Below you will find comprehensive information about your Gates Cambridge Scholarship and the many elements of the current scholar community. You can use the table of contents at the top of the page to navigate to the relevant section and also ctrl+f (or Apple button +F) to find any content on the page.
If you have feedback on this page or have a question that is not answered here please email scholar.support@gatescambridge.org.
Who's who
The Trust
The Trust’s Programme Team are here to support and help Scholars in all matters relating to their scholarship. If, after reading this page, you have any questions about your award or progress please email scholar.support@gatescambridge.org. If you are unsure when you should contact the Trust, please see the Contact section below.
Scholars’ Council
The Gates Cambridge Scholars’ Council is a body of current Scholars elected by Scholars which is fully funded by the Trust. Through its Officers, the Council represents the interests and needs of current Scholars to the Trust and the Gates Cambridge Alumni Association.
The Scholars’ Council supports the aims of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to create a network of responsible global leaders. Drawing on the experiences and aspirations of the entire Gates Cambridge Community, the Council strives to enrich the academic, social and professional lives of all Scholars. The Council organises a number of events and activities during the year. Scholar’s Council elections are held in Michaelmas and Easter, with Officers’ terms running for 6 or 12 months (12 months for President/VP). Several positions are appointed with applications in Michaelmas for the Orientation Co-Directors and for the Editors of the Scholar and in Michaelmas/Easter for the LfP co-directors.
You can find further information about the Council (including contact details of each Officer listed below)
Ms Anwesha Lahiri
- President
- The President/Chair of the Scholars' Council oversees its activities and liaises with the Trust on behalf of Scholars. Contact the President at president@gatescouncil.org

Ms Anwesha Lahiri
- President
- The President/Chair of the Scholars' Council oversees its activities and liaises with the Trust on behalf of Scholars. Contact the President at president@gatescouncil.org
Born in a family of doctors in India, I grew up looking at the world through a lens of seasoned physicians battling to save lives in resource-poor settings. While the academic in me developed an insatiable curiosity about the biological mechanisms of diseases, the social activist in me realized that exploring drivers of diseases at a population level is important to solve global health problems. My graduate studies at IIT Bombay and University of Cambridge cemented this understanding; extensive field research and work experience with UNICEF impressed upon me the importance of translating research findings into actionable evidence. My PhD seeks to explore the nutritional, lifestyle and metabolic risk factors of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in South Asians; integrating clinical knowledge, statistics and public health. South Asians, constituting a fourth of the global population, experience a disproportionately high burden of these diseases, aggravated by inequities in biological risk, behavioural factors and access to health services. Through my research I wish to comprehensively examine the importance of modifiable risk factors in mitigating cardiometabolic disease risks in this population and inform country-specific policies and disease prevention strategies.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Epidemiology 2021
Indian Institute of Technology - Bombay Technology and Development 2019
West Bengal University of Technology Biotechnology 2017
Mr Nicholas Goldrosen
- Vice-President
- The Vice-President works with the President to coordinate Council activities and to liaise with the Trust. Contact vice-president@gatescouncil.org

Mr Nicholas Goldrosen
- Vice-President
- The Vice-President works with the President to coordinate Council activities and to liaise with the Trust. Contact vice-president@gatescouncil.org
My research uses network analysis and other quantitative methods to study police misconduct and related phenomena. In particular, I am interested in developing methods to identify both misconduct-prone officers and officers who are resilient to negative peer influences. Additionally, my research examines how sanctions for misconduct and other official responses affect future misconduct. My other research interests include progressive prosecution and the intersections of local government law and criminal justice reform.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Criminological Research 2021
Williams College Political Science and Math 2020
Ms Emilie Hertig
- Treasurer
- Contact the Treasurer at treasurer@gatescouncil.org

Ms Emilie Hertig
- Treasurer
- Contact the Treasurer at treasurer@gatescouncil.org
My passion for astronomy has been an integral part of most of my life: as I realized at the age of 12 that current theories only explain 5% of the cosmos, making a scientific contribution that would shed light on the dark sector of cosmology became my main career goal. Several years later, this unwavering curiosity motivated my Honours thesis centred on the calibration of the CHIME telescope. I then collaborated with the H0LiCOW team, analysing lensed quasars as probes of the Hubble constant, before focusing on the use of machine learning to search for deviations from general relativity in gravitational waves. While studying quantum field theory, I became fascinated by the interconnectedness between the smallest and largest scales of the universe, a central issue in inflationary physics. My PhD will aim to detect signatures of primordial gravitational waves in the CMB and constrain models of the early universe. Despite the abstract nature of my topic, I hope for my research to make a broader impact through the development of computational methods with a wide range of applications. Becoming a Gates Scholar is a great honour which will also allow me to build upon my experience with science outreach and advocating for women in STEM.
Previous Education
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Physics 2021
University of British Columbia Physics 2019
Ecole Polytechnique federale de lausanne Physics 2019
Ms Sofia Dartnell
- Internal Officer
- The Internal Officer organises Internal Symposia each term and the Annual Gates Weekend of Research. Contact the Internal Officer at internal@gatescouncil.org

