First things first… what are your backgrounds? And what encouraged you to apply for a place on the Crick PhD programme?
S: I completed my undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at Oxford. I then did a summer placement at the Wellcome Trust, before applying to study at the Crick. I was attracted to the project that I applied for, but also the idea of the new building, as I knew it would have high quality facilities, and be located in central London.
L: I completed my bachelors degree in biomedical sciences at Newcastle. I went on to do a masters at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and spent a further two years working as a research assistant at two organisations based in the U.K. I was motivated to apply for the Crick PhD programme, as I had a keen interest in the specific subject that my now-supervisor’s project centred on.
In simple terms, what are your projects about?
S: I study B-cells. We have analysed the B cell receptor, and two of the protein structures that aid muscle contraction. We want to determine which pathways regulate the assembly of the structures in naïve B cells (those that have not had exposure to antigens).
L: My project focuses on the regulation of IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory protein) in T-cells. T-cells are a type of white blood cell that play a central role in fighting infection and providing immunity.
So, when did you guys move to the Crick?
S: I relocated from Mill Hill last November, just after the building was officially opened by the Queen.
L: I also moved in November, though from Guy’s campus at London Bridge, not Mill Hill.
How is the Crick different to the sites that you were based at previously?
S: The building is state-of-the-art and we have better access to equipment here. The central location is also great, as I was somewhere more remote before.
L: There is a greater sense of community here at the Crick. It feels like there is a lot going on, in terms of events and seminars, so there is a real energy, a real buzz.
Can you tell me about some of the development opportunities that are available to students following the Crick PhD programme?
S: We have the opportunity to attend many lectures and seminars, given by researchers from different disciplines; David Attenborough was even here at the beginning of the year! We are also encouraged to organise and host our own events, making use of the auditorium and the many other event spaces.
L: GSK have a small lab based here. They often hold workshops, which focus on translating your research into practical applications. I’ve found these to be very interesting and useful. There are also lots of opportunities for public engagement, which is great, as you are explaining your project to those from a non-science background. I think it’s really important to be able to communicate what we are doing, to those outside of the Crick, in simple and relatable terms.
If you could only choose one thing, what would you say is the best thing about studying at the Crick?
S: I think it’s great that we have the opportunity to present our projects to a very broad audience, i.e. researchers from other fields. The revival of the Crick interest groups has really fuelled this.
L: I think, for me, it would be that we have the opportunity to interact with so many other scientists. Leading scientists from all disciplines visit the Crick, as it’s a central hub. There’s something very exciting about that!
How do you feel that the public perceive the Crick?
L: Public engagement is central to the Crick’s ethos. Local school children are invited to visit our purpose-built lab, where they can complete small projects. We also have a lab at a local secondary school, where we run genetic engineering workshops. And there’s now the Living Centre, which is open to the public, and hosts all kinds of things, from yoga classes to English courses. So, I’d hope that the perception was a positive one!
What makes the Crick so important?
L: We need to make science more accessible. It can be seen as pretentious, and we need to break down those barriers. The Crick is open to the public, and aims to engage with every child or teenager attending a school in the borough of Camden. We hope that initiatives like this will begin to change the public’s perception of what constitutes science, and furthermore show how it is relevant to all of our lives.
June 2017