Tiara Talukder studied the Biomedical Science - Infection and Immunity MRes. She tells us about her research project and why she chose to specialise in infectious diseases, as well as advice for anyone considering studying an MRes.
"I always knew I was interested in infectious diseases... coming to St George's to do an MRes in infectious diseases really helped me to focus on what I most enjoyed."
Please tell us about your academic and professional background
I graduated from King’s College London in August 2022 with a degree in Biomedical Science, and I am currently undertaking an MRes in Biomedical Science here at St. George’s, with an interest in Infection and Immunity.
Why did you choose to study your course at St George’s?
I got offered a scholarship here which influenced my decision, however it is also hard to find a good MRes course in London that focuses on infectious diseases.
What do you enjoy most about your course?
I enjoyed the opportunity to really develop my laboratory skills here, since the MRes course offers a 9-month long research project, and I was lucky enough to get my first choice (in terms of projects) with an amazing and supportive group.
Do you have any specific careers aspirations? If so, how has St George’s helped you to develop these
I definitely want to go into research and so doing an MRes at St George’s has really helped me develop much needed laboratory skills as well as providing good insight into day-to-day lab work. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic hindered practical learning, it’s really nice to get hands on again.
When did you realise you wanted to specialise in infectious diseases?
I always knew I was interested in infectious diseases, and this was exacerbated when I took a virus and disease module in the third year of undergrad and really enjoyed it. In fact, my first choice when it came to project selection during undergrad was on SARS-CoV-2, however I didn't get it, due to how competitive it was, and got my second choice instead which was focusing on transplant immunology. Whilst that was very rewarding in itself, coming to St George's to do an MRes in infectious diseases really helped me to focus on what I most enjoyed, as BMS can be quite vague.
Please can you tell us about your research project?
My current project is on SARS-CoV-2 and the neutralising activity of patient serum obtained from the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, against 6 different variants of SARS-CoV-2. Since working with live virus requires working in a biosafety-level-3 laboratory, I instead developed pseudotyped viral particles which can be used in a BSL2 lab. I work with an excellent supervisor, Dr Henry Staines, who is also the pathway lead for infectious diseases, and has really helped me develop my skills and passion for virology.
What are your favourite places to socialise in Tooting and why?
The SU bar is always a great place to have lunch and catch up with your friends, but I also love grabbing bubble tea at Ligaya, which is a 5 minute walk away from the hospital. They have student-friendly offers too!
What advice would you give to someone considering studying your course?
When it comes to the project selection process, I would suggest arranging a meeting with every single supervisor you are interested in, even if you are unsure about the project itself. It really helps to talk to them and hear firsthand what the project is about and what skills you will gain, as well as what they expect from you.
Describe St George’s in 3 words
Welcoming, innovative, supportive.