Ms Sofia Dartnell
- Internal Officer
- The Internal Officer organises Internal Symposia each term and the Annual Gates Weekend of Research. Contact the Internal Officer at internal@gatescouncil.org
Growing up in bucolic Connecticut, I am the girl who saved ants from being squished on the playground, the girl who sat still for hours waiting for a dragonfly to land on my nose. My fate was sealed from an early age: I am an insect lover. As an undergraduate at Pomona College, I studied the impacts of habitat fragmentation, urbanization, and fire on pollinator assemblages. In a time of intense land use change, I am interested in how targeted habitat modifications can help conserve insect diversity. For example, planting native wildflowers next to monocrop agricultural fields enhances bee habitat, increases bee abundances, and may also improve crop yields. I am passionate about igniting sustainable action through education. I am committed to mentoring the next generation to preserve insect biodiversity. With my PhD in Zoology, I hope to become a professor. In the long-term, I aspire to work with global organizations such as the United Nations to champion agricultural mitigation efforts that may be adopted worldwide, allowing pollinators and humans to more harmoniously coexist. I am honored to be selected as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, joining an extraordinary community of learners committed to promoting positive change worldwide.
Previous Education
Pomona College Biology 2022
Ms Emma Houiellebecq
- External Officer
- The External Community Officer is responsible for sustaining and improving links between Gates Cambridge Scholars and the wider academic and local communities, in collaboration with other officers. Contact the External Officer at external@gatescouncil.org

Ms Emma Houiellebecq
- External Officer
- The External Community Officer is responsible for sustaining and improving links between Gates Cambridge Scholars and the wider academic and local communities, in collaboration with other officers. Contact the External Officer at external@gatescouncil.org
I have always been fascinated in how to approach complex problems. This fascination first led me to study Civil Engineering as an undergraduate, and Engineering for Sustainable Development as a graduate, where I was able to gain skills that would allow me to contribute to real challenges in the world. Over recent years, I have put these skills into practice while working with NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross in countries affected by disaster or conflict in southern and eastern Africa and the Middle East. During these experiences, I have seen how challenging it can be to respond to complex urban crises where, over time, the additional strain on services and the eventual degradation of public infrastructure compounds the likelihood of wide-scale public health crises. At Cambridge, my research will explore how to strengthen the resilience of essential infrastructure and services in fragile urban contexts which are faced by a convergence of protracted insecurity, climate risks, and environmental degradation. I am honoured to have been selected for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and I look forward to joining a cohort of inspirational leaders and scholars who are contributing to real change in this world.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Eng. for Sust. Development 2017
University of British Columbia Civil Engineering 2013
Miss Paula-Peace James-Okoro
- Gates Community Officer
- The Gates Community Officers are responsible for fostering an inclusive Gates Community. Contact the Gates Community Officer at community@gatescouncil.org

Miss Paula-Peace James-Okoro
- Gates Community Officer
- The Gates Community Officers are responsible for fostering an inclusive Gates Community. Contact the Gates Community Officer at community@gatescouncil.org
I grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and completed my B.Sc. in Biochemistry at Covenant University, Nigeria. My research interest is in the mechanisms that control body weight and how they can be exploited to improve obesity outcomes. Metabolic diseases, like obesity and diabetes, are a significant health challenge affecting millions of people globally. During my undergraduate study, I developed a keen interest in the interplay of biological processes and lifestyle in the pathophysiology of metabolic diseases. Moreover, growing up in Africa where the rates are alarmingly rising with sub-minimal health research output and public policy efforts strengthened my resolve to address these challenges. At Cambridge, I will study the mechanisms by which gut hormones control body weight and blood sugar levels aiming to develop treatments that modulate gut hormone signaling. This fascinates me because these strategies present the most promising therapeutic avenue to combat the obesity epidemic. I hope to contribute to the development of biomedical infrastructure that can alleviate the burden of metabolic diseases in Africa. I am honoured to be part of the Gates Cambridge community and hope to leverage the platform to pursue my goals and impact lives.
Previous Education
Covenant University Biochemistry 2020
Miss Claire Bunn
- Social Officer
- The Social Officers plan a variety of events in Cambridge and trips further afield throughout the year. Contact the Social Officers at social@gatescouncil.org

Miss Claire Bunn
- Social Officer
- The Social Officers plan a variety of events in Cambridge and trips further afield throughout the year. Contact the Social Officers at social@gatescouncil.org
I was raised in Marion, Arkansas and attended the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow and Stamps Scholar to study genetics. I devoted much of my time on campus to researching protein kinases using bioinformatic and biochemical approaches and working as a campus tour guide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I began researching developmental lung biology at Vanderbilt. I quickly realized my interest at the intersection of developmental and cancer biology and the wide therapeutic potential the field offers. As an aspiring physician-scientist, I also took time to research public health in my home region as a Delta Scholar and wrote for the Boston Congress of Public Health. At Cambridge, I will pursue a PhD in the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience to functionally assess the cell extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms controlling human lung airway fate specification. Through this research, I hope to deepen our understanding of fundamental biological processes to guide personalized medical therapies that are accessible to all populations. I am grateful to be joining the Gates Cambridge community and am honored to have been selected for a cohort in which intellectual acumen and compassion are equally valued.
Previous Education
University of Georgia Genetics, Minor in Statistics 2022
Miss Isabella Morse
- Social Officer
- The Social Officers plan a variety of events in Cambridge and trips further afield throughout the year. Contact the Social Officers at social@gatescouncil.org

