What attracted you to the MRes Cancer Biology (Cancer Informatics) course?
I had worked previously in Alzheimer's research and enjoyed my time, but it seemed that cancer research was always one step ahead in terms of technological development and advancing fundamental biology research. In addition, as an American I had always wanted to establish myself in the European research world.
What specific aspects of the teaching or course format did you enjoy the most?
My goal in my career is to be a researcher, so it didn't make sense for me to spend another full year in classes. The MRes in Cancer Informatics afforded me the opportunity to take part in top-tier research at Imperial and find the lab that fit me best.
How do you think the course will impact your future career?
The MRes in Cancer Informatics has paved the way for a great number of opportunities in research. Immediately after, I was able to join the Department of Pathology at Harvard Medical School as a Research Technologist. But not long after, I decided to return to the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial to complete my PhD. Naturally, I was able to find the perfect PhD for me because of the excellent experience I had during my Master's.
Why did you choose Imperial College London?
For me, it was the perfect intersection of academic environment and location. I love living in London. Compared to other parts of the world where you might need to travel a bit to enjoy your interests in music, history, or whatever-London has it all a quick bus ride away. Pair that with a superb, international, and welcoming research environment, it was the perfect choice.
What did you most appreciate about your time at Imperial?
The greatest advantage that this program/Imperial provides is a massive network of colleagues and friends that are conducting cutting edge research on a variety of topics, spanning from wet-lab biology, technology development, and bioinformatics development. If there is any area of expertise I have a question about or am looking for a collaboration in, I often have the opportunity to call up a friend or connection working in a top lab on the subject. In my opinion this was the real power of getting an Imperial degree.
What are you doing now? And how has the course helped with your career?
I am currently pursuing a PhD with my advisor from the MRes, and have actually begun teaching lectures in the same course. It is a privilege to be giving back to the course where I got my start. The program not only prepared me for a future in research, but helped me figure out what I wanted to spend my life pursuing, and connected me to the best mentors I could ask for. I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering a career in cancer research.
Find out more and apply for our MRes Cancer Biology (Cancer Informatics).