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Dr Michael Schoof (G16)
"Whenever I think back on my time at Churchill, I am always awed at how transformative it was and yet how comparatively short my time there was."
Dr Michael Schoof (G16)
"I can’t say that I wouldn’t be a scientist without Cambridge, but I am certain that I would be a far less complete and connected scientist if I hadn’t been able to build my skills and relationships during my MPhil there."
"For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a scientist."
In 2016, Michael received funding from the College's Sir Robert (Bob) Edwards Studentship to come to Churchill from the US. After his undergraduate studies at Stanford, Michael joined Julie Ahringer’s lab in Cambridge, where he developed his computational skills and gained his "first taste of what properly independent full-time research is like". After Churchill, Michael went on to complete his PhD at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and he is now a Postdoc at Stanford studying brain aging.
"In the US it is actually fairly uncommon to pursue a Master's degree before a PhD. Many go straight from undergrad and I was prepared to do just that. However I was lucky enough to receive funding for an MPhil at Churchill College thanks to the Sir Robert Edwards Studentship. I think my time at Cambridge was exceptionally important for my now almost ten-year career in science. It gave me a broader perspective about how research in another country is done. It showed me the work needed to generate an independent research project. It gave me experience presenting and defending my science. In many ways it was a mini-PhD and it let me iron out the kinks in how I conduct science before progressing to the PhD."
"In addition to the science, my time at Churchill nurtured friendships that I still maintain to this day. My weekly Monday bike rides are with a friend I met at Churchill (and we both somehow ended up in California); for a year during the pandemic I lived with a friend from Churchill; and during my PhD I coauthored my first paper with a fellow Churchill grad. Whenever I think back on my time at Churchill, I am always awed at how transformative it was and yet how comparatively short my time there was."
Dr Nur Arafeh (G13)
Nur received support from the College to begin her postgraduate studies in 2013.
Dr Nur Arafeh (G13)
"By supporting postgraduate students, donors’ impact extends beyond a student's academic journey as they nurture future global leaders and change-makers that are much needed in our world."
You can help the College to support future postgraduate students like Nur by making a donation to the Postgraduate Studentship Endowment.
"Since completing my Master's in Development Studies at Churchill College in 2014, my career has been dedicated to understanding and addressing complex socio-economic challenges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. I worked in Palestine for three years, as a researcher and policy analyst, while advising policymakers and presenting at global platforms like the EU Parliament, the US Congress and UN agencies. I then pursued my doctoral studies at the University of Oxford and was one of the first two Palestinian Rhodes scholars.
I am currently based in the US, working as a Fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, where I am co-leading the political economy program. My research has so far focused on the politics of austerity, food insecurity, economic inequality, and the reconstruction process in Gaza."
"The Studentship I received from Churchill College was instrumental in enabling this journey. It provided essential financial support that allowed me to fully immerse myself in my studies and develop the knowledge that has been crucial to my subsequent work."
Dr Karolina Leszczyńska (Malinowska, G06)
Karolina received support from the College in 2007 to continue onto a PhD after her MPhil.
Dr Karolina Leszczyńska (G06)
“After completing my Master's in Quaternary Science at Churchill College and the Department of Geography, I embarked on doctoral study also in Quaternary Sciences. At that time, this was not a popular discipline for education, study and research. The funding I received from Churchill College allowed me to pursue my plans on studying within the research group at the University of Cambridge which had a world-renowned reputation in this niche discipline. After completing my education and doctoral research, I was able to hit the ground running back in my home country, securing a research position at one of the most renowned Polish universities, Adam Mickiewicz University. There my foreign experience was greatly valued: I was able to spread my wings and import some of the good research practices in Quaternary Sciences that I had learnt in Cambridge."
"My experience of studying at and being awarded funds from Churchill College has made me appreciate its supportive power. My story is evidence that the financial and institutional support of educational establishments like Churchill College may boost careers in even the most niche research discipline, which may then become continued, expanded and popularised."
"Currently I have a permanent position at the Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, where I continue my research and educate. I am one of the co-authors of their Master's programme in Geohazards and Climate Change and am proud to teach according to the experience I gained at Churchill College and the Department of Geography.”
Donations to the Postgraduate Studentship Endowment Fund will help the College to support future postgraduate students like Karolina.
Shannon Gilbert (U&G15)
Shannon received the Simon Henry MPhil Studentship in 2019 to stay at Churchill College for postgraduate studies after completing her undergraduate degree in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
Shannon Gilbert (U&G15)
“Being fully funded for the year allowed me to take up my place on the MPhil programme, which I would have been unable to self-fund.”
Shannon grew up in a small village in rural South Wales. She moved schools frequently when she was younger, as well as being home educated for a number of years, before completing her A levels at a comprehensive HE College in Llanelli.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I probably wouldn't be doing a PhD right now without having received this Studentship.”
"It comes as quite a shock to realise five years have passed since I received funding for my MPhil at Churchill through the Simon Henry Studentship!
Although 2019-20 was an unusual year in which to undertake a postgraduate degree, I greatly valued the opportunity to further explore my research interests. The essays I wrote in that year - on humour and violence in Yu Hua’s work, critical responses to Can Xue, and strange writing in 5th century supernatural tales - have all informed my current PhD project on textual authority in modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that I probably wouldn't be doing a PhD right now without having received this Studentship. Holding a Master's degree is usually a prerequisite for PhD study, but Masters-specific funding is often scarce, especially in the humanities. Being fully funded for the year allowed me to take up my place on the MPhil programme, which I would have been unable to self-fund, and also meant that any unexpected bumps on the road (such as the need for dentistry or to replace electronics) did not become highly stressful obstacles that would impede my work. This was all the more true given the air of general uncertainty that surrounded everyone’s studies during the pandemic. I remain very grateful to the College for allowing me to spend the final few weeks of dissertation writing on-site and for the efforts of the University Librarians in helping me access Chinese-language materials despite complications."
Shannon's 'workspace' when at Churchill, under the big pear tree at 76 Storey's Way. "I gorged on pears out there during the heat wave!"
"After a few years in the workplace, I’m pleased to be back at Cambridge (albeit at another College) and among friends old and new in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Getting involved in access and outreach activities has allowed me to share the defining impact higher education and language learning have had on my life, and it’s a strange and exciting prospect to think that I may get the chance to do some teaching in the same faculty that taught me as an undergraduate!
Attending welcome events held by the Cambridge Trust, which provided part of the funding I received for both the MPhil and PhD, helped me understand the value of postgraduate funding not only in terms of the opportunities and peace of mind it provided to me as an individual, but also how it enriches University institutions as a whole. Seeing interactions between students from around the world and across many fields of research made me realise how contingent these connections are on the funding that brought us all to the University in the first place. Although postgraduate research can feel like a solitary pursuit, none of us is an island. I can’t imagine how different my educational journey would have been without being inspired and challenged by classmates within and outside my faculty, some of whom also would not have been there without funding. In short, the benefits of postgraduate funding on my education extended well beyond the impact of the funds I personally received."