Miss Isabella Morse
- Social Officer
- The Social Officers plan a variety of events in Cambridge and trips further afield throughout the year. Contact the Social Officers at social@gatescouncil.org
I grew up in North Carolina and London, determined from a young age to disallow what I saw as unjust, particularly when it befell my childhood peers. This innate desire kindled in me a dedication to equitable education and mental health care. Earning my BA in psychology at Colgate University, with minors in education and creative writing, I seized opportunities to work directly with youth, an ardent believer in the importance of meeting children where they are and understanding their diverse needs as they learn to exert agency in response to the complexities of the ever-agitated world. I conducted research in the US, UK, Ghana, Samoa, and among several refugee communities, driven by increasing rates of mental illness and decreasing age of onset — both exacerbated by the global pandemic. After graduation, I joined the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. My PhD, a coalescence of my experiences, will focus on effectively supporting youth at the community level and within contexts of demographics, neurodiversity, and personal/political disruption. Understanding which interventions are beneficial long-term for children with internalising difficulties will enable individualised optimisation of care.
Previous Education
Colgate University Psychology 2021
Ms Charikleia Chara Triantafyllidou
- Communications Officer
- The Communications Officer is the conduit for assembling and distributing information to and about the Scholar community. Contact the Communications Officer at comms@gatescouncil.org
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Ms Charikleia Chara Triantafyllidou
- Communications Officer
- The Communications Officer is the conduit for assembling and distributing information to and about the Scholar community. Contact the Communications Officer at comms@gatescouncil.org
The goal of my PhD research is to explore prosody (stress, rhythm, intonation) and socioeconomic status as factors influencing the development of reading abilities, and I am particularly interested in silent reading (implicit prosody). During my undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, I was exposed to aspects of first and second language acquisition, and as an Erasmus+ student at the University of Edinburgh, I became increasingly interested in language processing and psycholinguistics. During my MPhil in Applied Linguistics at Trinity College Dublin, I focused on dyslexia, prosodic processing, and Computer-Assisted Language Learning. By investigating reading abilities among typically developing readers, my aim is to shed light on the role of prosodic processing and production in reading comprehension, to unveil the impact of hidden socioeconomic inequalities on literacy acquisition, and to investigate the extent to which reading difficulties remain undiagnosed. This research will aid in the diagnosis and the development of accommodations for reading difficulties and a more thorough understanding of how these difficulties can go undetected by educators.
Previous Education
University of Dublin Trinity College Applied Linguistics 2020
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki English Language & Literature 2018
Links
Ms Nikita Jha
- Outreach Officer
- The Outreach Officer facilitates the scholar community's engagement with alumni, the wider Cambridge network, the public, and potential new applicants. Contact the Outreach Officer at outreach@gatescouncil.org

Ms Nikita Jha
- Outreach Officer
- The Outreach Officer facilitates the scholar community's engagement with alumni, the wider Cambridge network, the public, and potential new applicants. Contact the Outreach Officer at outreach@gatescouncil.org
I have always had a fascination for how ‘education’ is designed. But it was an unlikely success story from North India that brought this diffused interest into sharp focus in the form of child-centric education. The story was that of an NGO running non-formal (alternative) schools for children living in slums. Every year, its makeshift schoolrooms would see child labourers become advocates for completion of schooling, the ‘reverse-education’ of illiterate parents through their children, and students outperforming their peers upon entering formal (mainstream) schools. The principle at the heart of this NGO: child-centricity.Across the country are many such scattered initiatives solving globally-prioritised problems of access, retention, and quality that nations have grappled with for decades. Studying similar efforts so as to identify patterns in their success could reveal how schools may be better designed to serve children from low-income families, with the particularities of their needs and circumstances.My PhD research will compare how non-formal and formal schools empower such children, identifying the factors that influence their academic, social, and economic agency. Holding potential solutions to the policy-practice gap in India and wider developing contexts, this research will be a step towards my hope of helping to pave the way to more child-centric, context-sensitive education systems that better serve all by serving those most at risk.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Education (EGID) 2020
The University of Edinburgh Social Policy (with SPS) 2019
Miss Mayumi Sato
- Alumni Officer
- The Alumni Officer works to connect the Scholar and Alumni communities. Contact the Alumni Officer at alumni@gatescouncil.org

Miss Mayumi Sato
- Alumni Officer
- The Alumni Officer works to connect the Scholar and Alumni communities. Contact the Alumni Officer at alumni@gatescouncil.org
Growing up in Asia and North America, I have always felt contradicting experiences of identity, one that oscillates between the desire to belong in a new country and the desire to remember my home roots, while ultimately finding myself not fully accepted in either. From a young age, I used my personal experiences as an opportunity to make sense of the world, and to unpack the societies I moved through. Between academic degrees, I worked on issues of reforestation, gender and social equity in forest landscapes, and land resettlement and reparations in Asia, North America, and Europe. My studies and work has allowed me to develop my current research interests, which focus on the intersection between environment and social justice. My research is centered on practices of environmental justice and resistance, which serve as broader social struggles for freedom and land recognition and reclamation. Through my research, I hope to share public-facing knowledge and flatten the power hierarchies between how "research" is credited and produced, and to translate scholarship in ways that are accessible and useful within and outside the academy.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Sociology 2020
McGill University Honours Geography 2017
Mr Anoop Tripathi
- Technology Officer
- The Technology Officers are responsible for maintaining the electronic hardware and software in the Scholars' Common Room. Email: tech@gatescouncil.org

Mr Anoop Tripathi
- Technology Officer
- The Technology Officers are responsible for maintaining the electronic hardware and software in the Scholars' Common Room. Email: tech@gatescouncil.org
As a Biochemistry Master’s student, in India, I developed an interest in Plant Sciences. As a Research Fellow, in New Delhi, my research focused on understanding the evolution of photosynthesis, which is useful to plant breeders for varietal trait development and Food Security. Previously, in a collaborative research project at Cambridge, we identified that monocots graft at the root-shoot interface, this pivotal work overturned the long-standing consensus that monocots cannot graft. Further, I am working on translational impact of the grafting approach using perennial monocots, which will be useful in imparting disease resistance in economically relevant crops like banana and oil palms. During my Gates Cambridge PhD Scholarship, I will aim to integrate the most efficient version of photosynthesis, known as the C4 pathway in rice, using the newly developed technique of cereal grafting and hybridisation. Rice is a global food staple and converting rice to use C4 photosynthesis is expected to not only increase yields by 50% but will also enhance water and nitrogen use efficiency. My research vision is to carry out cutting-edge fundamental and translational research that will lead to real impact to farmers both in India and globally.
Previous Education
University of Lucknow Biochemistry 2010
University of Lucknow Botany/Chemistry/Zoology 2008
Dr Daniel Egan
- Technology Officer
- The Technology Officers are responsible for maintaining the electronic hardware and software in the Scholars' Common Room. Email: tech@gatescouncil.org

