Post by Praise Diresu

I’m delighted to share that I have been awarded a First Class Honours degree in Biochemistry from the University of Surrey. I’m also incredibly honoured to have been awarded the Royal Society of Biology Top Project Prize, recognising the highest-marked final-year research project across the eligible Royal Society of Biology-accredited bioscience programmes at the University of Surrey. Throughout my degree, I developed a strong foundation in biochemistry while discovering a real passion for laboratory research and translational science. A highlight of my degree was completing a placement year at the von Zastrow Lab at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Working in such a collaborative research environment significantly strengthened my scientific knowledge, practical laboratory skills and confidence, providing an invaluable foundation for my final year and future career. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr Mark Crabtree for providing such a scientifically inspiring dissertation project and for his guidance and support throughout my research. I am also incredibly grateful to everyone in the von Zastrow Lab for their mentorship, encouragement and for helping me grow as a scientist during my placement year. Finally, a heartfelt thank you to my family, friends, lecturers and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. Your encouragement has meant more than you know. I’m looking forward to celebrating my graduation in July and to the exciting opportunities that the future holds.