Research at Imperial College London is enabled by world-class expertise and takes place in departments rated 5 and 5* in the last RAE. Students who have received an MRC Studentship are now participating in a wide variety of research topics throughout the College.

We recently asked our first cohort of MultSci DTP students (pictured above at the Chemical Kitchen training event) about what made them choose Imperial for their studies, about their research intrests and tips for those wishing to apply.  Expand on each of the sections to see what they have to say.

Below, also, are videos from some of our former MRC DTP students and more student profiles.  

MultiSci Student Profiles

Sara Patti

Name: Sara Patti

Nationality: American

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-patti/

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? I worked in early drug discovery for several years at a large pharmaceutical company in their Inflammation and Immunology research unit.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I wanted to do a PhD at a university with a strong immunology department. I was also interested in moving to London.

What will you be researching for your PhD? My project combines immunological and bioinformatic techniques in order to understand the molecular signals that operate during a range of chronic lung diseases to facilitate successful resolution and effective tissue repair and thus prevent harmful fibrosis, disease progression and organ failure.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? It allowed me to gain experience working in data science before starting my PhD.

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? Determine if you are keen on doing an MRes prior to starting your PhD work.

What do you enjoy most about doing research? I enjoy learning new and interesting things about human disease. More importantly, I enjoy working on projects that have direct translational capabilities to address unmet clinical needs.

What would you like to do after your PhD? I would like to go back into early drug discovery in industry or potentially in venture capital for biotechs.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? I love how many things there are to do in London- gigs, restaurants/markets, and museums. I also love how easy it is to travel around Europe from London.

 

Lorenzo Alonso Requena

Name: Lorenzo Alonso Requena

Nationality: Spanish

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-alonso-requena-810336177/ 

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? An MRes in Translational Cancer Medicine at KCL.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? My dream has always been to do research and get a PhD, and the focus of the MultiSci on interdisciplinary science as well as its focus on biomedical research perfectly aligned with my interests. Additionally I wanted to do rotations before my PhD project and this program offered them.

What will you be researching for your PhD? I will be exploring and developing new statistical methods for multi-omic data integration in the context of hormone dependant breast cancer awakening. This type of cancer has a constant rate of recurrence which does not go down with time, and this issue is thought to be caused by cells entering dormancy, avoiding treatment; and then awakening, leading to a relapse. Exploring this phenomenon through multiple layers of gene regulation is key, and in order to extract as most information as possible from them, in the most rigorous way, solid statistical multi-omic integration methods are required. I will be focusing on the analysis of the data joining the expertise of mathematics groups with experience in integration with the data produced by a biology focused lab, developing the algorithms to explore this phenomenon.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? I enjoyed very much my two rotations, one in a biology group and the other one in a mathematics group. Me and the supervisors planned these rotations in advance in the hopes that if everything went well, a PhD project could happen as a collaboration between them. Fortunately everything did, and I was able to join the two fascinating focuses of the groups. Additionally, the rotations were a great opportunity to see if the supervisors, their groups and me were compatible, which is one of the most important things in choosing a PhD project!

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? Make sure you have the passion and drive to pursue a PhD. The first year Master's is not easy and a PhD is hard work, so the thing that is going to keep you going is real passion for science and research. Once you have that, everything else will follow, both in you PhD applications and future PhD work.

What do you enjoy most about doing research? I actually really enjoy the day to day; writing code, learning about interesting topics, having meetings and talking with my colleagues.

What would you like to do after your PhD? I would like to either continue in research and pursue a post-doc, or combine my interests in science and politics and go into science policy.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? London is a huge city full of things to do. After 6 years her, I keep discovering new places to go to and things to do almost on a daily basis. The diversity in the city also makes me feel at home, despite me not being British, it is a city for everyone.

Tom Studd

Name: Tom Studd

Nationality: British

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/toms1997

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? Working in a Covid-19 testing laboratory.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I had wanted to pursue a PhD for a number of years and I liked what MultiSci offered.