Dr Daniel Egan
- Technology Officer
- The Technology Officers are responsible for maintaining the electronic hardware and software in the Scholars' Common Room. Email: tech@gatescouncil.org
I was drawn into the curious and complex world of immunology during my Honours degree in the Horsnell group at the University of Cape Town, where I studied lung pathology in the acute immune response to helminth infections. This, against my background as a clinician and further education in public health, has led my professional interests towards the intersection of these three areas: fundamental science, clinical medicine and population health. By identifying important health concerns and addressing them across scales, I hope to improve global health outcomes through my career in a cost-effective and context-relevant manner which prioritises reaching under-served people. In partnership with global leaders in the field, my PhD aims to develop and test a novel vaccine platform to generate broadly-protective vaccines against Betacoronaviruses. The idea underlying this work is ‘pandemic preparedness’ – aiming to ensure the next human viral pandemic is comparatively minor by pre-emptively improving the breadth and efficacy of available vaccines. I am privileged to be joining the Gates Cambridge community, and am very grateful to the Trust for this wonderful opportunity.
Previous Education
University of Cape Town Public Health (Epi & Biostats) 2022
University of Cape Town Medicine 2017
University of Cape Town Infectious Disease, Immunology 2014
Mr Stephen Metcalf
- Learning for Purpose Director
- Learning for purpose officers lead and organise a curriculum and series of workshops aimed at skills development for scholars. Contact at learningforpurpose@gatescouncil.org

Mr Stephen Metcalf
- Learning for Purpose Director
- Learning for purpose officers lead and organise a curriculum and series of workshops aimed at skills development for scholars. Contact at learningforpurpose@gatescouncil.org
Growing up in eastern Kentucky, in the heart of the Appalachian region of the United States, I was fascinated by questions of meaning in life and devastated by the hardship I witnessed at home and abroad. Education has been my ticket to exploring these two themes: meaning and inequity. With generous support through the Brown Fellows Program, I immersed myself in the liberal arts and sciences at Centre College, studying neuroscience and mathematics as well as philosophy and religion. I lived as a monastic for a summer in a Buddhist monastery in Taiwan, investigated crime scenes and defended the underserved in Washington, DC, and carried out a final-year thesis on spiritual memoirs and autobiographies. After examining the association between the immune system and mental illness through the MPhil in Epidemiology at Cambridge, I joined research teams at Dartmouth College, where we have explored self-regulation as a mechanism of behaviour change and conducted policy-focused research on the US opioid crisis. During my PhD I will address a critical question: Given similar histories of adversity, why do some children do better than others? Studying resilience may help us improve well-being and could lead toward greater health and educational equity. I look forward to working with others in the Gates Cambridge community as we explore fundamental life questions and help others thrive.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Master of Philosophy Epidemiology 2015
Centre College Bachelor of Science Behavioral Neuroscience 2014
Links
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=-tyJuPAAAAAJ&hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmetcalf
Ms Maya Juman
- Editor-in-Chief of The Scholar magazine
- The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the production of the annual The Scholar magazine. Email: eic@gatescouncil.org

Ms Maya Juman
- Editor-in-Chief of The Scholar magazine
- The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the production of the annual The Scholar magazine. Email: eic@gatescouncil.org
Growing up in New York City and South India, I developed a lifelong appreciation for biodiversity and curiosity about global change. I completed my B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, where I conducted research on South and Southeast Asian mammal biogeography. Upon graduating in 2020, I worked on COVID-19 response at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. This work experience, supplemented by my academic background in organismal biology, led me to explore the human-wildlife interface where viral spillover occurs. I am now pursuing a PhD in Biology at the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge. My thesis centers on the relationship between ecology and viral emergence, with a focus on zoonotic paramyxoviruses in fruit bats. I am particularly interested in the use of natural history museum collections for viral surveillance and host prediction. I strongly believe in accessible and inclusive science, especially in the form of creative science communication and outreach. I look forward to collaborating with the Gates Cambridge community to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of public and planetary health.
Previous Education
Yale University Ecology & Evolutionary Biology 2020
Links
Miss Ila Ananya
- Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Scholar magazine
- The DEIC supports the EIC in the production of The Scholar magazine. Email: deic@gatescouncil.org

Miss Ila Ananya
- Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Scholar magazine
- The DEIC supports the EIC in the production of The Scholar magazine. Email: deic@gatescouncil.org
I came to anthropology through an interest in narrative, and a desire to rethink my engagement with fiction, life writing, reportage, and research – writing forms that I have been moving between since I was an undergraduate. As a journalist and a university teacher, I often found myself returning to read ethnographies, with their focus on producing work that centred our different subjectivities, and grappling with the ethical and conceptual challenges of navigating these. So far, my research has been concerned with the political lives of Indian students, what Indian higher educational spaces engender, and who they exclude. For my PhD, I hope to trace how young people from ‘Northeast’ India navigate the moral and affective aspects of their ‘becoming’ when they travel to ‘mainland’ Indian cities to study. Given the region’s history of state repression, ethnic tensions, and the racialised tendency of many Indians to homogenise their identities, I am interested in foregrounding friendship, intimacy, and aspiration, to understand how these young students relate to each other from across their social subjectivities and ethnic and class locations. I’m excited and humbled to be part of the Gates Cambridge community, and to continue to be challenged by and learn from my peers.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Social Anthropology 2022
School of Oriental & African Studies (University o Gender Studies 2018
St. Joseph's College, BU English, Journalism,Psychology 2017
Mr Matthew Hoisch
- Assistant Editor of The Scholar magazine

