Directory

Growing up in a rural town in the deltaic plains of Bangladesh, I watched the natural environment vanishing in front of my eyes to meet the demands of a growing population and natural disasters. Responding to the growing need for conservation and my passion for wildlife, I have been working in research, conservation and behavioral ecology of globally threatened species in Asia for the past 12 years, focusing on threatened coastal and riverine birds. An undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and MPhil degree from the University of Cambridge have complimented my career, helping me to further understand the complex conservation problems that migratory birds face and to find science-based solutions through rigorous research. The intertidal mudflats of Asia are key habitats, supporting more than 50 million migratory birds, including 33 globally threatened species. My PhD will focus on understanding the habitat requirements of these shorebirds in the coastal areas of Bangladesh and the multiple factors driving their population decline such as intense human pressure and climate change. My work aims to identify the most effective long-term conservation measures for these species, ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Previous Education

University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership 2018
North South University, Dhaka Environmental Science 2010

I have chosen Genetics and Molecular as my major because I have been pursuing a career as a scientist who can elucidate the basic mechanisms of biological phenomena. I have done a cytogenetic study on Malaysian bananas and a molecular investigation on MICA, one of the HLA genes. In my PhD project, I am looking at the role of chloroplast protein synthesis in regulating the expression of nuclear genes encoding photosynthesis proteins.

My aspirations to advance sustainable energy using computational materials research emerged from the convergence of pretty disparate influences. I first fell in love with materials science when I saw how different ceramic firing techniques affect the finish on pottery. Born and raised in the California Bay Area, I'd also grown to appreciate the capacity for computer science to augment scientific research, while simultaneously witnessing the detrimental effects of wildfires on people's lives. As an undergraduate at Stanford University, I've had the opportunity to explore broad intersections between all of these interests. My computational materials science research has focused on predicting local crystal structure around simulated particles. In the field of AI for climate change, I've performed research on automated dataset creation to facilitate urban transportation planning. At the University of Cambridge, I will combine what I've learned from these experiences by using generative machine learning models to accelerate materials discovery for batteries. Through this work during my MPhil and PhD, I hope to aid in designing more efficient renewable energy storage.

Previous Education

Stanford University Computer Science, AI Track 2021

In April 2013 I graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo. Over the course of my training I worked for a total of 24 months split between five organizations. This really gave me a feel for the engineering and construction industry. As I grew in experience I began to notice recurring problems; delays, workflow problems, mistakes in design and construction, the difficulties of quality control, wasted resources and poor communication. Like a good engineer, I want to tackle these issues. Therefore, at Cambridge I will pursue an MPhil in Construction Information Technology. Through it I hope to find novel solutions to these industry problems by implementing concepts such as augmented reality and real-time object recognition. I can envision a much better industry, and I intend to be part of the push to get there.

Dr. Lindsay Chura is currently the Chief Scientific Officer for the Global Council on Brain Health, an AARP and Age UK collaborative, focused on providing clear and dependable recommendations for maintaining and improving brain health. Lindsay previously held the position as Senior Policy Advisor for Science and Innovation at the British Embassy in Washington where she advised the Ambassador on international health and science issues impacting the UK/US bilateral relationship in addition to leading science diplomacy delegations abroad. Lindsay received her doctorate in Psychiatry at Cambridge for her research that applied neuroimaging techniques to investigate brain structure and function in children with autism she worked with across England. As a Gates Cambridge Scholar, she was actively involved in the scholarship community and managed the Gates Distinguished Lecture Series for two years as an officer on the Scholars’ Council. Prior to studying in the UK, Lindsay was a Fulbright Scholar at a clinic in Australia specialising in reproductive medicine. An alumna of Mount Holyoke College, Lindsay has published across a range of scientific domains, and has previously written for US News & World Report as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Fellow. She enjoys engaging with schools and the wider community through science outreach activities.

Coming from a family of medical professionals, science was ingrained in me from an early age. I was raised in Istanbul where I had the opportunity of higher education at Sabanci University. I was drawn to materials science for its potential to tackle global challenges, and the intersection of materials science and healthcare innovation is where my academic interests converge. I recently completed my master's degree at EPFL and have since been engaged in interdisciplinary work.Embarking on the next chapter of my journey, I'm honoured to be joining the Gates Cambridge community. I will pursue a Ph.D. at the Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials, working on tissue engineering scaffolds for regenerative medicine.