What will you be researching for your PhD? The JNK kinase phosphorylates the c-JUN proto-oncoprotein, activating c-JUN and switching on the transcription of genes that control cell proliferation, leading to tumourigenesis. c-JUN expression and activity is augmented in many tumour types and JNK kinase has been a desirable drug target but so far JNK inhibitors have not been translated into clinical use. Thus, there is an urgent need to generate knowledge that will enable the design of novel cancer treatments targeting this important pathway. Our Lab recently demonstrated that the temporal multisite phosphorylation of c-JUN by JNK controls c-JUN activity via cofactor recruitment. The aim of my project is to study the function of these novel phospho-c-JUN interacting proteins in order to address the mechanism by which c-JUN activity is switched on and off by phosphorylation, and how it gets jammed 'on' making cells cancerous, which up-to-now remains elusive.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? I was unsure of exactly which subject area I wanted to commit to for a PhD. The MRes year allowed me to hone my interests and find the best project for me.

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? Make sure to demonstrate your enthusiasm and excitement for the science that you are passionate about.

What do you enjoy most about doing research? The flexibility and variety in the work.

What would you like to do after your PhD? I'm still deciding.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? There is always something fun to do/somewhere interesting to go.

Julia Laskowska

Name: Julia Laskowska 

Nationality: Polish

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-laskowska/

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? I was in the process of completing my first Master's degree. I was also working full-time at the same time.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I realised that doing a PhD was the next 'logical' step in my career, however, I was not certain which areas of biomedical research interest me. I wanted to explore a bit before settling into a topic that I would work on for the next three or so years!

What will you be researching for your PhD? My PhD will be focusing on understanding the effects of microplastics as a part of air pollution on the human lung. The aim of this project is to understand and predict how the increasing concentrations of microplastics in the air will impact our lungs, given that currently there are no effective legislations curbing the production or effective disposal of plastics.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? I used the MRes year as an 'exploratory' year, whereby I pursued two topics that I knew nothing about - the intention was to learn as much as I could and get out of my comfort zone. I broadened my horizons, but most importantly, I grew more confident as a scientist, which ultimately helped me to develop my PhD proposal, as I was able to reach out to different PI's and ultimately, 'craft' a project that was perfect for me.

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? I would say that it is okay for you to not know what you want to do your PhD in. This programme is perfect for people like that!

What do you enjoy most about doing research? Although scary at first, I enjoy diving into the unknown and finding answers to questions that no one has answers to. I particularly enjoy looking at some of my findings and make sense of them.

What would you like to do after your PhD? Currently, I am not entirely sure what I would like to do. However, I know that I would like for it to be a mixture of working in research but also I would really like for there to be a 'human aspect', where I get to interact with others (presentations are my forte - literally ask anyone).

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? London is incredibly green - there are parks everyone. That is what I enjoy the most about it. After spending long days in the lab or in the library, I love to disconnect from science by strolling in the park or walking in the forests surrounding London.

Amelia Lias

Name: Amelia Lias

Nationality: British and Swiss

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-lias-50351b109

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? I was working as a Research Assistant in a malaria vaccine development lab at the University of Oxford.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I applied because Imperial carries out world-leading research in my area of interest (infectious diseases and immunology) and because being able to rotate through two different labs in the first year, before committing to a PhD project, was really important to me.

What will you be researching for your PhD? I will be researching the mechanisms underlying the development of adaptive immunity to Streptococcus pyogenes. This is something that is currently not well understood, but is information that would greatly assist vaccine development efforts.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? Although I knew I wanted to pursue a PhD in infectious diseases and immunology, I wasn’t sure which specific area to focus on. Being able to carry out two research projects in my first year was key in helping me narrow down on my PhD topic.

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? Read up on the research taking place at Imperial to make sure there’s something there that aligns with your interests (and then mention that research in your application!).

What do you enjoy most about doing research? The collaborative nature of the work and the fact that you’re always learning something new.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? London is a great place to study and work because there’s always lots going on, both academically and socially.

 

Shirine Merlo-Nikpay Aslie

Name: Shirine Merlo-Nikpay Aslie

Nationality: French

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/shirine-merlo

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? I completed my BSc and MSc in Bioengineering/Regenerative Medicine at UCL.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I wanted to evolve in a highly interdisciplinary research environment for my PhD, where different perspectives could shape more innovative research. The rotation year was a bonus, as I wanted to try different projects (and labs) before choosing the right PhD!

