Fair. For a more tranquil experience, visit a nearby Arboretum, ideal for peaceful walks and relaxing picnics. The Hungry Pumpkin is my favourite café, a must-visit for its cosy atmosphere and delicious offerings. For those seeking a unique night out, the Pit and Pendulum beckons with the gothic theme and lively music scene. Lastly, I recommend checking out the Market Square, which often hosts themed markets showcasing local businesses and offering a variety of food stalls.

You can follow Megan's journey beyond her studies on LinkedIn:

LinkedIn: Megan Dilley-Salter