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keremcitak

My research aims at understanding the nature of protein-ligand interactions and their importance in biological processes. For these purposes, various biophysical techniques will be used and developed towards potential applications to discover novel drugs. I believe my experience at Cambridge will be invaluable and will provide me a strong basis for a future career of research in drug discovery. I am thankful to the Gates Cambridge Trust for giving me this opportunity.

My interest in theology began in high school and college while working as a youth director and student chaplain. Those experiences led me to attend Duke Divinity School after graduating from Wheaton College in 2002. At Duke, the intersection between religion, environment, economy, and politics became clearer to me. I participated on a publication panel at the 8th World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage, AK, examining this intersection for sustainable human communities. After finishing my MTS at Duke I earned another master’s degree in philosophy at Fordham. For my MPhil research in Divinity at Cambridge I will work on Augustine’s ‘City of God’ while focusing on the contemporary issue of political secularization. Cambridge affords me an unparalleled interdisciplinary opportunity and the Gates community’s emphasis on knowledge in service of an ‘international common good’ will no doubt challenge my own thinking and expand my sense of vocational horizon between faith and public life.

Before I started my medical degrees at Monash University I lived in Donald, a tiny farming community in Australia. With this rural upbringing I have always been motivated to provide the highest level of care to sick children wherever they may call home.My career as a paediatric doctor began at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, but I made my way to Cambridge after a year working in the paediatric intensive care unit in Edinburgh, Scotland and some brief stints in rural and outback Australia. It is a privilege to help the families and children we care for in often brief but life changing moments.At Cambridge, I am working on a study called RASCALS – the ‘Rapid Assay for Sick Children with Acute Lung infection Study’ with the supervision of Dr Nazima Pathan and Prof Stephen Baker. We’re using new techniques to diagnose chest infection in critically ill children faster and researching genetic makers of antibiotic resistance so we can prevent treatment failure. Infection is one of the leading causes of death in children aged less than 5 years, so it’s exciting to try and make a difference in this area. This would not have been possible without the extensive support of Gates-Cambridge.

Previous Education

Monash University Perioperative Medicine 2018
University of Sydney Child Health 2014

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-clark-9944a469

Previous Education

Yale University B.A. Mathematics 2007

I am passionate about nature conservation and sustainable natural resource management. For the past four years, I have worked as Chief Executive Officer of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. I have a multidisciplinary background in environmental science, law and public advocacy. I have worked as a researcher, lecturer and public interest environmental lawyer in Australia, South America and the Pacific Islands, including work for IUCN, WWF, Conservation International and the Wildlife Conservation Society. Throughout my career, I have focused on the intersection between community rights and environmental protection, from public participation in environmental decision-making to community-based natural resource management. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to study conservation leadership at Cambridge. The integration of environmental policy, business administration and leadership skills will provide a strong foundation for my future contribution to global conservation efforts.

Acquiring knowledge and skills has always been a passion of mine. I first started coding at 13, being the only girl and person of colour in my course. I quickly realised that I had to work hard to earn my place in technology and AI. At the age of 15, I started visiting university lectures in various subjects ranging from Computer Science to Philosophy and Cybernetics. I quickly developed an interest in the complexities of AI. Thus, I completed a BSc in AI and Robotics and continued with an MSc in AI and Natural Language Processing. Simultaneously, I worked with a humanoid robot at the German Aerospace Center and later explored the societal impacts of AI at the Ada Lovelace Institute. I have been an active member of various organisations that raise awareness of algorithmic bias and AI literacy while empowering people from marginalised communities to follow their goals in AI. With a passion for bridging cultural and linguistic divides, I aspire to lead research initiatives through my PhD that contribute to the development of responsible and inclusive AI systems, ensuring that language technologies are accessible, fair, and culturally sensitive across diverse communities worldwide.

Previous Education

Queen Mary, University of London Artificial Intelligence 2023
University of Bedfordshire AI and Robotics 2022

I have graduated with a starred First in History from Cambridge in 2013 and continued to read for an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History winning the Quentin Skinner Prize in 2014. Subsequently, I pursued a PhD under the supervision of Professor Christopher Clark on Roland Freisler, one of the most notorious jurists of the 'Third Reich'.