What will you be researching for your PhD? I will be trying to enhance the regeneration of the spinal cord after injury using bioelectronics.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? The MRes year helped me determine which research lab I wanted to stay in. I ended up staying in my first rotation lab, and my PhD project is based on similar concepts to my MRes project. Thus, I have already determined some knowledge gaps (and which specific aspects I would like to work on!).

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? Have a look at Imperial's research groups and evaluate whether your research interest aligns with at least one or two labs (which I am sure it will!). Also, do not hesitate to contact potential supervisors before the interview!

What do you enjoy most about doing research? Being able to understand new pieces of the puzzle.

What would you like to do after your PhD? A mix of academia and biotech, although I am not sure how this will look like yet.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? Each neighbourhood has its own atmosphere, and you can almost feel in a different country by changing neighbourhood, which I love. There is also plenty of fun activities to do, and so many museums to explore!

 

Laila Evangelista

Name: Laila Evangelista

Nationality: British

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laila-evangelista/

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? Before joining the MultiSci, I was working as a computational research assistant looking at metabolomic signatures of type 2 diabetes onset and progression in a lab based at TwinsUK, King's College London.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? I applied to the MultiSci because I knew I wanted to stay in London for my PhD, Imperial has an excellent reputation, and the programme allows for the opportunity to try out different labs/projects before committing to one.

What will you be researching for your PhD? For my PhD, I will be studying the molecular effects and efficacy of metabolic therapies in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) - the most prevalent and aggressive type of ovarian cancer - using a range of wet lab and computational techniques, such as mass spectrometry imaging.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? By being able to do two 5-month rotations in labs of my choosing, the MRes year of the programme helped me to decide the combination of the research field I wanted to pursue for my PhD, the techniques I wanted to learn and develop, as well as the research groups and supervisors I wanted to work with longer term.

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? I would say be open to and proactive in trying new things and enjoy the different kinds of experiences on offer as it's a very diverse and multidisciplinary programme!

What do you enjoy most about doing research? I like the excitement of potentially being the first person to discover something for the first time and contributing something new to an area of research that I'm interested in. Research life can be tough... but also fun because you're constantly learning and trying new things!

What are your hobbies? Outside of the lab, I like to unwind by taking long park walks with my dog, reading (anything but science!), watching films/tv, playing piano and travelling when possible.

 

 

 

Valentina Giunchiglia

Name: Valentina Giunchiglia

Nationality: Italian

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-giunchiglia-b59747150/

What were you doing before joining MultiSci? I was working as research technician in a computational neuroscience lab.

Why did you choose to apply to MultiSci? Multiple reasons. First, I was interested in completing a PhD at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence and this PhD program highly supports interdisciplinary PhD projects. Then, this program did not require to finalise a project at the start of the PhD, which allowed me to further investigate my research interests before making a decision. In addition, the program gives flexibility regarding what project can be completed during the PhD, with the possibility to also collaborate with industry partners. Finally, it was at Imperial, which is the university where I wanted to study.

What will you be researching for your PhD? I will develop multimodal foundational artificial intelligence models to learn how changes at the single cell level are then translated into different cognitive impairments in patients affected by neurodegenerative conditions.

How did the MRes year of MultiSci help you in developing your PhD project proposal? During the MRes I had the possibility to extend my knowledge in specific AI techniques and data modalities that I then included in my PhD project proposal

What's your top tip for anyone considering applying to MultiSci? If you are not sure about what you want to work on during your PhD at the time of application, it is fine, and this program is probably the right fit for you. Give yourself the opportunity to work on different fields and try different research areas before you make your final decision on what to do the PhD on.

What would you like to do after your PhD? A postdoc.

What are your hobbies? Creative writing, tennis, and reading.

What do you enjoy most about living and studying in London? In London there is always something new to do and there are many opportunities. You just need to look for them :)

 

 

Student video profiles

Student profile - Bethan Cracknell Daniels

 

Student profile - Bethan

Student profile - Bethan Cracknell Daniels

Bethan talks to us about their MRC Studentship, and what made them choose Imperial for their studies

 

Student profile - Georgia

Student profile - Georgia Simmons

Georgia talks to us about their MRC Studentship, & what made them choose Imperial for their studies

Student profile - Rayyan

Student profile - Rayyan Zafar

Rayyan talks to us about their MRC Studentship, and what made them choose Imperial for their studies

Other MRC DTP Student Profiles

Charlie Whittaker

Charlie Whittaker

Title of PhD project
Malaria Transmission Across Diverse Ecologies- A Focus On India

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
Studying for a Master's in Infectious Disease Epidemiology (at Imperial!!)

