Summer Grant: iGem Project
SCROLL TO EXPLORE
Summer grants play a vital role in enabling Brasenose students to take part in ambitious research and enrichment opportunities beyond the standard academic year. By easing financial pressures, these grants allow students to commit fully to projects that develop their skills, broaden their experience and contribute to research addressing real-world challenges. In the following reflection, Brasenose student Vedat Habib Papo (Molecular & Cell Biochemistry, 2023), shares how support from a summer grant made it possible to participate in the University of Oxford’s iGEM team and contribute to cutting-edge research tackling antimicrobial resistance.
I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Brasenose College for awarding me the summer grant, which played an essential role in supporting my participation in the iGEM project, representing the University of Oxford. This financial assistance was invaluable in covering my accommodation costs, enabling me to dedicate myself fully to the project over the summer.
Being part of the iGEM team has been an incredible learning experience. Our project, OneRing, focuses on developing an innovative system to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health challenge. This project required intense collaboration among team members, and thanks to the grant, I was able to work on-site, which was critical for coordinating laboratory experiments, troubleshooting technical challenges, and discussing key decisions with the team in real-time. The ability to be physically present also gave me access to Oxford’s outstanding research facilities, which was vital for the experimental phases of our work.
The summer grant allowed me to maintain an uninterrupted focus on the research, without the burden of worrying about accommodation expenses. This focus was essential for making meaningful contributions, especially when we were preparing for important presentations and finalizing key aspects of our project. In particular, I worked on the OneRing system’s applications in agriculture, highlighting its potential to address antimicrobial resistance in agricultural settings, a critical and often overlooked area in AMR research.
This opportunity also allowed me to grow academically and professionally, gaining valuable hands-on experience in cutting-edge synthetic biology techniques. I was able to apply and expand my knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as deepen my understanding of how to develop solutions that have real-world impact.
The generosity of Brasenose College was a crucial element in making this all possible. Your support not only helped ease the financial burden but also empowered me to fully immerse myself in this research project, furthering my academic development and contributing to a team that is striving to solve global health challenges.
Thank you once again for your continued support. It has been a privilege to represent Brasenose and the University of Oxford through iGEM, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunity provided by this grant. I will be updating the College about the results of the competition, once the judging phase is completed.
