ONE of the most exceptional young scientists in the region has decided to share his knowledge with the next generation as a teacher.

Gary White, 22, graduated top of his year with a first class degree in physiological sciences from the University of Sunderland this summer.

After work experience with A-Level students, he decided teaching was the right career for him and he will return to Sunderland in October to study for his postgraduate teaching certificate.

Gary, from Sunderland, has already secured a place teaching at Newcastle College in their health sciences department.

The 22-year-old said: “I came to Sunderland because of the facilities.

“I loved my time studying. The best thing about Sunderland is the lecturers. You can speak to them any time you want, and it’s very informal, it’s almost like talking to a friend.”

Mr White originally planned to train to become a physician’s associate for the NHS, but work experience at a GP’s surgery convinced him that it wasn’t the career for him.

“Soon after that I worked with A-Level students who were visiting the University, and that refuelled my original dream of becoming a teacher.”

While he was studying, he approached the University’s development office to help him live independently and free up more of his time for study and research. Mr White was granted a Futures Fund Excellence Scholarship, to work on a research project about bacterial resistance which will be published to a journal and earned him the Undergraduate Physiology Prize from the Physiological Society.

The University of Sunderland Postgraduate Open Day at CitySpace, Chester Road, Sunderland, is on Wednesday from 5.30pm.

Lecturers will be on hand to discuss courses, you can take a tour of the campus, find out more about postgraduate funding and have a look round University accommodation.