Why did you choose Imperial?
Imperial has a world-leading reputation in my field (infectious disease epidemiology). The department I work in also has extensive links with various NGOs and public health bodies (from Doctors Without Borders to the WHO) which provides a lot of opportunity for the work I do to be translated into changes in policy, something very important to me.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
As with most scientists, one of the best things has got to be when something works and you start generating results. Exploration of the previously unknown is a really great feeling. That's admittedly not my typical day to day though!

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
The scope it gives you to develop and grow as an individual, outside of your project. The existence of financial support to help pursue opportunities such as training or learning only tangentially related to the PhD topic itself is incredibly helpful!

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
Still trying to work that one out! I'm definitely considering the possibility of staying in academia, although haven't ruled out working for the World Health Organisation or Medecins Sans Frontieres. Fortunately between the MRC Studentship and the fact it's 3.5 years long, I've still got a lot of time to figure that out!

Do you have any tips for future MRC Studentship applicants?
Show that you care! One of the biggest things that can differentiate you from other candidates is evidence that you've thought deeply about the application and the project you're applying for. Talk extensively to prospective supervisors and read the literature surrounding your topic widely and thoroughly!

Emily Heathward

Emily Heathward

 

 

Title of PhD project
Modelling human pancreatic β-cell enhancer function in diabetes

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
NIH Intramural Research Training Award program (Technical IRTA) at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, MD, USA.

Why did you choose Imperial?
I chose Imperial for both the college (its reputation and quality of research) and the MRC DTP program, which gives students an opportunity to work with different research groups at Imperial as part of a research master's before starting their doctoral studies. Specifically, I wanted to gain some experience working with the research groups I was interested in continuing my doctoral studies with before starting the PhD, and the research groups at Imperial were at the top of my list.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I really enjoy the passion and the drive of the people I work with, and how that makes the research environment exciting and driven. The research group I'm working with is quite large and diverse, with researchers specialized in different areas and techniques working together to tackle the questions of islet biology and gene regulation. This brings a broad range of perspectives to the lab, and a diverse range of approaches and outlooks.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
1) The flexibility of the studentship, with the choice of master's program, choice of research group, and attendance of scientific meetings.
2) The support provided by the program to help DTP students make important choices in their academic careers, i.e. the advice from the 'Academic Champion' of the DTP research theme that aids in the selection of master's program and research group for their doctoral studies.

What do you most appreciate about the Lab/Faculty/College?
I appreciate the excellent research environment and the high caliber of speakers that give talks at the different campuses.

Do you have any tips for future MRC DTP Scholarship applicants?
As far as tips go, I'd say to reach out to a variety of different research groups to gain as much experience in the different areas of research you are interested in while you're an undergraduate / postgraduate student / inbetween before starting your PhD, and be confident and passionate about your research.

Hannah Maude

Title of PhD projectHannah Maude
The role of mitochondrial genetics in the development of Type 2 Diabetes

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
I've been at Imperial for my BSc, MSc and PhD, so before that I was studying A-levels at Bishop Ramsey Secondary School

Why did you choose Imperial?
I originally chose Imperial due to its international reputation and haven't looked back since. Studying here has allowed me to explore my interests in big data, bioinformatics and genomics, since there are exceptional resources ranging from the High-Performance Computing Cluster to the BRC Genomics Facility. Imperial College has a number of renowned research groups and I was confident I would find a suitable PhD since collaboration is highly encouraged not only by the MRC, but by the College too. My research group is part of a college-wide Diabetes Network with members from Departments including Engineering, Physics, Medicine and Genomics, and I’m lucky enough to have four supervisors with diverse expertise. (Plus the campus location - I can go for a lunch time walk around the science museum!).

