Kin Chao

Kin Chao

Computational Chemistry PhD student (Essex group) | Multi-disciplinary studies | Molecular Sciences Research

Blog posts

This is a blog post collections during my journey. I write random stuffs and mostly about my thoughts.

2025

MUBJC first Invited Career Talk !!!

7 minute read

Published:

A reflection on the first 6 months of the Macau-UK Biomedical Journal Club (MUBJC), and some thoughts on our first invited career talk last week!

I’m back! - A quick update

2 minute read

Published:

I can’t believe the last blog post I wrote was over half a year ago! But good news — I’m start writing regularly again, beginning with two or three new blog posts in one go! JUST WATCH.

2024

Updates!!

less than 1 minute read

Published:

Sorry I have been busy in the last couple of months so didn’t update much. But GREAT NEWS: just got a fully-funded PhD in Jon Essex’s group at the University of Southampton!!! The project is super cool and interesting and also with AstraZeneca as well which is very nice! Jon is also super nice and I only learnt later that he is the head of the Department of Chemistry after my interview …

Reflection of my STFC placement

4 minute read

Published:

I went to the office today after 9-month of working from home - feeling nostalgic when I was walking pass the hallway in Daresbury Lab. Loads of ups and downs this year, but I definitely grow like A LOT during this placement.

We are defined by the things we chose to do, and just as important by the things we chose NOT to do - a short essay about adulting

3 minute read

Published:

In the long term, our daily decisions shape who we become. Adulting (especially living away from family during early 20s) means suddenly having lots of freedom to make our own decisions. From everyday food choices to how we spend our time etc, to lifestyle choices. This is a random short essay about my current experience in adulting.

I might have ADHD…?

3 minute read

Published:

This idea came about a few weeks ago when I was staying at my friend’s place… But the more I think about it, the more symptoms I realised I have and some past events and behaviors starting to make more sense now …

Change is imminent

less than 1 minute read

Published:

With one month away from finishing my current placement (I’m taking a 3-week + holiday in June), two months away from AZ internship, and five months away from starting MPhil, I find myself in a reflective state this week and it’s clear that change is imminent on many levels.

My Chemistry UG in one post

5 minute read

Published:

Reflection of my Chemistry UG at Imperial College London (2020-2023). The first two years were extremely hard and painful. There was a depressed period when I disconnect with any friends and families for months. It’s a period of exploring, learning, sadness, failure, incompetency. It is also a period I search for my values, identities, believes, and growth.

My high school in one post

7 minute read

Published:

This is a reflection of my high school life in one post. I always think it’s quite dangerous to ruminate the past coz you don’t want to get EMO-ed too much about past events. E.g. did I get the most out of it? Is there things I regret doing/ not doing? How did certain events in that period shape the next couple of years etc. But this post contains some of the key memories of my high school anyway.