Post by Lynn Kandakji

I’m thrilled to share that I successfully defended my PhD in Applied Statistics and Machine Learning at University College London. What a journey it has been to reach this milestone. This post is a bit overdue, but it feels fitting to share it alongside two meaningful observances: the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and UCL’s bicentenary. As we honour the achievements of women and girls in science worldwide, I’m proud to contribute to this legacy at an institution that has championed innovation and inclusion for 200 years. My research journey has been enriched by a diverse academic community, with mentors of great insight and colleagues of great generosity. Special thanks to my supervisor, Nikolas Pontikos, for walking this path alongside me, and to my examination committee, Paul Taylor, Srujana Sahebjada, Stephen Tuft, and Daniel Gore, for their thoughtful appraisal. This thesis is as much a reflection of their guidance as it is of my work. I have also been fortunate to be surrounded, near and far, by colleagues and friends at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL Computer Science, and the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit. I have learned so much from this community and have been shaped by their insights and encouragement throughout this journey. I must also acknowledge the support of Moorfields Eye Charity and UCL Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) (Graça Carvalho), whose commitment to digital innovation for societal impact made this study possible. For women in STEM, the numbers can feel daunting still. Between 2022 and 2024, we comprised less than 30% of admissions across Engineering Science, Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics. Belonging is not easily found, but I’ve learned it can be carved out through the persistent pursuit of what fascinates you most. I’m grateful to have created my own path and look forward to what comes next. Ad astra! #PhDDefense #WomenInSTEM #UCL200