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
It's a hard question, but I would probably say the discussions. As a 3rd year PhD student I've built enough knowledge to start having my own ideas, which is a great feeling. My supervisors actively encourage (or patiently accept) all of my proposed discussions and brain-storming and always have an open door. Doing a PhD means joining a research community, so contributing with a unique hypothesis is an incredibly rewarding feeling.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
I mostly value the flexible support offered by the MRC Studentship, who have made this PhD possible. So long as my interests aligned with the broader MRC research themes, the DTP happily supported my choice of PhD. While other programmes require you to select from a list of available projects, the MRC DTP gives the freedom to select your own supervisor and project, with approval.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I hope to have a post-doc position arranged, so I can jump straight into the next project! Ideally this will continue my current work on the Genetics of Type 2 Diabetes since I've developed a persistent curiosity for the genetic differences between patients with common T2D. The plan is to research this for many years to come. 

What opportunities have you benefitted from outside your PhD?
My PhD has definitely benefited from extra-curricular hobbies, which have helped me maintain a positive, enthusiastic attitude. I sing with the Imperial College A Cappella Society twice a week with a lovely, fun group of people. I also exercise regularly which helps when you're a desk-bound bioinformatician! Aside from maintaining general well-being, I've benefited from the wealth of science events across London which have helped me feel part of a wider scientific community. I've enjoyed visiting the Royal Society on multiple occasions, my favourite being the 2017 Science Book of the Year Award, hosted by Brian Cox. Most recently was the Pint of Science Festival!

Additional information
Both Imperial and London offer countless events and opportunities which I would encourage all students to take advantage of. I recently took part in the 3 Minute Thesis competition run by the Graduate School. Although outside of my comfort zone, gaining experience in Science Communication was so valuable - and I was lucky enough to come 3rd!

Helen Groves

 Helen GrovesTitle of PhD project

How respiratory infections affect the gut microbiome

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
Undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds

Why did you choose Imperial?
Predominantly because I wanted to do my PhD at a university that specialised in, or was world renown for, science. I felt that at a place like Imperial College there would be experts in almost all areas of biology which, once I'd completed my Masters year, would give me the most choice of what I wanted to do for my PhD.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I think the thing I most enjoy about my day to day work is having pretty much full control over how I structure my day. If you feel like getting in late(ish) but working till 9pm then you can, if you prefer to get in at 8am and leave early then that's fine too. If you want a desk day where you catch up on all your reading because you're not feeling very energetic then you can. Alternatively if you need a break from the computer, but don't have any experiments of your own that need doing, then there's always someone else in the lab who you can help and then you have the added benefit of learning a new technique. The office I work in is pretty social, most people have lunch together and there are often little trips to the pub, particularly after long days. I think it's really important to get on with your group and to feel comfortable around them as you're going to be there for at least 3 years.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
The opportunity to "test run" two different groups in two different areas of biology. A PhD is a big commitment and you need to be fully on board with no reservations, so having a Masters year where you can try out the type of lab work you'd be doing (e.g. you might find you really don't like working with animals) and getting to know the people you'd be working with is really useful.

Jarka Naser

Jarka profile thumnail

Title of PhD project
Prediction of advanced coronary plaque formation, progression and rupture risk

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
I did my BSc in Biomedical Science at Westminster, followed by an MRes in Biomedical Research at Imperial

Why did you choose Imperial?
I chose to study at Imperial because of its international reputation for academic excellence and I was really excited by it being a university specialising in STEM. Having researched around various institutions, I came to learn that there were world leading experts in my research area of interest here.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I love being in a thriving research environment with other students in my lab, where we're all working towards a greater goal in our unique projects and motivate each other. I also enjoy being very independent during my research, where I can structure my own timetable.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
I highly value the additional training and networking opportunities that are available to students such as the annual MRC DTP Colloquium.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I hope to apply for graduate entry medicine as I’d like to pursue a career in academic medicine, translating results from the bench to the clinic one day hopefully!

Do you have any tips for future MRC DTP Scholarship applicants?
Take on opportunities available to you to help you progress both academically and extracurricularly.

