Kent Zijian Ng

Kent Zijian Ng is from Malaysia and is currently in his second year of his Chemical Engineering MEng, BEng degree. 

Combining his passion for chemistry and physics

Kent decided to study chemical engineering after a materials science project during his International Baccalaureate Diploma programme sparked his interest. Additionally, he “became fascinated by the potential of sustainable energy, particularly the UK’s leadership in Hydrogen energy development, where I envision contributing to the sector.” 

“Chemical Engineering appealed to me due to its interdisciplinary nature, combining my passion for both chemistry and physics. The field's versatility, with intersections in materials, energy, and nuclear engineering, offers a broad platform for me to continuously explore and refine my final career path.”

Using specialist facilities and advanced software

Kent has access to specialist laboratories, computer clusters, libraries and lecture theatres. He said: “As a top-ranked institution for Chemical Engineering in the UK, the university provides well-maintained, professional lab facilities. Equipment such as Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors, Plate-to-Plate Heat Exchangers, and calorimeters are readily available, giving students practical, hands-on experience.”

“Additionally, the availability of professional software in the computer cluster, including Aspen Hysys, Ansys Granta EduPack, and Conceptdraw, enhances our ability to perform computational tasks, reinforcing the theoretical and practical aspects of the coursework.”

As a top-ranked institution for Chemical Engineering in the UK, the university provides well-maintained, professional lab facilities.

Joining the Laidlaw Scholarship Programme

In his first year, Kent had the opportunity to participate in a six week paid research internship, funded by the Laidlaw Foundation. Reflecting on his experience, Kent said: “Under the supervision of Dr. Joshua Owens and the corrosion department in mechanical engineering, I assessed the corrosion-resistant properties of additive manufactured (AM) metals compared to conventional metals. A key part of the project involved developing a machine learning model to optimise AM metal compositions.” 
 
The next stage of the Laidlaw Scholarship Programme is a six-week international research internship. Kent said: “Securing internships as a first-year student is typically challenging, but the foundation offered a unique opportunity to gain professional and technical skills early in my academic journey, positioning me well as I begin my second year.”

Travelling to South Korea

During the summer after his first year, Kent travelled to South Korea to take part in a research programme. He said: “I had the incredible opportunity to be one of five high-achieving students fully funded by the University of Leeds for a four week individual research programme at KAIST, South Korea.”

“Working with the Baek Group, we focused on the organometallic synthesis of salen ligands into hydroquinone, using earth-abundant materials. The potential to reduce the cost of hydroquinone by up to 25%, with applications in organic photovoltaic cells, dye-sensitised solar cells, energy storage, and water treatment, opened my eyes to the real-world impact of scientific research and material conversions, which is at the core of engineering.”

“This experience not only solidified my interest in pursuing a degree and career in chemical engineering, particularly in green materials and energy, but also enhanced my technical lab skills, research capabilities, and interpersonal communication in a collaborative environment.”

I had the incredible opportunity to be one of five high-achieving students fully funded by the University of Leeds for a four week individual research programme at KAIST, South Korea.

Joining student societies: Badminton and the Malaysian and Singaporean Society

Kent joined the badminton team and took part in weekly competitions against other universities. He said: “I had the privilege of serving as the Men’s first captain of the Leeds Gryphons badminton team, leading the team to a top five finish in the region.” 

“Beyond the competitive aspect, I found great enjoyment in the sport as it became a source of stress relief. The friendships I built with my teammates have been invaluable and will continue to shape my university experience and beyond.”
 
Additionally, Kent joined the Malaysian and Singaporean Society (MASSOC). He said “In my first year, I served as the shadow treasurer for MASSOC. This role not only connected me with fellow Malaysians and Singaporeans in a foreign country but also equipped me with essential professional skills.”

“These experiences provided me with invaluable lessons in event coordination and leadership. Moving into my second year, I am honoured to have been elected President of Leeds University Union MASSOC, where I look forward to promoting cultural unity and inclusivity among home and international students alike.”

I am honoured to have been elected President of Leeds University Union MASSOC, where I look forward to promoting cultural unity and inclusivity among home and international students alike.

Volunteering as a Course Representative

Kent served as the Chemical Engineering Course Representative, representing over 100 students and advocating for their needs through the Student Staff Partnership Forums. Reflecting on his experience, he said: “Acting as a bridge between students and faculty, I ensured diverse voices were heard and concerns addressed through various platforms such as email, Microsoft Teams, and social media.”

“Building on this experience, in my second year I took on the role of Faculty Officer for the Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) faculty. In this position, I lead over 50 school and course representatives across eight schools, facilitating monthly forums to gather feedback, advocate for student interests, and drive positive change.”

“I’m excited to work closely with the board and education officers from Leeds University Union (LUU) and look forward to developing further by collaborating with professionals in managerial roles.”

Careers support from the employability team

Our dedicated team of Employability Officers gave Kent support to develop the skills needed for a career in the chemical industry. He said: “Beyond the outstanding professional and technical facilities at the University of Leeds, the employability team within the Engineering and Physical Sciences faculty has been invaluable in supporting my career development. 

“Huge shoutout to Poppy and Megan, who provided guidance through over 10 applications and mock interviews during my first year! In the future, I plan to pursue a career in the energy and materials sector of Chemical Engineering.”

The employability team within the Engineering and Physical Sciences faculty has been invaluable in supporting my career development.

Join us

Find out more about studying Chemical Engineering MEng, BEng at the University of Leeds