Ulliana Savitskaya

4th Year Medical Student at UCL • Neuroscience iBSc (Hons) • Research assistant • Laidlaw Scholar

London, England, United Kingdom

About

I’m currently a medical student at UCL, having recently completed my iBSc in Neuroscience with First Class Honours. I was also fortunate to be a Laidlaw Scholar, an experience that shaped my approach to both research and leadership through projects that spanned from the lab bench to international outreach. As part of the programme, I conducted research in a neuroscience lab investigating proteins potentially upregulated in mitochondrial disorders, deepening my understanding of cellular mechanisms and neurodegenerative disease. I also undertook a leadership project in Mexico, working on community-based initiatives focused on social impact and knowledge exchange. Together, these experiences taught me how scientific curiosity and empathy can work hand in hand to create meaningful change. My broader academic interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and Infectious Diseases. I’m fascinated by how neural networks, both biological and artificial, process and adapt to information, and how these insights might shape the future of medicine and education. Applying neuroscience knowledge to mental health in my recent publication, looking into genetic testing for Major Depressive Disorder, has added a clinical perspective to my work. Beyond research, I’m passionate about scientific communication and creative storytelling. Through videography and writing, I enjoy translating complex ideas into engaging, accessible narratives that make science feel human and alive. Looking ahead, I hope to continue bridging medicine, neuroscience, and innovation - exploring how interdisciplinary thinking and compassionate leadership can advance healthcare and understanding.

Experience

  • Social Events Secretary at United Hospitals Tennis club
    Apr 2025 - Present · 1 yr 4 mos

  • RUMS Medical Student Association (2 yrs 9 mos)
    • RUMS Tennis Treasurer
      Apr 2024 - Jun 2025 · 1 yr 3 mos

      Working together with the president and social secretaries of RUMS Tennis to manage the finances of the club developing teamwork and management skills as well as negotiating with the Students’ Union

    • Events Subcommittee Member
      Jan 2023 - Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    • Womens’ 1st Tennis team
      Oct 2022 - Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 9 mos

  • Laidlaw Research Scholar at Laidlaw Foundation
    Mar 2023 - Jun 2025 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    - Selected out of 28 people applying for my project of interest, joining the cohort of 30 fantastic scholars this year - Taking part in a 6-week research into protein synthesis in mitochondrial diseases this summer at the Royal Free Hospital under the supervision of Jan-Willem Taanman - 6-week internship in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, working with kindergarten kids from underprivileged backgrounds on education in health and nutrition

  • Marketing Officer at MedTech UCL
    Mar 2023 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Student Research Assistant at UCL Bioethics & Medical Law Society
    Dec 2022 - Jun 2023 · 7 mos

    - Collecting primary qualitative data through semi-structured interviews with experts in the field - Identifying trends in current scientific findings on genetic testing for depression using strong analysis skills - Filtering high volume of articles, distilling key information working towards writing a literature review