Mr Matthew Hoisch
- Assistant Editor of The Scholar magazine
I am curious about the ways people understand and create discourses around environmental issues. As an undergraduate—first at Brandeis University, then, after transferring, at Harvard University—I studied environmental challenges and became immersed in the expansive discipline of Science and Technology Studies. Simultaneously, I developed a love of journalism, particularly radio storytelling. In the years following my undergraduate education, I cultivated both of these interests. I worked with Schmidt Futures to understand and support effective philanthropic approaches at the intersection of science, technology, and society. I also worked as a reporter at KOTO, the community radio station in Telluride, CO. Reporting for a small mountain region during a global pandemic gave me firsthand appreciation for the ways journalism can foster community. But I’m also uncertain how journalism can help humanity face larger environmental challenges. As climate change alters our world, I believe unifying and clarifying storytelling will be all the more essential. I hope to use this MPhil in Anthropocene Studies to examine the roles journalists can and should play in helping people understand and respond to climate change.
Previous Education
Harvard University Env. Science & Public Policy 2019
Brandeis University Environmental Studies 2017
Miss Seetha Tan
- Media Editor of The Scholar magazine
- The Media Editor is responsible for the maintenance of The Scholar website. Email: me@gatescouncil.org

Miss Seetha Tan
- Media Editor of The Scholar magazine
- The Media Editor is responsible for the maintenance of The Scholar website. Email: me@gatescouncil.org
My research focuses on the role of stories and storytelling to identity-formation within contexts of postcolonial migration. Growing up in Australia, in an Indian and Malaysian family, and now, studying in the UK, I have always been interested in how people, ideas, and stories travel through former imperial circuits. I am hoping to investigate how stories inform and construct identities, how stories are entangled with legacies of empire, and how various communities use stories to disrupt existing narratives of migration or colonialism. Through creative research methods such as food ethnography and music elicitation, I am specifically interested in forms of culinary and sonic storytelling.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Sociology 2021
Sciences PO, Institut d'etudes politiques de Paris Middle Eastern Studies 2020
Ms Jigisha Bhattacharya
- Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer
- The Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Officer is responsible for fostering a diverse and inclusive community of scholars where everyone feels valued. Contact at edi@gatescouncil.org

Ms Jigisha Bhattacharya
- Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer
- The Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Officer is responsible for fostering a diverse and inclusive community of scholars where everyone feels valued. Contact at edi@gatescouncil.org
Growing up in a small town in Bengal, I turned sensitive to conflicts between communities and identities from an early age. While pursuing my BA in English (Hons.) at Presidency University, Kolkata, my MA in English at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and my MPhil. in Social Sciences at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta, I became interested in how literary and cultural forms share a reciprocal relationship with political ideations and events. As a firm believer in public-facing academic work, I have also curated and written extensively on gender, culture, and literature. Further, teaching undergraduate students at the Jindal Global Law School in India has taught me the transformative potential of pedagogic spaces and the need for an egalitarian academic atmosphere. The steep rise of political incarceration in contemporary India has motivated my doctoral project which traces prison experiences of Indian women activists in literary and archival expressions. Through my scholarship and community engagement, I hope to explore how conditions of marginalisation enable responsibility, solidarity, and hope.
Previous Education
Jadavpur University Social Sciences 2019
Jawaharlal Nehru University English 2017
Mr Matthew Blacker
- Orientation Co-director
- The Orientation Co-directors lead and organise the new scholar orientation activities. Contact the Orientation Committee at orientation@gatescouncil.org

Mr Matthew Blacker
- Orientation Co-director
- The Orientation Co-directors lead and organise the new scholar orientation activities. Contact the Orientation Committee at orientation@gatescouncil.org
At heart, I’m a runner who finds the time to study theoretical physics: although in reality, it’s often the other way around. Growing up in the sun, sand and bush of Perth, Western Australia, I uncovered a passion for science – which took me across the country to the Australian National University in Canberra. I lived at Bruce Hall, and helping the community there survive our building being demolished and rebuilt instilled in me a love of working with people. At the same time, my studies fostered an excitement for uncovering a theory of quantum gravity; but it became apparent I’d have to travel overseas to fulfil that dream. Thus, I came to Cambridge to complete the Part III Maths, and prepare myself for a PhD here. In my PhD, I’ll be studying and proposing thought experiments examining quantum gravity, to inform how we build theories in future. I ultimately want to combine my passions for people and physics as an educator, and take ideas about quantum gravity to places (like Australia) where the field is still very small. Being a Gates Scholar will allow me to learn from other scholars how to make my impact as an educator felt not just in Australia, but all over the world.
Previous Education
University of Cambridge Mathematics 2022
Australian National University Physics 2020
Miss Lisa Neidhardt
- Orientation Co-director
- The Orientation Co-directors lead and organise the new scholar orientation activities. Contact the Orientation Committee at orientation@gatescouncil.org

