Student Researcher Rachel sharing her research experience at CCIR on the world’s most prestigious academic publication.
We are beyond excited to share that one of our CCIR alumni, Rachel Lou, has just published an article recounting her experience conducting research with CCIR on the latest issue of Nature Nanotechnology, the neuroscience-focused research journal of Nature Publishing (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-024-01616-2.epdf). Her article is accompanied by a reflection from her professor mentor at CCIR, Professor Landry of UC Berkeley.
Hailing from Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia, Rachel quickly impressed Professor Landry with her brilliance and her keen scientific mind. She has been recognised with various awards and scholarships, including the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars award. At CCIR Academy, Rachel conducted a research project titled “RNA-based Therapeutics: A Future in Cancer Immunotherapy,” where she examined the latest developments in RNA-based technologies used for COVID-19 vaccines and their vast potential for future cancer treatments. Her paper was later accepted and published in the Research & Reviews: Medical and Clinical Oncology journal.
Below is an excerpt from Rachel’s Nature article recounting her experience at CCIR Academy:
I searched for research programmes that would allow me to extend myself and dive into this field. I found the Cambridge Center for International Research (CCIR). CCIR is a research organization registered in Cambridge, UK with an overarching mission to benefit the public by increasing the accessibility of knowledge. They provide rigorous online research programmes for talented students around the world, in small groups or one-to-one, working with leading researchers and professors from top US and UK universities to each produce an independent research paper that showcases academic passion and commitment.
After a rigorous application process, I conducted an online interview with an academic coordinator and the recordings were sent to prospective mentors. I was accepted by Professor Markita Landry, an Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkley. Professor Landry was everything I hoped for in a mentor: kind and encouraging, introducing and guiding me along the path of her specialty….
…I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and knowledge I have gained from CCIR and Professor Landry. I am fortunate to have met a mentor who cultivated my curiosity and love for science, guiding my inspiration towards a path in research. I hope other researchers will be inspired to get involved in mentoring and guiding future scientists, helping them to make their own mark in the world of scientific research.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-024-01616-2.epdf
Rachel’s reflections offer a glimpse into the faculty support and intellectual growth of many admitted students experienced at CCIR Academy. This feature published by Nature, one of the most prestigious and influential academic journals, speaks volumes about the quality and rigor of our programmes.
