Celebrating International Women's Day 2025
We are proud to celebrate International Women’s Day by showcasing the work of inspirational women and women teams in our department, who champion great science, great education, leadership and gender equality.
Penelope Fialas
Penelope Fialas, a Postgraduate Researcher in Biosciences, researches ecosystem services provided by bats under climate change. Penelope is a true inspiration for women in science, balancing bringing up her new born child and her young child while publishing her PhD research in top journals in the field.
Émer Hickey
Dr Émer Hickey, a postdoctoral researcher at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, goes above and beyond to help train postgraduate researchers and is a fantastic collaborator and team player. Outside of her work, Émer is involved in outreach events, such as the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF), which aims to inspire young people to build a career in STEM.
Sancha Conway Holroyd
Sancha Conway Holroyd, a postgraduate researcher in Biosciences, is a passionate advocate for youth, gender, and social equity in science, policy, and international diplomacy. She works to champion youth and community-driven initiatives, with a focus on SDGs 3, 5, 13, and 14. Sancha is a One Young World Ambassador, a former UNFCCC UK Youth Delegate at COY17 & COP26, and co-founder of an environmental not-for-profit organisation empowering women and promoting equality in science and climate action.
Romey Shoesmith
Romey Shoesmith, a postgraduate researcher in the Centre for Medical Mycology, conducts rigorous science and is already a wealth of knowledge for her peers and senior colleagues. Romey is deeply committed to community and research culture, sitting on the Microbes theme steering group, chairing the CMM lab meetings and organising social events integral to the culture within the CMM.
Grace Paul
Grace Paul is a postgraduate researcher who overcame difficulties in her masters rotation projects to conduct important science and successfully obtain her MRes. Grace then transitioned to her PhD in Bioinformatics. She is an ambitious scientist with a passion for human health and determination everybody should aspire to.
Jessica Rudd & Courtney Tremlett
Jessica Rudd (left of image) & Courtney Tremlett (right of image), alongside nine other women Postgraduate Researchers in Biosciences, received the Dean of PGR’s Commendation for PGR Academic Citizenship to recognise her contribution to our thriving research culture.
Liliane Mukaramera
Dr Liliane Mukaramera is an inspiration for her dedication to understanding diseases she saw first hand growing up in Rwanda (East Africa), for her determination to do great science despite obstacles, for her commitment to her students and tutees and for her time management which allows her to be successful at work, and maintain a healthy home life (she has 2 young childrens). Liliane is part of the 100 black women professors programme and recently won a Wellcome Accelerator award.
Alice Holder
Alice Holder, through her role in the Peter Chalk Hub, provides invaluable support for teaching in the department in a calm, patient manner, with true attention to detail and understanding of university processes.
