Karolina Wasilewska (2023-24 cohort), (Oct. 1, 2024)I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and upon completing it, I feel well-prepared to pursue a career as a research scientist. The program strikes a good balance between taught and research components, allowing for a deeper understanding of Developmental Biology, while also providing practical experience. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to choose research projects that interested me most, after attending presentations and having one-on-one discussions with some of the principal investigators. I found the research project highly enjoyable, and I was able to directly apply the content from the taught modules, such as statistics and RNA-seq analysis, to my work. The small cohort size fostered a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Sofia Beltrame (2023-24 cohort), (Sep. 1, 2024)The MPhil in Biological Sciences (Developmental Biology) has been a truly enriching experience. I highly recommend this program to undergraduate students who are uncertain about committing to a PhD but have been considering it. The blend of theoretical discussions on developmental biology, lectures introducing most up-to date methodologies, and a lab-based project offers well-rounded training. It sharpens your analytical thinking and critical evaluation skills, helping you understand how and when to apply different techniques. Importantly, it provides a valuable insight into what it's like to work independently in this scientific field. I also recommend this program to students like me, who may not have a background in developmental biology but are deeply interested in it. The core course, combined with opportunities to attend conferences, makes learning about various aspects of developmental biology both accessible and engaging.
Student, (Sep. 1, 2024)The MPhil in Biological Sciences (Developmental Biology) has been an incredibly enjoyable programme! The Core Course provided snapshots into different research areas of Developmental Biology with journal clubs building upon paper critique and presentation skills. It also helped to identify how to create a good narrative when presenting research, a skill required for writing up the Research Project Report. The Experimental Approaches Course and statistical training was immensely helpful in providing further training for skills required for the Research Project, as well as learning about new techniques in the field. It was also great to experience these technologies first hand with sessions booked in with equipment such as confocal microscopes. The opportunity to discuss research with experts in the field was enlightening and invaluable. The course covered everything for someone with a passion for Developmental Biology and the knowledge I have learnt whilst completing the MPhil has prepared me suitably for a career in research and further study. The supervisors were also incredibly kind and supportive. I thoroughly enjoyed my time studying at Cambridge and encourage anyone interested to apply.