MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Student profile - Gareth
I came to NIMR six years after graduating from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelors degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. I worked in various places as a companion animal vet before commencing training to specialise in veterinary oncology. As part of this training, I completed a masters degree in clinical oncology at the University of Birmingham. This introduced me to the world of scientific research and I subsequently sought a PhD position.
John Doorbar, programme leader in the Division of Virology at NIMR was keen to initiate a new project and it happened to suit my background and experience. The focus of my project is on the ability of papilloma viruses to establish latent infections, fitting into the general interest of the lab in lifecycle studies. I am grateful to NIMR for providing a one-year studentship following which I received a three year Research Training Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust.
NIMR is a great place to study for a PhD. Having no formal undergraduate teaching responsibilities, much focus is placed on training PhD students. The broad range of active research areas at NIMR allows students an insight into other fields of study outside their own lab. This is actively encouraged and few days go by without a seminar or lecture from internal or external speakers. The location of NIMR is great, with urban sprawl on one side and open fields on the other lending themselves to NIMR’s numerous sporting activities. The flexible approach to work and study at NIMR also allows me to continue to fit in some locum work at my local veterinary practice.
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