Nicole Dilernia
It's great to meet other people who are passionate about the same things as you
What degree you are currently studying?
Bachelor of Marine Biology
What is your major?
Environmental Biology
What did you do before you started your course?
After graduating high school in 2012, I was accepted into The University of Sydney to study a Bachelor of Science, but I decided instead to complete an Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing course at TAFE, after which I continued to work for various Vet Hospitals as a Nurse
What motivated you to study this degree/major?
I wanted to further my studies in science, and in particular biology which I had enjoyed studying in high school, and I thought the Marine Biology course looked interesting and exciting
What do you enjoy most about your degree?
The best part of the degree is the practical elements; there's plenty of classes in the UTS Superlab, and basically every biology subject has a field trip or an overnight stay. It's great to meet other people who are passionate about the same things as you.
Why did you choose to study at UTS?
My sister and other friends had previously studied at UTS and all loved the atmosphere and opportunities, and I wanted to choose a young, open University close to home
What is it like to study at UTS Science?
All the lectures and demonstrators are extremely passionate about what they do, and want to make you passionate about what they're teaching you, so there's plenty of opportunities around you to get hands-on practical experience, as well as work with different technologies and computer software programs. UTS Science has also provided pathways for me to join overseas internships, including a turtle conservation program in Papua New Guinea.
What advice you would give to students studying this degree?
Talk to your professors and demonstrators! Often the lab technicians in particular are PHD or Honours students and have studied a course similar to yours; hearing about their experiences and what they decided to do with their degree is inspiring
What would you like to do once you complete your degree?
I haven't 100% decided yet, but I know that I want to work somewhere in marine conservation, most likely with turtles or corals, and to be able to continue to scuba dive
Tell us something interesting about yourself
Although scuba diving wasn't a requirement of my course, as soon as I enrolled and was accepted to study Marine Biology, I completed an Open Water Dive Course, and am now a qualified advanced diver - it's something that I know I want to do forever!
