Structural biologist and biophysicist in a PROTAC collaboration project between Professor Alessio Ciulli and Boehringer Ingelheim

As part of my BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership I carried out a 3-month PIPS (Professional Internship for PhD students) at Pwani University, facilitated by ssDNAfrica (Science Students’ Development Network in Africa). During the internship I worked with another PhD student to research, develop and deliver seminars on leadership and entrepreneurship to University students upon which I enhanced both my presentation making and communication skills. The interactive leadership seminar series was an international collaboration with Eva Jordans, an independent management consultant and leadership expert and by facilitating these seminars I progressed my own leadership skills. The seminars were specifically designed for Kenyan students with a strong focus on leadership in Africa, this enabled me to evolve my cultural awareness. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the last month of the internship was carried out remotely which involved converting the seminars into online learning tools where I was able to adapt and express my creativity.

In the summer of 2015, I carried out an 8-week vacation scholarship, funded by The Wellcome Trust. My project was 'Creating probes for Rhamnogalacturonan II (RG II)' and I worked closely with Dr Artur Rogowski during the project. I gained invaluable laboratory experience and learned how to use equipment such as the HPLC and ITC. I became more confident in my practical abilities and improved my computer software skills.

I worked as a lab assistant alongside my studies in the second year of my undergraduate degree, academic year 2014/15. The job involved assisting the technician to ensure that the laboratory was stocked with glassware, media, standard laboratory reagents and disposable plastic ware. The job gave me an insight into the workings of a research lab and improved my time management and organisation.