Mohammed Jawad

Mohammed JawadTitle of PhD project
Towards understanding the impact of armed conflict on cardiovascular risk and quality of care among Palestine refugees in the Gaza Strip

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
I was working as a junior doctor in the UK

Why did you choose Imperial?
I felt that Imperial College would bring the best out of me and push me to develop a strong academic foundation to my future career. The reputation, resources, and expertise are key to help me maximise opportunities. It has not disappointed.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I enjoy interacting with academics of varying career stages, learning from them little tips and tricks to help overcome the many obstacles faced in a typical research endeavour. I enjoy slowly chipping away at my research only to see results emerge from nowhere!

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
I value the supportive nature of the studentship - funding is available for 3 to 4 years, with generous additional funding available for other courses and experiences that can support my ongoing research.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I'm due to go back to life as a public health doctor and complete my specialty training - hopefully I can merge this with an academic position to ensure continuity from my PhD research.

Do you have any tips for future MRC DTP Scholarship applicants?
I would encourage future applicants to apply if they have the passion and drive to see through a 3 or 4 year research project. Try to publish the previous research you did as an undergraduate or in other research placements, to give you a good chance at getting shortlisted for interview.

Robyn Bell

Robyn BellTitle of PhD project
Gene therapy for thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP)

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
I studied Biomedical Sciences at the University of Manchester

Why did you choose Imperial?
Imperial College has a fantastic reputation worldwide. I chose Imperial so that I could be part of an institution at the forefront of cutting-edge research, making use of their impressive facilities and learning from internationally recognised researchers.

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I really enjoy working with people from such a variety of nationalities and backgrounds. This creates such a diverse environment to work in, which I believe has benefitted my research and enhanced my experience greatly. Being based at the Royal Brompton campus in Chelsea, I love working in such an exciting part of central London.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
I value the support and network of contacts gained through the MRC Studentship. I received guidance prior to starting my studentship which was a great help in making my master's course selection. As part of the MRC Studentship, you benefit from a real commitment made by the MRC to keep students informed of opportunities and upcoming events throughout the year to further enhance your development and PhD experience.

What do you most appreciate about the Lab/Faculty/College?
I appreciate the collaborative nature within Imperial College, benefiting in my project from expertise shared from different faculties. I enjoy the plethora of events, talks and competitions to get involved in, both within my department and across the college.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I hope to utilise my experience gained at Imperial to continue my career in research abroad, with any luck carrying out two post-doc positions in different countries!

Do you have any tips for future MRC DTP Scholarship applicants?
I would make the most of the opportunity available to you in the 4.5 year studentship to spend your first year sampling different labs and meeting with potential supervisors before deciding on your PhD project. I benefitted greatly from my first year of the MRC Studentship as I had time to decide exactly what research I was interested in and gained valuable lab experience prior to starting my PhD.

What opportunities have you benefited from outside your PhD?
I have been able to explore an interest in teaching through becoming a Graduate Teaching Assistant. I have held tutorials and supported learning both in the lab and in data analysis sessions, allowing me to work towards a higher education teaching qualification which is very rewarding.

Tom Bond

Tom BondTitle of PhD project
The genetic and life course epidemiology of familial obesity risk

What were you doing before coming to Imperial College London?
Studying medicine at Southampton

Why did you choose Imperial?
Imperial has a reputation for excellent work in my field (public health and epidemiology). However, working in my group has also given me access to great supervision, excellent collaborative opportunities and unique data (both from the Northern Finland Birth Cohorts and several other birth cohorts in the UK and overseas).

What do you enjoy most about your day to day work and the people you work with?
I think there is something uniquely exciting about getting new results. However, the fun of planning a new piece of work from scratch, when you are in the privileged position of having the space and resources needed to be creative, is also difficult to beat.

What do you most value about the MRC DTP Studentship?
I very much appreciate that funding is available for four years, which allowed me to do the MSc Epidemiology before starting my PhD. I have found the broad base of knowledge which the MSc gave me invaluable.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?
I am planning to continue in academia, with post-doc work and hopefully a fellowship, which will give me the freedom to pursue some of the ideas for follow-up work which my PhD has generated.

Do you have any tips for future MRC DTP Scholarship applicants?
I think it was useful to me to have a clear idea of the work I wanted to do for my PhD, and to have researched the options which were available to me in terms of potential supervisors as thoroughly as possible.