Undergraduate Ellison Scholars present impact-driven research at EIT’s first Internship Symposium
The first cohort of Undergraduate Ellison Scholars came together for the inaugural Internship Symposium in September, showcasing the projects they worked on during EIT's first undergraduate summer internship programme.
On 29 September, the first cohort of Undergraduate Ellison Scholars came together for the inaugural Internship Symposium, showcasing the projects they worked on during EIT's first undergraduate summer internship programme.
The event marked the culmination of 10 weeks spent embedded within EIT teams, where 15 Scholars applied the knowledge, skills and perspectives developed during their first year at Oxford to projects advancing EIT's research Programs and mission.
Throughout the Symposium, each Scholar presented their work to an audience of peers, supervisors, scientists and colleagues from across EIT. Their presentations highlighted not only the breadth of activity undertaken during the summer, but also the value of bringing talented students into multidisciplinary teams tackling complex real-world challenges.
10-week Internships
As the first Ellison Scholars cohort, the students have been the first to integrate into EIT teams as part of the undergraduate internship programme. In the lead up to their internships, the Scholars were carefully matched with supervisors within EIT’s research Programs to work on projects that matched their skill sets and would have measurable impact.
Working across a range of teams and disciplines, Scholars contributed to projects spanning EIT's research and innovation activities, with topics ranging from bacterial resistance to autonomous labs. The internship programme provided an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of mission-driven research while collaborating with scientists, engineers and subject-matter experts.
During their time working at EIT, the students also benefitted from skills training, mentoring and opportunities to learn from external speakers.
Undergraduate Ellison Scholar Daniel Gilman, who studies Computer Science at Oxford, said: “Over the summer, I worked on a project while being integrated directly in a research team within EIT’s Pathogen Program. One of my favorite parts of the internship was how open everyone was to meeting with me, helping me understand their research and answering any questions that I had. The close contact with scientists allowed me to quickly learn the domain knowledge for my project.”
The Symposium
For the final day of their summer at EIT, each intern prepared presentations and posters to share their impressive work with their peers and supervisors. Students working within EIT’s AI and Robotics Program delivered their presentations first, followed by those working within EIT’s Generative Biology Institute and Pathogen Program, with the third and final round of presentations coming from Plant Biology and Materials and Devices for Life Sciences interns.
The students were supported by their research supervisors and the teams they worked with over the summer, who sat in the audience and engaged in the Q&As. Attendees from across EIT posed alternate perspectives on the Scholars’ work and findings, and asked about the practicalities of implementing the Scholars’ proposed solutions. The students answered questions from EIT colleagues and fellow students from a wide variety of disciplines, giving them first-hand experience of the interdisciplinary thinking at the heart of EIT’s mission.
Professor Steve Kelly, Principal Scientist for the Plant Biology Institute at EIT and member of the Board of Directors, said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome the undergraduate interns into the Plant Biology Institute and see them become part of our research community. The quality of their work, enthusiasm for science and willingness to tackle new challenges have impressed colleagues across the institute, and they have made valuable contributions to the teams they supported.”
Professor Gil McVean, Principal Scientist for the Pathogen Program at EIT and member of the Board of Directors, said: “One of the most encouraging aspects of the internship programme has been seeing how quickly the students integrated into their teams and made meaningful contributions. The symposium showcased not only the high calibre of their work, but also the creativity, energy and fresh perspectives they brought to EIT's research programmes.”
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