No motivation needed for student progressing from Undergrad to PHD
A twist of fate has given a GCU student the chance to honour the memory of his grandfather.
Stefan Corradini’s academic journey started when he made the move from Spain to Scotland in 2018, after securing a place at GCU through Clearing.
The second half of his BSc (Hons) Cell and Molecular Biology degree coincided with the pandemic, but he already had a plan in place for after graduation
Stefan said: “During first year, I was very focused and had really good grades. One of my lecturers Dr Mark Williams approached me during a meeting and said he would like to be my mentor. I told him there and then that I wanted to progress onto a PHD after I graduated in 2022 – we’ve worked together ever since.
“My dream is to eventually coordinate a team that pursues new drug developments. To reach those positions you need the tools that a PHD gives you: independent research and actually pushing knowledge towards a place that hasn’t been reached before. Basically, I want to come up with a solution that no-one else has managed.”
For every solution there has to be an initial problem, and the topic of Stefan’s PHD is one that he is all too aware of, both personally and professionally.
Stefan explained: “It worked out that Dr Williams was actually researching cancer, specifically, a type of blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. My grandfather died of this, so I personally know how much this works needed. It’s definitely provided added inspiration to me.
“One of the main reasons people die from blood cancer is due to the cells becoming resistant to treatment: the patient is treated, the cancer goes into remission, and the two years later it relapses very strongly and cannot be treated. What we’re trying to do with my PHD is look at how we make the treatment more effective so that we can kill more cells and lower the risk of relapse - meaning more patients survive.”
He added: “I’ve got a very utilitarian approach to the type of work I like to do. Doctors might have a specific impact on a select number of patients that they treat through the course of their career, but I believe doing research leads to a wider impact on thousands of lives and society in general, over time.”
The criteria to start a PHD usually involves a completed Masters; however, Stefan insists he is well equipped for any potential challenges that come his way.
“I’ve always known that I wanted to do this, so it doesn’t faze me at all that I’m going into it straight from my Undergraduate degree.
“I got into Imperial College London for a Masters but doing the PHD at GCU was my first choice – I just wanted to do my own research.
"I know I have the tools from studying cell and molecular biology, and my independent work will also allow me to cope with the level of learning a PHD requires.”
Stefan added: “It’s a strange coincidence that the research will be something that has personally impacted me. My family back in Spain are very, very proud. I’m just excited for what’s to come.”
By Ross Clark
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