For the second year we are offering undergraduate students from universities across the UK the opportunity to undertake a research experience placement at a university of their choice.
We are excited to introduce you to Hamda Hassan our BiPS Summer Studentship candidate for 2025. This placement has been made possible thanks to the support of the The Plant Journal and the Gastby Foundation.
Hamda Hassan
My name is Hamda Hassan, and I study Biochemistry at King’s College London. What has always interested me most about Plant Biology is the uncovering of the ways in which microbial communities interact with plants and their respective ecosystems; how this influences plant health, and even human health by means of discovering medicinal the benefits plants resistant to pathogenic microorganisms have. All forms of plant- microbial interactions fascinate me, whether pathogenic or symbiotic. I firmly believe research into Plant health and Biology is arguably one of the most important areas of scientific research, sitting at the intersection of driving innovation for Biotechnology, Genomics, Microbiology and reforming Agriculture. I wish to become a proficient Microbiologist, and understanding the ways in which microbes interact with our environment first sits at the very foundation of
this path.
Outside of Science, I am a bit of a cinephile and greatly enjoy watching many movies, especially international ones. I am interested in the ways in which film captures culture, history and the exploration of identity through storytelling.
Hamda will be supervised by Dr. Tolga Bozkurt at Imperial College London.
In addition to our partnership with The Plant Journal, we have partnered with BioImaging UK and PoLNet to secure a place for an additional student.
Noir Tucker
My Name is Noir Tucker and I am currently a second year Plant Science BSc student at the University of Bristol. My interest in plants stemmed from their extremely adaptive abilities across the Earth’s varying climates and environments. Once I discovered Ethnobotany, this interest shifted to how plants are used by indigenous people, their benefits, and how plants should be thought of as their own beings with systems and communication methods instead of stand still organisms.
Within Plant Science, plant development and growth is what I find most thought provoking since within it, lies the answer to how plants are able to be so adaptable, ranging from; their flower construction and morphology, leaf shape, root architecture and so forth.
Diverging from Plant Science, I have an interest in herbology mixed with cooking and how these both infused can make the body feel fuelled. I am also interested in creative fields such as; fabric arts like crochet and music, which I utilise during times of relaxation, synonymous with how plants are able to evoke relaxation.
Noir will be supervised by Dr Jim Fouracre at the University of Bristol.