Publications

My first year in the NanoDTC has been intense but enriching. The ability to undertake research projects beyond your comfort zone helps to broaden one's perspective while the business-related courses offer you the foundation to becoming a 'scipreneur'. Most importantly, the NanoDTC community is what makes it unique, for independent research is generally considered to be a focused and solitary experience. There are numerous opportunities for collaboration and or even just to bounce ideas off. We are also encouraged to visit industrial and research facilities outside the university, which I feel helps in acquiring a much needed external perspective. Overall, I am very happy to have joined this programme and would recommend it to anyone seeking a truly interdisciplinary experience.

After a research focussed Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Materials Science, followed by time in industry, I was in search of a PhD program with flexibility in project selection and exposure to commercialising scientific research. The NanoDTC offered both. The DTC’s support throughout the PhD via travel bursaries, workshops, and autumn schools provided a wonderful built-in engagement network. Finally, its Translational Fellowship program that offers finishing PhD’s the chance to develop their research commercially is a great initiative. Three years and three academic translation funding grants on, my PI, a NanoDTC colleague, and I have just raised a first round of capital for our spin-out. The IP at its core was created during the Translational Fellowship. The NanoDTC has been instrumental to supporting my research career and beyond, and it’s a great program for anyone contemplating the PhD journey!

Coming from a Masters degree in Solid State Physics, I have particularly benefited from the first year of the NanoDTC. In my first mini-project at Cancer Research UK I discovered my passion for medical imaging. To expand my knowledge in optics I continued into a PhD in the NanoPhotonics Group. Thanks to the NanoDTC network I was able to work for the MedTech Start-up Cortirio - founded by a NanoDTC alumni - for a couple of hours per week during my PhD. This practical experience as well as the NanoDTC's business courses equipped me with the skillset I need in my current position as MedTech project manager at Klinikum Rechts der Isar in Munich where I am preparing for my own medical device start-up.

The NanoDTC programme provided me with a fantastic foundation for pursuing interdisciplinary research. During the first year we were continuously encouraged to venture outside our academic fields. This was daunting at times, but it meant that I became more comfortable entering a new topic and interacting with researchers from diverse disciplines. It also opened up a world of possibilities for me when deciding on a PhD topic and became my entry point into biophysics research. I am now about to start as a biophysics postdoctoral researcher at the Living Systems Institute at the University of Exeter where my work will intersect microbiology, physics and mathematics. I am also really grateful to the NanoDTC for the many opportunities to develop my interests and skills beyond the lab - like in science communication and outreach. I particularly enjoyed the NanoArt initiative that brought together artists and scientists to share their working practices.

The first year feels like PhD bootcamp, designed to hone skills required for careers in industry, academia and business… simultaneously. The course content was just enough to push me to the limit, but not beyond it (quite). The consistent interdisciplinarity of all things NanoDTC really familiarised me with what's going on in Cambridge and helped me feel empowered to choose a suitable PhD project. I started out on an academic trajectory, but after 4+ years I’m leaning towards industry, having learned I could come back later! Very happy to be a Nano. 9/10 would recommend.