Triple Cambridge success for Salford Biomedical Science students

Three female Biomedicine students from Salford have successfully secured a place on the highly prestigious Postgrad Life Sciences summer internship, offered by the University of Cambridge.

Faith Ogbevoen, Arooj Afzal and Aisha Ahmed have been awarded a place on the summer scheme, which will see them complete a fully-funded eight-week internship at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.  This is an exciting achievement which follows on from Biomedicine students securing one of 15 places on this scheme in 2021 and two places in 2022.

Only 15 places are available on the scheme each year, with the three undergraduate students beating hundreds of applications in the 2023 round.  This is a fantastic opportunity for talented students who might not otherwise feel they can easily access prestigious internships that prepare them for a career in scientific research.

Faith, Arooj and Aisha are all studying Biomedical Science and are seeking a career in clinical practice and research. This internship gives them a really important step in the right direction.

The Salford Biomedicine subject group has a clear vision for its students that places employability central to teaching and learning approaches. Throughout their studies, students are provided mentorship and guidance on workplace skills which contribute to them achieving industry experience both during and after their studies. The Biomedicine subject area offers several successful extracurricular mentorship schemes that have seen a growing number of success stories for a range of careers, including research, biomedical sciences and physician associate studies.

Dr Sara Namvar, Programme Lead for Biomedical Sciences, said: “This is a brilliant achievement by these students and also highlights the level of support and commitment our team offers to students at Salford. This includes the invaluable contribution of our more experienced students and alumni mentoring and guiding students seeking key opportunities.

“All three are outstanding students, who not only work hard to achieve outstanding academic results but also make positive contributions to the university community both inside and outside the classroom. They all totally deserve this opportunity, and we are extremely proud of this achievement.”

Arooj Afzal said: “Being selected for the esteemed EPLS scheme at Cambridge is a dream come true.

“Coming from a background where opportunities like this are rare, this internship is not just a personal achievement but a chance to shatter stereotypes and inspire others from similar backgrounds.

“I am immensely grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from my university’s academics in my application and interview. I am excited to seize this opportunity, challenge myself, and pave the way for future generations of underrepresented individuals in academia.”

Aisha Ahmed said: “Research has been a huge interest of mine which is why I decided to apply for this internship. With the support of my lecturers and previous interns, I was able to prepare well and show off my potential in the interview securing a place this summer. I hope to build on skills I’ve gained through my studies and come back to my third year ready for the challenges ahead.”

Faith Ogbevoen, who came through clearing to gain her place at Salford, said: “My time at Salford has taught me resilience and focus. I’m grateful for all the opportunities provided to me, and all the people I’ve met so far.”