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Ana's story

“Without the Sir Robert (Bob) Edwards Studentship, I would not have been able to pursue a PhD degree in Cambridge. High student fees and the cost of living in the UK are challenging for most postgraduate students. However, weaker currencies make the situation especially prohibitive for those of us from low- and middle-income countries. Without financial support, pursuing a PhD outside of Brazil would have been impossible for me, forcing me to leave academia altogether.”

Ana Elisa Ribeiro Orsi (G23)

“I was surprised to find that, just a few months after moving from another continent, Churchill already felt like home. The strong sense of community is probably what led me to feel this way. From formal dinners to the communal kitchens, the College offers a large array of opportunities to connect with others. The MCR-organised events, such as the Conference of Everything and ‘Pints of Churchill’ have been fantastic opportunities to get to know the postgraduate community and broaden my horizons.”

"I was born in Brazil and always loved going to school. When I couldn’t decide between studying Biology, Chemistry or Maths at university, I opted for an interdisciplinary major focused on preparing students for an academic career. I went on to pursue a research-based Master's degree in Biology. However, the reality was very challenging: the resources were very limited, imported reagents took almost a year to arrive and the constant technical issues meant there was little time to discuss science. I felt very discouraged and had decided that academia was not for me.

It all changed when I received a Studentship to carry out a 6-month research internship in the US. Even though I was working on a similar project, the environment was completely different. I remember describing it to my colleagues in Brazil as a “science playground”: any reagent or piece of equipment you could possibly need was accessible and the budget was sufficient to carry out the experiments to test our hypothesis. It is funny to think about it now, because after a year working in Cambridge, it’s so easy to take it all for granted. I didn’t mind the long working hours and would wake up excited thinking about the experiments we would perform each day. This made me realise that I did in fact want to stay in academia, leading me to apply for PhD positions.

At the time, I was working with stem cell-based embryo models, structures that resemble early embryos that can be generated in large scale. The models would allow us to study human preimplantation development without the need for precious human embryos. However, I was constantly running into the same issue: we know so little about actual human embryos that it was hard to tell how good our models were! This was particularly true about the hypoblast, an extra-embryonic lineage that gives rise to the yolk sac and, among other functions, provides nutrition to the embryo during the first trimester. I decided that my ideal PhD would involve characterising the hypoblast during early development. When I came across a funded project to do exactly that, I couldn’t believe it. I am so thankful to my supervisors, Kathy Niakan and Thorsten Boroviak, who helped me with the application process and have been extremely supportive."
“It’s hard to put into words how thankful I am. I feel extremely fortunate to be a recipient of the Studentship, it has been a life changing experience."

"After completing my PhD, I plan to further my development as a researcher by pursuing post-doctoral training. Ideally, I would love to establish my own laboratory in a Brazilian university at some point. Life in the UK is great, but I feel that I would make a greater difference back home. I want Brazilian science to advance, and the only way to help achieve this is by working for it. I have been extremely fortunate to have amazing mentors during my time in academia. It would mean the world to me if I could also be a positive influence in students' lives in the future."
VISIT THE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTSHIP ENDOWMENT PAGE TO ADD YOUR SUPPORT

Mineli's story

Mineli Cooray (G24)

“Support for Studentships enables talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to access advanced education and research opportunities, regardless of their financial circumstances. Postgraduate studies often come with significant costs, and without such support, many students would be unable to pursue their academic and professional goals. These Studentships foster innovation, promote equity in education, and ensure that financial barriers do not hinder the development of future leaders and experts in their fields.”

VISIT THE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTSHIP ENDOWMENT PAGE TO ADD YOUR SUPPORT

Mineli is an MPhil Population Health Sciences student specialising in the Health Data Science stream. “I chose to pursue this MPhil to develop my understanding of the healthcare disparities that impact marginalised communities. Through the program, I have gained foundational knowledge in public health and epidemiology, which provide insights into these disparities. Building on this, I am keen to explore these issues quantitatively by developing the skills required to model specific diseases within the context of diverse demographics."

Before coming to Churchill, Mineli studied for an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Warwick and completed a placement year in industry at Pfizer focusing on antimicrobial resistance and how antimicrobial stewardship strategies can be implemented in different clinical environments. In her final year, she was one of two students selected by the University of Warwick to present and discuss her work with key policymakers, civil servants and MPs at Posters in Parliament. This is the annual sister event of the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR) and brings together the best undergraduate research from across the country. Mineli presented "The Evolution of a Beta-Lactam Resistance: A Holistic Narrative". Also in 2024, the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy published her paper “The role of policy and key stakeholder decision-making in the propagation, and deceleration, of resistance evolution” in the journal JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, the second journal article featuring her work. An accomplished student with a passion for research; very much the kind of graduate the College is keen to attract to its postgraduate community.

