We are delighted to share the news that current BDS Year 3 student Janet Wewe has been selected by the Wellcome Trust to receive one of six Biomedical Vacation Scholarships at the University of Bristol. Well done Janet! We asked her how she felt about it…
“I am delighted to state that I have been selected by the Wellcome Trust to receive one of six Biomedical Vacation Scholarships at the University of Bristol! Starting next week, I will be carrying out some research alongside and under the direct supervision of an expert scientist in their field!
I have chosen to do some work on the use of Mendelian Randomisation to look at the causal effect of a number of phenotypes such as smoking and alcohol consumption against oropharyngeal cancer within epidemiological studies.
Balancing study for my exams alongside the application process and other commitments made it a difficult pathway yet I have proved to myself it is possible and I am capable! I will now learn to balance my clinics, lectures and tutorials with this new opportunity for the rest of the term.
The programme will strengthen my foundation in research and aid me in finding myself in a new world experience. I am very excited to explore the seemingly undiscussed option in dentistry due to my field’s practical nature.
There is an attitude of ‘dentists’ and ‘scientists’ as separate entities. Hence, I want to bridge that gap and understand what drives evidence-based dentistry. If successful, it would mean a more diverse demographic in the world of research – a step to closing gaps in healthcare driven by research based on a more heterogeneous group.
I would like to thank the University of Bristol, the Wellcome Trust as well as my supervisor for such a wonderful opportunity! I feel honoured to be deemed worthy of such an experience. I cannot wait to get stuck in!”
Well done again to Janet on being awarded one of these prestigious scholarships. We look forward to hearing about her research experience.