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Science graduate invited to do Masters in US
An American professor was so impressed by University of the Sunshine Coast science student Nikki Bird when she studied in the United States in 2004 that he has invited her back to do her Masters.
Nikki, 22, who completed her Science degree at USC in 2004, travelled to the United States late last month after accepting a two-year, full-fee scholarship at the University of Wyoming (UWYO).
She said the invitation to do a Masters in Soil Science was too good to refuse and she resigned from her job as an administrative assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology.
The scholarship will include tuition, fees, health insurance and a stipend of US$1100 a month until mid-2009.
Nikki said Professor Stephen Williams of UWYO’s Department of Renewable Resources contacted her late last year to offer her the scholarship after she studied there in 2004 as part of USC’s Global Opportunities (GO) study exchange program.
“I was shocked and flattered that Professor Williams remembered me after two years,” she said. “I had planned to do a Masters degree in Soil Science back in 2005, but it didn't eventuate then.
“By that stage, I thought I’d leave post-graduate study until later in life because my job was comfortable. But when you get an opportunity like this, it was too good to pass up, especially if I enjoy it as much as I’m expecting to.
“I will be studying how certain bacteria interact with plants to form nitrogen-fixing nodules and how to improve the predictability of the active nodule occurrence with the aim of using plants to increase nitrogen in deficient and disturbed soils.”
Nikki, who hails from Caboolture and graduated from Morayfield State High School in 2001, said she was much better prepared for studying in Wyoming now than she was in 2004.
“I got a bit of an American culture shock, I suppose, because it was almost like they were speaking a different language,” she said.
“Everyone was really nice and friendly and helpful, though, and it was really nice being in the snow … I’d never seen snow before.”
Nikki received a $2000 travel grant when she took part in the GO program, a USC initiative which allows students to study overseas while earning credits toward their degrees.
These grants are now available to every student involved in the program which links USC with more than 70 universities and institutions around the world.
Nikki’s advice to students who are considering studying overseas through the GO program is: “Do it”.
“Seriously, it’s just the best experience and it’s worth it,” she said. “It’s hard when you’re trying to save money but it’s definitely worth every cent and, who knows what will come out of it.”