Directory

Born and raised in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, I grew up enticed by nutritional programs in public schools. I honed my interest in state food programs through my senior thesis on historical conceptions of Malaysian food at Williams College, USA. After graduating with a BA in History and Computer Science, I conducted research on informal hawker economies, palm oil labour, and state milk projects at the ASEAN Research Centre, Asia School of Business, Kuala Lumpur. I am also a team member of the Malaysia Design Archive (MDA), a grassroots archive of Malaysian history and visual culture, where I coordinate programmes for community education. For my master’s program, I look to investigate the labour and political history of home economics education enacted by the Malaysian state in the 1950s and 1960s. I aim to examine the imposition of home economics’ logic of development and productivity on Malay women’s household practices, exploring the ways in which Malay women understood and contended with these ideas. I seek to apply my historical work toward better understanding and shaping contemporary food discourses, systems, and policies in Southeast Asia.

Previous Education

Williams College History, Computer Science

Growing up in Canada, I was fortunate to have teachers who nurtured my passion for both the sciences and humanities. But it was my exposure to history and philosophy of science as a visiting undergraduate at Cambridge which inspired me to pursue a path combining philosophy and medicine. I eventually chose to specialize in haematology-oncology, a field at the forefront of several exciting medical advances. Through my clinical work, I witnessed first-hand enthusiasm over “precision oncology” which many hope will revolutionize how we treat patients with cancer. My training in philosophy, however, also made me recognize the need for critical reflection to ensure that these advances translate into improvements in ethical and equitable patient care. My PhD will draw on my dual background in medicine and philosophy to undertake a philosophical analysis of precision oncology, examining a series of conceptual and ethical issues arising along the trajectory from basic science to clinical research and patient care. I’m honoured by the opportunity to pursue this research as a Gates Scholar and thrilled to return to Cambridge to join this inspiring multidisciplinary community.

Previous Education

Western University Schulich School of Medicine & Rotman Institute of Philosophy 2022
University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine & Inst. for the History & Philosophy of Science & Tech 2017
McGill University Faculty of Science 2013

As a Gates Scholar, I completed an MPhil in Chemistry, by research, in the laboratory of Professor David Klenerman. I studied the application of single molecule spectroscopy towards biomedicine. I am currently a Clinical Assistant Professor in Dermatology at Stanford. My main interest is the development and investigation of novel therapies for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a severe genetic blistering disorder that can have detrimental effects on both young children and adults. I currently serve as a clinical trialist investigating novel gene therapy interventions for wounds related to EB, along with treatment of itch. I have also continued to work on translational projects focused on chemistry-based approaches to diagnosis of skin cancer. I invite you to read about one our recent projects using a non-destructive mass spectrometry-based imaging technology called desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MSI):
https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2018/06/11/molecular-car-wash-aims-to-make-skin-cancer-surgery-quicker-and-more-accurate/

I am fascinated by the biological processes that underlie how plants interact with their environment, especially the symbiosis between plants and beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Evolved when plants first moved onto land, AM symbiosis is crucial to global carbon and nutrient cycles. The perception of AM fungi often enhances root growth, increasing the interface for symbiotic nutrient exchange. As an undergraduate at Cambridge, I identified the first receptor kinase required for this response in rice. As a Ph.D. student, I aim to pursue this exciting lead and elucidate the mechanisms of fungi perception and the signalling pathways that lead to enhanced root growth. This will also contribute to ongoing endeavours to engineer nitrogen-fixing symbiosis into cereal crops (e.g. rice) as it evolved from the older AM symbiosis and also involves reprogramming of root development. Nitrogen fertilisers produced from the Haber process have a substantial carbon footprint and realising this grand challenge will contribute towards sustainable, productive agriculture for food security. I am honoured to join the intellectual community at Gates Cambridge and aspire to contribute to work with transformative impacts on the society.