“Churchill awarded me a Studentship that [with matching from Cambridge Trusts] covers 90% of my MPhil tuition fees. The Studentship has been very valuable, as I would not have been able to complete this MPhil without it. It has allowed me to defer my place at medical school to pursue a deeper academic journey, focusing on public health modelling and its potential within addressing healthcare disparities. Additionally, the Studentship has given me the opportunity to experience the unique academic environment at Cambridge, as well as immerse myself in competitive sports - I am on the Blues tennis team and have had a great experience representing Cambridge so far.”

She has found Churchill to be “incredibly welcoming and inclusive, fostering a diverse community with a strong emphasis on excellence, particularly in STEM and on the sports field”. As well as rowing in CCBC, Mineli is on the committee for the MCR. “It has been a privilege to be part of such a vibrant and supportive community.”

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the alumni who have generously contributed to the Graduate Studentship Endowment. Your support has made it possible for students such as myself to pursue opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to attain. This funding has not only allowed me to develop my understanding of public health but also to be part of the unique Churchill community. I hope to one day also help others achieve their academic goals, just as I have been supported.”

Mineli has a place at medical school waiting for her after Churchill but is also considering a PhD in Health Data Science and Biostatistics at Cambridge and beyond.

Luca's story

Luca Schwarz (U&G18)

"In September 2024 I attended the European Summer School on Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine on the island of Spetses in Greece, with the support of a Postgraduate Academic Travel Grant. The course programme was busy and packed with lectures from many leaders in the field. This was a great opportunity to hear about research in other areas of Stem Cell Biology than my own, which was useful both to inspire new ideas for my own research as well as learn about other areas I may want to dive into in my future career. Most faculty was in attendance the entire week, meaning there was plenty of time to approach them to discuss questions I had and get their input on my work. Additionally, discussion groups with the faculty were also part of the programme, as well as sessions on research ethics and the relationship between science and society. I really enjoyed these more societal discussions, as they are so important and especially relevant to my work with human embryos. I also had the chance to present my own work to peers and faculty, leading to some stimulating discussions and providing an important “real-world” test of my work ahead of our planned paper submission by the end of the year. Lastly, I connected with many fellow Stem Cell enthusiasts from around the world and hope these newly built friendships last for a long time."
“This experience has been fantastic for my development as a scientist, made possible by the amazing support of the Churchill community.”

You can help the College to support future postgraduate students like Luca by making a donation to the Postgraduate Academic Travel Grants Fund.

VISIT THE FUND PAGE TO ADD YOUR SUPPORT

Lily's story

Lily received support from a Postgraduate Academic Travel Grant to present at the 2024 University of North Carolina (UNC) Water and Health Conference in October.
“Thank you so much for supporting my travel costs - I could not have presented at the conference without it.”

Lily Rubino (G20)

"I presented my paper in a session focused on issues of water quality in high income countries. My paper entitled 'I wouldn’t drink it if Jesus told me’: PFAS contamination, distrust and changing consumption behaviors was based on a presentation I gave at the Churchill MCR's Conference on Everything in March 2024. It explored two of the primary findings in chapter two of my dissertation. Namely, six years after the municipal water in my fieldsite was switched to an uncontaminated source, levels of tap water distrust remained highest amongst residents of colour and, persistent distrust is linked with a continued reliance on the commercial market to meet drinking water needs. My presentation topic was a departure from the other presenters who focused on quantitative methodologies to detect, map, and analyse incidences of water contamination in various settings across the United States. By exploring the multidimensionality and racialization of the harms of toxic PFAS exposure I was able to bring a different, more qualitative lens to water quality issues in the United States. The presentation was well-received and I answered a number of questions from the 30-40 audience members present."

"After my presentation I was able to engage with more audience members including a Geographer at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) who knew my current and previous supervisors and urged me to publish my findings. One Professor from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health remarked that my presentation had nobly attempted to give all the engineers in the room a conscience!"

You can help the College to enable future postgraduate students to present their work at conferences by making a donation to support  Postgraduate Academic Travel Grants.