A Warm Welcome to Our 2025 PhD Cohort
On Tuesday 14th October 2025, we were delighted to welcome our newest cohort of postgraduate researchers to the Paterson Building in Withington for the Manchester Cancer Research Centre (MCRC) – Division of Cancer Sciences (DCS) annual Postgraduate Researcher Welcome Event.
This special event marked the beginning of an exciting journey for our MB-PhD, Clinical PhD, and Non-Clinical PhD students, offering a comprehensive introduction to the MCRC, the Division of Cancer Sciences, and the vibrant research community at The University of Manchester that they are now part of.
The 2025 PhD cohort at our Postgraduate Researcher Welcome Event in the Paterson Building.
Meeting our new cohort is always a highlight of the academic year. Their enthusiasm and ambition are inspiring, and I look forward to seeing the incredible contributions they’ll make to cancer research over the coming years.
Professor Rob Bristow
Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre
Throughout the day, students heard from the MCRC Training Office, Communications Team, Education Leads, and current postgraduate researchers. Talks covered everything from training opportunities, the support and resources available, and insights into life as a PhD student in Manchester. The event also provided a valuable opportunity for students to network with staff and peers, helping them begin to build connections within the MCRC-DCS community.
But the day wasn’t just about presentations – it was about creating a sense of belonging. Our new researchers had the chance to explore our facilities, learn about collaborative opportunities, and discover how their work fits into Manchester’s world-leading cancer research strategy. From cutting-edge labs to multidisciplinary teams, they are joining a community committed to making a real difference in patient outcomes.
The welcome event is a fantastic opportunity for our new students to get to know the support available and to feel part of our research community from day one. We want them to leave feeling confident, connected, and excited about the journey ahead.
Dr Yasmin Noori-Jenaghard
Postgraduate Programme Manager
We’re thrilled to have such a diverse and passionate group of researchers joining us this year. Their projects span everything from basic cancer biology and translational research to clinical trials and health inequalities, reflecting the breadth and depth of expertise within our postgraduate community.
Welcome to Manchester – your journey starts here. We can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make.
Get to know some of our new students
To help you get to know some of our new postgraduate researchers, we asked them to summarise what inspired them to apply for a PhD in Manchester and what they’re looking forward to most about their PhD.
Here’s what a few of our students had to say:
The welcome event was a great way to meet some people in the department who are in similar positions to you. As an MBPhD student, it was especially great to talk to clinical fellows who are taking on their PhD after completing their medical training.
What inspired you to apply for a PhD in Manchester?
Growing up in a household where PhD holders were considered ‘real doctors’, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in cancer research. The MBPhD opportunity was a key factor in deciding to apply to Manchester. Throughout medical school, I often felt that there was limited space for genuine critical thinking, with much of the curriculum focused on memorisation. Beginning a PhD at this stage develops the analytical skills and confidence needed to question and evaluate hospital practices more rigorously, understand patients in a more holistic way, and contribute meaningfully to improving clinical care, beyond simply applying guidelines. Whilst there are tangible perks to an MBPhD (such as stronger SFP applications meaning you can likely choose your foundation year hospital, and financial gain), these are secondary to the deeper value of training as a clinician–scientist. For me, the MBPhD is not an interlude in clinical training, but the beginning of a career that integrates scientific discovery with compassionate, evidence-based medicine.
What are you most looking forward to about your PhD?
Whilst we all say that we should apply ourselves to every opportunity to learn, we don’t always recognise the best opportunities when they arise. The MBPhD has been an incredibly humbling experience, and I look forward to continued growth both academically and personally. Entering a lab as a medic, you are surrounded by exceptionally intelligent, hard-working and remarkably modest PhD students and post-docs. I immediately felt a knowledge and expertise gap between myself and my peers—something I was not used to in medicine. My lab-mates and supervisory team have become an invaluable source of guidance and support, as well as genuine inspiration. Their dedication has shown me that with curiosity, perseverance and humility, you can grow far beyond the boundaries of your initial training.
The Welcome Event was an inspiring and enjoyable day where I had the chance to meet my fellow PhD colleagues and gain a deeper understanding of the MCRC’s vision. I feel fortunate to be part of this world-leading cancer centre and grateful for the support and guidance offered by its leaders in cancer research
What inspired you to apply for a PhD in Manchester?
I completed my training in Medical Oncology in 2023 and then moved to Manchester to join the Christie Phase 1 Clinical Trials Unit. Working with such a unique and dedicated team was an incredible experience. It sparked my interest in translational science, as I became fascinated by the idea of addressing in the laboratory some of the very questions we encounter in the clinic. The MCRC Clinical Research Fellow Training was the perfect next step in my career. I have also grown to really enjoy life in Manchester—despite the weather—and I have made wonderful friends here.
What are you most looking forward to about your PhD?
I often say that I want to learn the language of scientists. There remains a significant gap between fundamental and clinical research in oncology, and I believe it is essential to bridge that divide. I am fascinated by cancer science and look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the scientific way of thinking, so that I can collaborate more effectively with basic researchers in the future. Cancer research is inherently complex and demands the expertise of many specialists working together in the same space, rather than in compartmentalized worlds.
It was a privilege to meet such a diverse and passionate cohort of cancer researchers at the University of Manchester!’
What inspired me to apply for a PhD in Manchester?
Moving all the way from Indonesia to Manchester for my bachelor was initially a significant and daunting leap, but it has been an immensely rewarding experience. Manchester is not only an adventurous and multicultural city, but the University of Manchester also offered exception opportunities that shaped my passion for researching complex diseases and improving patients’ lives. During my degree, I worked on oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), focusing on the transcription factors that drive its malignant progression. Upon learning about the disease, I was struck by the devastating trends of OAC and the harsh reality that the patients are facing. This experience motivated me to apply to Dr. Sara Valpione’s project, which would hopefully improve the precision medicine approaches for OAC.
What are you most looking forward to about your PhD?
The first most exciting thing for me is being able to engage in high-level cancer research within a vibrant and welcoming environment. I’m also fortunate to have a supervisory team with diverse expertise, including clinicians and bioinformatician, giving me the access and opportunity to learn a broad range of skills. Lastly, this project’s strong translational potential makes me eager to see what impact my research can bring to patients.
It was a great start to my PhD. It was inspiring to meet so many new starters
What inspired you to apply for a PhD in Manchester?
Even before thinking about doing a PhD, I have a long history with the university of Manchester. My brother is an alumnus here. The great experience he and many of my close friends had at Manchester kept the city on my mind. When the time to apply came the excellent research environment, the focus on employability after studying, the commitment to public engagement and the range on interesting projects made Manchester a clear candidate for me. After my first few months here I’m glad to say I made the right choice.
What are you most looking forward to about your PhD?
Glycobiology is an important, and under-appreciated, topic in cancer research. Mucus makes cancers much harder to treat and it’s really relevant to patient outcomes. This is exceptionally important to me because I do this work for patients and for people. Having studied glycans for most of my research life I’m glad to continue exploring them in a way that will hopefully benefit more patients in the clinic.