Previous Education

University of Cambridge

I am currently pursuing an MSc in Experimental Psychology. My project involves a close examination of various subcomponents of the word production pathway (e.g. semantics and phonology), as a function of age or brain-damage. I completed my bachelor’s degree in biology, with a concentration in neuroscience, at Williams College. As an aspiring physician-scientist, I see myself playing a role in the vast effort in combating degenerative brain disorders.

I am at Cambridge reading Part III Maths. Last year I graduated from Stanford University, with degrees in mathematics and physics. I spent most of my childhood in Edmond, Oklahoma, but more recently spent time in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After finishing Part III, I plan to return to Stanford to complete my PhD in pure maths, probably studying Geometric Analysis, Differential Geometry and/or Geometric PDE. After my PhD, I hope to enter academia as a research mathematician.

I'm a history PhD, focusing on reserve currency politics and economic thought in the Bretton Woods period from 1945 to 1971. The greater part of the present Bretton Woods literature deals with high political and high bureaucratic narratives. My goal is to deepen our understanding of the politics of the Bretton Woods era by uncovering neglected narratives of global imbalances from trade unions, business associations, and the financial press.

During my undergraduate work I have been involved in extra-curricular independent research with Mobilab Technologies, a biotech company founded by a partner and myself. As its V-P I have been responsible in large part for the development of a bioelectric solar cell, offering a much lower cost alternative to conventional solar technologies by using robust, renewable biological materials. Within the academic sphere I have researched towards the improved characterization of the Stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme, responsible for regulation of fat storage and widely pursued potential drug target. At Cambridge I intend to develop and characterize targeted antioxidant small molecules to provide improved therapies for age-related dysfunction, as well as to further understand the role of oxidative stress in the aging process. I believe this research provides an excellent balance of entrepreneurial potential with a desire for better understanding of fundamental biochemical processes.

I am a bilingual writer, best known for an award-winning two-part study of former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Hindu right. I studied economics in Delhi and Chennai and did brief stints in nonprofits and journalism before researching the Vajpayee volumes. A fellow of the New India Foundation and a grantee of the Robert B. Silvers Foundation, my work draws on extensive archival research and has been critically acclaimed for its interdisciplinary depth and rigor, and featured and reviewed in leading South Asian and international publications. As a Gates Cambridge Scholar at Peterhouse, I will pursue a PhD in history, researching colonial elections and the making of Indian executive power, 1920–47.

Previous Education

Anna University Economics 2010
University of Delhi Economics 2007

I am a Bangladeshi American and first-generation college student who was born and raised in New York City. Growing up as a child of immigrants in one of the world’s largest public school systems, I witnessed first-hand the disparities that existed for students with immigrant backgrounds in the public educational system. South Asian immigrants, like myself, often come from a culture where disability education and female education is stigmatized, and this creates further barriers for first-gen students in the educational system. Knowing this, I knew I wanted to make a difference in the field of education. For the last four years, I have been teaching K-12 and helping thousands of first generation students with college matriculation. I am proud to say this May, I will be graduating with a teaching certification and undergraduate dual degree in adolescent education & history from CUNY Hunter College. At the University of Cambridge, I will be receiving my MPhil in Education from the Knowledge, Power and Politics program in order to research the ways that inclusive curricula that work for multicultural students. I am honored to be among the brilliant network of Gates Scholars, who will mobilize me in my pursuit for educational equity.

Previous Education

Hunter College Adolescent Education & History 2023

I grew up in New Jersey and California, and coming from a multilingual family with Indian roots inspired my dedication to enhancing global health and tackling inequities. While studying Biological Engineering at MIT, I pursued my interest in point-of-care diagnostics, focusing on accessible biotechnologies to identify and treat disease. I contributed to developing low-cost testing for bacterial water contamination in South Asia, and currently work at a startup advancing sequencing-based diagnostics. At Cambridge, I will pursue an MRes and PhD in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensor Technologies. My research will focus on CRISPR-based diagnostics to address antimicrobial resistance and expand equitable access to care. I am honoured to join the Gates Cambridge community, and look forward to learning alongside my peers as we work toward enabling global health innovations that serve all people.