Miss Lisa Neidhardt
- Orientation Co-director
- The Orientation Co-directors lead and organise the new scholar orientation activities. Contact the Orientation Committee at orientation@gatescouncil.org
Since my first biology lessons in school I have been fascinated by understanding nature and I have steadily developed the strong ambition to become a scientific researcher. I undertook my Bachelor’s and Master’s study in biochemistry at Free University of Berlin, where my research mainly focused on protein folding homeostasis during aging and neurodegenerative diseases in particular of Huntington’s disease. For my PhD I am going to join the laboratory of David Ron at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, where I will study cellular adaptations to the stress of unfolded and misfolded proteins in the secretory pathway. The unfolded protein response (UPR) defends protein folding homeostasis in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by matching the folding capacity to the unfolded protein load in the compartment. This simple feedback process impacts the function of the secretory pathway and because protein secretion is central to intercellular communication, ER stress and the response to it influences many physiological and pathophysiological processes. With this research I hope to identify new components of this regulatory network to integrate these into an understanding of the pathophysiology of common human diseases, which may one day pave the way for pharmacological intervention in UPR signalling. I am truly honoured to become a member of the Gates Cambridge family and look forward to connecting to other scholars that share the motivation to actively shape our future.
Previous Education
Free University of Berlin Biochemistry 2018
Free University of Berlin Biochemistry 2015
Alumni Association
All Scholars automatically become members of the Gates Cambridge Alumni Association (GCAA) at the end of their award. The GCAA Board (whose work is funded by the Trust) aims to build a global network of alumni dedicated to improving the lives of others, to promote the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and to engage alumni through the exchange of knowledge, academic ideas and professional development.
You can find out more information on the Alumni page.
Core funding
Your Gates Cambridge Scholarship includes the following core components:
- Tuition Fee
- Maintenance allowance (£18,744 for 12 months at the 2022–23 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months)
- One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of your course (or a return ticket for courses shorter than 11 months)
- Visa costs, which also include the annual Immigration Health Surcharge for the tenure of your visa
- Covid testing costs for UK arrivals
Tuition Fee
The University Composition Fee is the approved tuition fee for the degree and subject you will undertake at Cambridge. The University Composition Fee is paid directly to your College which forwards it on to the University. The Trust expects this fee to cover all of the costs related to your course within your department (e.g. Supervisor, fieldwork costs, equipment, departmental administrative support, lab space etc.).
Please note: the University Composition Fee also covers your College membership fee but it does not cover your accommodation, meals and similar – you will need to pay for these using your maintenance allowance.
The University Composition Fee is paid by the Trust directly to your College each year. You do not need to be involved with this process; your College is aware of your status as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and should not contact you for payment.
Maintenance Allowance
Maintenance payments are made at the start of each academic quarter (October, January, April and – if appropriate – July) and paid into your nominated bank account. You will be contacted by the Programme team via e-mail with regards to collection times and location.
You will be required to sign-in with the Trust at the end of each quarter before your maintenance is paid. Details of how to sign-in will be provided by the Programme Team via e-mail.
Fourth year maintenance (PhD Scholars)
If you are a PhD Scholar, your award provides up to four years of maintenance. If you require maintenance during some or all of the fourth year of your PhD you simply need to request this in the third year of your award by completing the Fourth Year Funding form. Full instructions and deadlines and are available on the first page of the form.
Visa costs
Your scholarship includes the cost of a visa, should you require one, at the standard rate (including the Immigration Health Surcharge). Full details are available in the next section.
Travel
As part of your scholarship you are eligible for a single economy airfare at both the beginning and end of your course (or a return ticket for courses shorter than 11 months). Full detail are in the next section.
COVID testing
The Trust will cover up to specific amount for COVID testing for UK arrivals . Full details are in the next section.
Travel, visas and COVID testing
Visa costs
Your scholarship includes the cost of a visa, should you require one, at the standard rate (including the Immigration Health Surcharge). Full details are available on the Scholar-elect page.
Travel
As part of your scholarship you are eligible for a single economy airfare from the UK to your normal place of residence (home). If at the end of your course you are leaving Cambridge but not going to your normal place of residence (home), we will cover whichever is the cheapest fare of the two.
We expect that flights ‘home’ to be scheduled close to your official leaving time – i.e. if you finish your Scholarship in September but decide to stay in the UK until Christmas, we expect to receive an itinerary for September and not for Christmas (which has inflated holiday prices). Scholars who choose to travel at peak holiday times, or who do not plan ahead, may be asked to pay the difference between a standard, economy airfare and the peak time inflated price.
Travel booking option 1 (preferred)
The Trust is pleased to announce Clarity Travel as our new travel agent. We will be working with Clarity Travel to arrange a quick and easy way for you to book travel without having to make any payments** – Clarity Travel will book the ticket and invoice the Trust directly (as per our previous travel agent agreement).
Please complete the Clarity travel form for students with your passport details and the details of your journey and email to Clarity Travel who will then work with you to find a suitable ticket. Please note that Clarity Travel business hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.30pm.
Once your travel option is agreed, Clarity Travel will contact the Trust for authorisation to book and invoice the Trust.
Your e-ticket will then be issued directly to you. If you wish, you can also download the Go2Mobile guide to manage your ticket on your mobile phone and to receive travel alerts.
Please note that your scholarship does not provide insurance for your travel or to cover your personal belongings. As soon as your travel arrangements are confirmed, we ask that you take out a suitable travel insurance policy in case of any travel delays, loss or damage to your possessions or changes to your plans (particularly in light of the current coronavirus situation).
**Clarity Travel is required to find the best value fares for the Trust. If you wish to book an alternative ticket or would like to add any extras, such as extra baggage, Clarity Travel will invoice the Trust for the standard ticket cost and you will need to pay the extra amount directly.
Travel booking option 2
It may be more convenient for some scholars to book their own travel (e.g. those travelling with family – although please note the Trust does not cover travel costs for family members) and then be reimbursed by the Trust.
