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!

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.

Title of PhD project
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!

 Title 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.

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.

Title 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.

Title 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.

Title 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.