The Epigenetics ISP - Skills Training

The Epigenetics ISP aims to have a cohort of students (currently around 10 across the year groups) studying for their PhD in research groups supported by one or more postdocs.

Recent highlight achievements by our students have been winning the best poster prize at the 2011 Abcam meeting in London. One PhD student and one postdoc had their work selected for oral presentation at the Nature Winter Symposium in Miami (2011). Students and postdocs from the Epigenetics ISP have also gained business development/commercialisation skills by taking part in BBSRC’s Biotech YES business plan competition in recent years. Dr Cassandra Farthing, a member of the Institute's 'YES team' in 2008, became a Business Fellow during her postdoc through the London Biotechnology Network, helping to identify opportunities for Knowledge Exchange within the Institute's research portfolio.

In 2009 Dr Gabriella Ficz was awarded the Prize for Excellence by the “Fundatia Dan Voiculescu” in Romania. Dr Joana Marques, a postdoctoral scientist in Wolf Reik’s laboratory, has been awarded one of the L’Oréal Medals of Honour for Women in Science (2010). This award aims to improve the position of women in science by recognising outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress.

The Epigenetics ISP Group Leaders have also supported the training of Master’s students from Italy, selected through the Da Vinci UniPharma Graduates Project which is coordinated by the University of Rome. Since 2007, four students have received 6 months’ training within the Epigenetics ISP laboratories, a number of whom have continued with further degrees either at Babraham or in Italy.

Undergraduates and 6th formers, supported by organisations such as the Nuffield Foundation, Biochemical Society, Genetics Society, BBSRC and AMGEN, have been selected to undertake summer research projects of between 6 and 10 weeks in the Institute’s research laboratories. In addition to the skills developed by the bursary holder, those supervising in the hosting laboratories have gained valuable training and mentoring experience.

Key publications from the Epigenetics ISP

Translating the ISP's Research into Action (KEC)

Public Engagement

Skills training