Before confirming or paying for your flight, please submit the Flight Authorisation Form below with your proposed flight details to check that the Trust will be able to reimburse the travel costs that you will incur. The Trust will then need to review and approve your proposed flight option. Once approved, you can book and pay for the flight. You will then need to submit a reimbursement form with supporting receipts for the Trust to reimburse you the agreed costs by bank transfer.
Scholars should use a flight comparison website, such as Skyskanner, to investigate the best value travel options available to them. In some cases it may be more appropriate for you to travel by bus or train and if so, please still use the Flight Authorisation Form to check your travel plans with the Trust.
The Trust requests that you are flexible with your choice of route, airline, departure date and departure/arrival airport where possible in order to source a competitively priced ticket. This information should be evidenced to the Trust in the three journey quotes that you provide in the Flight Authorisation Form.
For example, when travelling to Cambridge you may have the choice of multiple London airports, such as London Stansted, London Heathrow or London Gatwick. Also, by using the calendar function on travel websites you can view which days are cheaper to travel, it may make a significant difference to your ticket price if you depart a day or two earlier (or later). All savings allow the Trust to make the most effective use of its funds for the benefit of all scholars it supports.
The Trust will cover the cost of one checked bag, if it is not included with your travel ticket, but it does not pay for any further bags or excess luggage costs.
Once you have researched your travel options, please complete the Flight Authorisation Form and submit to our dedicated travel email address – scholar.support@gatescambridge.org to request permission from the Trust to book your journey.
A note on insurance – your Gates Cambridge Scholarship does not provide insurance for your travel or to cover your personal belongings. As soon as your travel arrangements are confirmed, we ask that you take out a suitable travel insurance policy in case of any travel delays, loss or damage to your possessions or changes to your plans (particularly in light of the current coronavirus situation).
If you are required to use a country specific, government scheme to travel (such as specific repatriation flights), you may apply for a reimbursement of your travel costs using the form below.
Reimbursement form instructions
Covid testing costs for UK arrivals
The Trust understands that new and current scholars coming from Green and Amber list countries are required to book and take either one or two Covid tests (depending on their vaccination status) on arrival in the UK –https://www.internationalstudents.cam.ac.uk/travelling-to-uk
The UK government has a number of approved test providers that will allow you to self-test but the prices vary considerably. As such, the Trust has set a maximum reimbursement for this Covid testing as follows:
Day 2 & 8 testing – reimburse up to £100
Day 2 testing only – reimburse up to £50
The Trust will not reimburse any “Test to release” on Day 5 costs as this is an optional test. Scholars may book this if they wish with their own personal funds.
Scholars arriving from Red list countries will automatically receive Day 2 & Day 8 tests as part of their hotel quarantine package and do not need to purchase any extra tests.
Discretionary funding
Overview
Academic Development Funding
Academic Development funding is intended to support activities such as attendance at conferences or courses related to your studies, which are additional to those that should be covered by the University fee paid by the Trust. Any application which funds a key component of your course will not be considered as these should be covered by the fees paid by the Trust to the University on your behalf.
Academic Development funding is offered at the following rates:
- One-year degree or First Year of PhD: up to £500
- Two-year degree or Second Year of PhD: up to £1,250
- Three-year degree or longer or Third /Fourth Year(s) of PhD : up to £2,000
Please note that (a) unused funds on a given year will roll over onto the next one; you may apply for a maximum of £2000 over the whole of your PhD; (b) you can only apply for a maximum of £500 in the probationary first year of your PhD and (c) the above are not allowances, but the maximum amounts you may apply for.
Funding can be applied for one or more times during the formal tenure of your course.
When applying for funding you will need to include a statement of support from your Supervisor or course tutor as part of the application form. There is no limit to the number of applications for Academic Development funding you can make, however the Trust will only fund activities that are undertaken while you are a student (i.e. before your course end date) and relevant to your course. The Trust retains final discretion over whether an activity will be supported.
You may not use Academic Development funds to purchase physical items (e.g. posters, books, cameras etc.) with the exception of laptops (see below). Funds can also not be used to pay for unofficial suppliers/unregulated suppliers such as a friend providing you with accommodation during a conference, Air B&B bookings or transport provided by unregulated providers such as a friend driving you or Uber.
You should apply for Academic Development Funding at least a month in advance of the event and where possible, provide supporting documentation to evidence the expected costs.
The Trust will consider Academic Development Funding requests from scholars in their 4th year (but not in their 5th year). Requests will be subject to the usual case-by-case review and subject to legitimate reasons and supporting evidence etc. There must be a genuine academic reason to attend the event for the benefit of PhD completion, not just to enhance personal skills.
Also, Academic Development Funding will be allowed to contribute towards the cost of a laptop or software if a scholar is not able to work/study effectively without it. The Trust will consider applications to contribute 50% of the cost, up to a MAXIMUM of £500. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and subject to legitimate reasons and supporting evidence. Funds cannot be used to upgrade a functioning laptop.
Apply for Academic Development Funding
Dependant Children Allowance (DCA)
Maternity/paternity Allowance
Fieldwork and Leave to Work Away
Hardship
In the event that you should require additional funding for an unexpected or emergency situation, you should submit an application to the Hardship Fund. These applications are dealt with sympathetically and on a case by case basis.
Please note: the Trust is unable to provide funding for private medical treatment as all Scholars are covered for National Health Service treatment through the Immigration Health Surcharge already paid on your behalf by the Trust during your visa application process. However, you may be able to seek assistance with medical costs through your College with an application to the Crane’s Charity.
Trust reviews all applications for discretionary funding individually. The Trust retains final discretion over whether funding is awarded and the total amount. Scholars should expect to be asked provide supporting evidence.
Budgeting
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is very generous and compares favourably against other major funding in the UK. But it is important that you budget properly during your time at Cambridge to ensure you get the most out of your experience – and avoid financial difficulties.
The Trust and Scholars’ Council have worked together to created a budgeting guide, which we strongly recommend you read.
Policies & regulations
Illness
Debt