My academic interest lies with the role of political ideologies in history with a focus on Germany in the 19th and 20th century. In particular, I am intrigued by the interaction of ideas and arguments with the political, social and economic forces of 'real' history. My Bachelor thesis focussed on Ludwig Woltmann, who attempted to fuse neo-Kantianism, Marxism and Darwinism before developing a racialist view of history that became one of the corner stones of national socialist ideology. For my MPhil, I went back to Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Friedrich Buchholz, examining their differing visions of a future German nation in a post-Napoleonic European order. In particular, I looked at their understanding of reason of state, which served as a bridge between law, philosophy and practical politics.

For my PhD, I wrote a biography of Roland Freisler, who was a state secretary in the Reich Ministry of Justice before becoming the president of the so-called 'People's Court' in 1942. Although he is mostly know for his role in persecuting opponents of the regime, his involvement with National Socialism stretches back to the early days of the Weimar Republic when he defended party members in court and became involved in local politics. By examining Freisler's roles as a legal theorist, ideologue, bureaucrat, judge and political activist, I sought to contribute to an intellectual history of the 'Third Reich' whilst shedding new light on the image of Freisler in public memory. I have presented my research at academic conferences as well as the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection, the Topography of Terror Berlin, and the NS-Dokumentationszentrum Köln.

I have been a Prize Research Student at the Centre for History and Economics in 2013/14 and received scholarships from the Stiftung der deutschen Wirtschaft, the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as well as a CHESS Allen, Meek and Reed award from the Cambridge Trust and a Gates Cambridge scholarship. I have also represented Cambridge twice in the annual esports varsity tournament against Oxford. From December 2018 to September 2019, I was a guest researcher (JEV-Stipendiat) at the Max Planck Institute for European Legal History in Frankfurt.

Since October 2019, I work as a policy advisor on research and education at the Liberal Institute of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Berlin.

Previous Education

Trinity College, University of Cambridge Political Thought and Intellecutal History 2014
Trinity College, University of Cambridge History 2013

Links

https://www.freiheit.org/buero/liberales-institut

Claire K. Clement writes at the intersection of philosophy, religion, science, and economics. Her interests include what humans will do for meaning after robots take our jobs, and which new religions might emerge from our multicultural ferment. Her current project is the book "Human Believing: God, Science, and Philosophy Across Cultures", which explores the big questions of life with a broad comparative and thematic approach, integrating ideas as wide-ranging as Mormon afterlife, quantum theory, Jedi beliefs, personality types, and the major world religions.
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Her research at Cambridge focused on the spiritual, economic and social history of the late-medieval English Syon Abbey. (Title: “Processing Piety and the Materiality of Spiritual Mission at Syon Abbey, 1415-1539”). She further pursued her interests in the intersection of social sciences and religion by completing a master’s of urban planning with a focus on economic development, GIS, historic preservation, and women's mobility.

Out of a wide range of interests, I always return to Classical Studies as a unique mirror for better understanding today’s world. After obtaining a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Latin and Greek at Ghent University, Belgium, the Flemish Government granted me funding (a ‘Fayat’ scholarship) to pursue an MPhil in Classics at Cambridge. I am intrigued by late antiquity – a period of lasting religious, political and sociocultural change. In my PhD, I aim to study two late antique authors, a church leader (Gregory of Nazianzus) and a professor of rhetoric (Ausonius of Bordeaux). With the generous help of Gates Cambridge, I hope to understand how these authors presented themselves in relation to the different places where they lived. Studying place, self-presentation, and migration in late antiquity will hopefully help to nuance our understanding of identity, not only in the past but also today.

Previous Education

University of Cambridge Classics 2023
Universiteit Gent (University of Ghent) Linguistics and Literature 2022
Universiteit Gent (University of Ghent) Latin - Greek 2021

Throughout my undergraduate education, my research has focused mainly on experimental 20th-century poetry of the American and Russian traditions. Recently I have examined Language Poetry and Russian Formalism, Ezra Pound and structuralism, and Vladimir Mayakovsky's Bolshevik Futurism. In the American MPhil program I will explore how two modernist American writers' formal innovations were influenced by the British and European cultures they immigrated to, while focusing on their contrary but related approaches to poetic language. This study will compare Ezra Pound's vorticism and "The Cantos" with Gertrude Stein's attention to the autonomous value of the word in "Tender Buttons." My career goals are to enter academia and continue to work to support cross-cultural academic dialogue.