Broadening horizons

These promising students joined research labs across the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Clinical Medicine. In addition to substantive lab-based research experience, students engaged in many activities, developing a wide range of skills - from data analysis to science communication.

An important aspect is the opportunity for building new connections, among themselves as a cohort of motivated, upcoming scientists, as well as with their new lab colleagues and supervisors. With a view to developing careers, mentorship through current Cambridge PhD students and research staff will hopefully add to a larger professional network, to draw on when it comes to preparing applications for postgraduate courses, and when exploring the diverse career opportunities opened up by a science degree.

On the final day of the internship, students presented their scientific work at the Student Symposium, a programme full of fantastic talks and much discussion.

Mimi Tambi, one of the students on the programme, said she had an "incredible summer" working on malaria parasites in a research laboratory.

“I almost didn’t apply to the EPLS programme because in all honesty I thought that Cambridge was out of my reach. Now, having just completed the eight-week programme, I cannot believe that I almost allowed my imposter syndrome to get the better of me! I have worked in a CL3 lab and have been able to carry out experiments that would not have been available to me at university as an undergraduate. The programme has given me a much clearer idea of what the life of a PhD student really entails.”

"I really enjoyed my time on the EPLS programme, and think it was very beneficial to me and my future. I got to develop my lab skills quite extensively, actually, and get reasonably comfortable with new practical techniques that I never even heard of beforehand," said Hubert Ziebicki.

Jemima Bittor said the programme had been hugely valuable. "I absolutely loved this programme as not only was I given the opportunity to explore Cambridge as a university and city, but also learn a whole lot from networking with people in the field I was interested in, and experiencing the life of a PhD student.

"One thing I will definitely miss is seeing the cows every morning while walking to work. Even though at first I was scared of them and had to walk alongside somebody to get past them. It somehow became a routine!"

Bruce Veloso worked as a research intern in the University’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care. He said: “I feel like I have grown immensely as a person, both professionally and personally, and have achieved new heights. Being here has broadened my horizons and helped me to be much more hopeful for the future of the communities I come from, and my ability to leave the world a little bit better than when I first found it.”

Alia Boda, who was based at the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, said joining the 2022 programme meant moving away from home for the first time. “I created connections and bonds with not just the interns and organisers but with people from the lab and around Cambridge. I learned a lot about myself, along with really putting my theoretical knowledge into practice. Besides the skills the EPLS programme helped me develop, it made me much more independent, patient and confident."

Matthias Landgraf, one of the co-ordinators of Experience Postgrad Life Sciences, said: "Being part of this initiative has been such a privilege. One of the many highlights was seeing the students grow in confidence and scientific expertise over the course of the programme. When together in a room, discussing, arguing and laughing you could feel the potential - there was a real buzz."

Experience Postgrad Life Sciences is a paid 8-week research internships programme for UK and Republic of Ireland residents who are studying at a UK or Republic of Ireland university for their undergraduate bachelor degree and are in their penultimate year of study, with priority given to those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.

The 2022 Programme was supported by:
Corpus Christi College
The David and Claudia Harding Foundation
The MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge
School of the Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
The Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

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