Please note that the Trust disclaims all responsibility for any debts you may incur. Nor will the Trust act as guarantor for loans or debts. Scholars are advised that the Trust reserves the right to pay maintenance to the college if so requested on the reasonable grounds of failure to settle outstanding debts to the College or any other body.
Intermission (taking a break from your course)
Intermission has a formal meaning and requires a change in your registered status at the University. It does not mean to informally ‘take a break’. You can find full details on the University’s web page.
Should you need to ‘intermit’ your studies (i.e. you need to stop your research or course attendance) for medical or non-medical reasons you apply to the Student Registry for permission to intermit and also complete the Trust’s Intermission application form below. PhD students should always discuss any plans to intermit well in advance with their supervisor, College Tutor or Departmental Graduate advisor/administrator.
Once your application for intermission has been approved by the Student Registry and the Trust your Scholarship will be ‘suspended’ – the Trust will not be liable for University fees and you will not receive your maintenance allowance. Your Scholarship will restart when you return to Cambridge and your award finish date will be amended to reflect the period of Intermission. Scholars on a Tier 4 visa should note that the Trust is only able to suspend its award, it has no control over visa extensions. Scholars can find more details on Tier 4 visa and intermitting on the University’s web page.
A retrospective application for Intermission will not be accepted unless there have been exceptional circumstances and you may be required to return any maintenance you have already received.
Where a Scholar has to intermit for circumstances beyond their control (e.g. illness) and is unable to return to their home country for the period of intermission, the Trust will consider an application for hardship funding.
Networking & resources
You can look up any member of the Gates Cambridge community using the public Directory. You can then search the Internet for further details.
Your on-line profile
Every scholar-elect, scholar and alumna/nus has an on-line profile which allows you to update certain elements (e.g. contact, location and employment details). This is currently not searchable by members, but is a very useful tool for the Trust to report on the community and to send members appropriate information about events and activities.
@gatesscholar.org email
Gates Scholars Common Room (GSCR)
Whilst in Cambridge you will have access to the Gates Scholars Common Room (GSCR). This room is located on the 2nd floor of the University Centre. It is there for you to work in, relax in, and to mix with fellow Gates Cambridge Scholars and is the location for a lot of Scholars’ Council organised events. Resources include a computer lab, a collection of books from the Cambridge University Press, space to read and work, Wi-Fi, a TV room, games, etc.
The room is accessible to all Scholars and Alumni with your university card. If you have any trouble accessing the Common Room with your University card, please contact the Internal Officer of the Scholars’ Council (internal@gatescouncil.org). The University Centre is open seven days a week from 9.00am to 11.00pm (10.30pm on Sunday).
Printing allowance
Each year the Trust provides a printing allowance (currently £20 per annum) to all Scholars in residence which can be used on the printers in the Scholars’ Room. Unused credit does not roll over and it is not normally possible to provide additional credit.
In addition, many Scholars will have access to free or discounted printing via their College and/or department.
Outreach and promotion
Outreach
Scholars and Alumni can undertake outreach via the Ambassador Programme – a Scholar and Alumni-led and Trust-supported project to increase awareness about the Gates Cambridge Scholarships across the world.
Scholars and Alumni arrange formal presentations or informal conversations for their local universities, alma mater or other institutions. At present this is likely to be virtual, but once in person events are possible this may as part of a trip for a conference, fieldwork or holiday – or when they return home after their scholarship. There is no application process or formal arrangements. Please contact scholar.support@gatescambridge.org for the most up to date PowerPoint presentation and other materials.
If you give a presentation or talk – or have any questions – please email scholar.support@gatescambridge.org with details.
Promotion
There are two main ways you can help promote the Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme and the opportunities it offers:
- Send us your news so we can promote your achievements and successes.
- Create content – whether writing for The Scholar magazine, creating a blog or interviewing for a profile you can make your own contribution to profile raising.
Send us news
Knowing about the successes and activities of our Scholars and Alumni is key to showcasing the Gates Cambridge programme to the wider world and to our community. A good stream of news allows us to do this – as well as increasing an individual Scholar’s profile.
Will you or a Scholar you know:
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be a recipient of an award
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publish a book or paper
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take part in a significant international event
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organise a conference or similar event
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set up or play a significant new role in an NGO or other body
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write an op-ed
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about to be receive some media coverage
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or undertake something else we could promote
If so, send details to news@gatescambridge.org. If you can send details before the event all the better, but if you can only send details post event please do.
Create content
There are lots opportunities to create content. Find out what you can do for Gates Cambridge and how we can help you.
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Interview for a profile [links to pdf]
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Blog for us [links to pdf]
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Write an article for The Scholar magazine [links to pdf]
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Press releases and media contacts [links to pdf]
Please email news@gatescambridge.org with details.
Contact
The Trust’s staff are here to support and help you before, during and after your time at Cambridge.
You can contact the Scholar Support team at any point by email on scholar.support@gatescambridge.org.
The Trust needs to know about your academic progress and plans and any major changes to your circumstances at Cambridge. Please contact the Trust as soon as possible in any of the following circumstances:
- You are thinking about applying for Leave To Work Away – e.g. for fieldwork
- You are thinking about applying for Intermission (a break from your course) – e.g. for medical reasons
- You are experiencing financial, medical, personal, mental health or other difficulties that are impacting on your ability to successfully complete your course on time/at all
- You are thinking about changing your supervisor
- You are thinking about changing your course
- Any other circumstances that might affect your ability to make satisfactory academic progress
Please do not ignore any concerns or difficulties you may be experiencing. It is always the case that the sooner you inform the Trust of any important changes or difficulties you are experiencing the sooner we can help or signpost you to help in other parts of the Collegiate University. The Trust will always deal with all inquiries confidentially and is available to discuss any relevant issues with you.