This summer saw four students: Josephine Shepherd Jemima Hair, Jack Singleton and Abraham Gilbody, who all attended taught modules at LSTM, win top prizes as they graduated from the University of Liverpool with BSc. degrees in Tropical Disease Biology (TDB).
Josephine Shepherd was awarded first place in her graduating class and best research project on the BSc.TDB programme. Josephine said: “In a year full of adversities, I'm proud to look back on everything my course mates and I have accomplished together. Studying online was certainly not easy, but it did give me the opportunity to interact and participate during lectures in a way that I didn't previously have the confidence to do. The TDB degree allows students to explore multiple areas within public health in tropical settings, which ensures you finish university with a clear vision for your future. I was also lucky to spend time in the LSTM labs with my supervisor, Dr. David Weetman, genotyping Anopheles coluzzii from south Sudanese refugee camps. Researching and analysing data for my final year project on the threat of insecticide resistance in Phelbotomus argentipes populations from India was a particular highlight of my undergraduate experience and has motivated me to pursue a career in vector biology, and more specifically, the control of neglected tropical diseases. I am grateful to have been taught by such knowledgeable and inspiring lecturers, and I am excited to continue my academic journey at LSTM!”
The prize for the student coming second in the graduating class was awarded to Jemima Hair who said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my three years studying Tropical disease biology at the University of Liverpool. Even with the difficult circumstances, the LSTM community kept learning fun and engaging while being attentive and supportive throughout. I’m so glad I decided to join this specialised course and to be taught by leading specialists in their field has been a dream come true.”
Jack Singleton, who came third in his graduating class, said: “I wish I could claim I had clairvoyance when choosing TDB as my avenue of study just prior to major global pandemic, but the appropriateness of my course to the world only revealed itself to me during my studies. Throughout my studies, I was continually amazed at the extent of neglected tropical diseases and their impact on over one billion people worldwide and, as such, this course has left me with a strong desire to enter the field and help the ongoing work to combat these diseases. I certainly found a deep interest in multiple aspects of this course, especially in more niche diseases and burdens such as snakebite. This course offered expert teaching in a variety of fields, from global health, pharmacology, cell biology, vector control, and many more which have all helped to shape my future goals and aspirations. I feel extremely fortunate to have been lectured by world-leading experts in their respective fields, and to have been able to do my dissertation project with Professor Steve Torr of the Department of Vector Biology. I cannot wait to continue my studies further with LSTM as I go on to do a Masters.”
The prize for best intercalating student in a life sciences degree programme at the University of Liverpool was awarded to medical student, Abraham Gilbody.
LSTM wishes Josephine, Jemima, Jack and Abraham all the best for their future careers.
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