Previous Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Biological Engineering 2024

My PhD research will focus on various lifestyle, behavioural and genetic risk factors of cardiovascular disease in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and Pakistan, based on collaborative primary studies between Cambridge and local leading cardiovascular facilities. These are countries which, despite huge vascular disease burden, remain largely unaddressed. Comprehensive evidence expected from this work should contribute importantly to scientific understanding, to the development of locally appropriate strategies to prevent and control the disease, and to the efficient use of scarce resources for vascular prevention in low-income countries. Additionally, as a scientific coordinator of a large consortium of UK-based cohorts (CNC, comprising over 100,000 participants), I am investigating the roles of diet and nutrigenetics to increase cardiovascular risk in Western population.

Previous Education

University of Cambridge MPhil in Epidemiology 2007
University of Dhaka MBBS 2002

Links

http://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/people/ceu-group/ceu-senior-research-staff/rajiv-chowdhury

Growing up in a rural town in the deltaic plains of Bangladesh, I watched the natural environment vanishing in front of my eyes to meet the demands of a growing population and natural disasters. Responding to the growing need for conservation and my passion for wildlife, I have been working in research, conservation and behavioral ecology of globally threatened species in Asia for the past 12 years, focusing on threatened coastal and riverine birds. An undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and MPhil degree from the University of Cambridge have complimented my career, helping me to further understand the complex conservation problems that migratory birds face and to find science-based solutions through rigorous research. The intertidal mudflats of Asia are key habitats, supporting more than 50 million migratory birds, including 33 globally threatened species. My PhD will focus on understanding the habitat requirements of these shorebirds in the coastal areas of Bangladesh and the multiple factors driving their population decline such as intense human pressure and climate change. My work aims to identify the most effective long-term conservation measures for these species, ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Previous Education

University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership 2018
North South University, Dhaka Environmental Science 2010

I have chosen Genetics and Molecular as my major because I have been pursuing a career as a scientist who can elucidate the basic mechanisms of biological phenomena. I have done a cytogenetic study on Malaysian bananas and a molecular investigation on MICA, one of the HLA genes. In my PhD project, I am looking at the role of chloroplast protein synthesis in regulating the expression of nuclear genes encoding photosynthesis proteins.

My aspirations to advance sustainable energy using computational materials research emerged from the convergence of pretty disparate influences. I first fell in love with materials science when I saw how different ceramic firing techniques affect the finish on pottery. Born and raised in the California Bay Area, I'd also grown to appreciate the capacity for computer science to augment scientific research, while simultaneously witnessing the detrimental effects of wildfires on people's lives. As an undergraduate at Stanford University, I've had the opportunity to explore broad intersections between all of these interests. My computational materials science research has focused on predicting local crystal structure around simulated particles. In the field of AI for climate change, I've performed research on automated dataset creation to facilitate urban transportation planning. At the University of Cambridge, I will combine what I've learned from these experiences by using generative machine learning models to accelerate materials discovery for batteries. Through this work during my MPhil and PhD, I hope to aid in designing more efficient renewable energy storage.

Previous Education

Stanford University Computer Science, AI Track 2021

In April 2013 I graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo. Over the course of my training I worked for a total of 24 months split between five organizations. This really gave me a feel for the engineering and construction industry. As I grew in experience I began to notice recurring problems; delays, workflow problems, mistakes in design and construction, the difficulties of quality control, wasted resources and poor communication. Like a good engineer, I want to tackle these issues. Therefore, at Cambridge I will pursue an MPhil in Construction Information Technology. Through it I hope to find novel solutions to these industry problems by implementing concepts such as augmented reality and real-time object recognition. I can envision a much better industry, and I intend to be part of the push to get there.