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Several students from both University of Dundee and University of Edinburgh have secured summer internship placements to gain hands-on research experience in their respective fields. These placements offer a unique opportunity for students to work alongside renowned supervisors and contribute to cutting-edge projects. This year's placements include a range of exciting projects, from investigating the metabolism of disease-relevant oligodendrocytes to evaluating the use of digital technologies to monitor motor neuron disease remotely.
Meet our summer students
Maria Adjoa Amoah
Supervisor(s): Prof Suvankar Pal, Christine Weaver & Yinhuan Dong
Programme: BGS–Vivensa UG Studentship
I am a medical student at the University of Edinburgh undertaking a six-week internship based at the Anne Rowling Clinic. During my placement, I am helping evaluate how digital technologies can be used to monitor people living with motor neuron disease remotely.
My work includes contributing to a systematic review, analysing clinic data, supporting research clinics, and conducting a questionnaire study for thematic analysis.
I hope to become a doctor who combines clinical practice with research. I have really enjoyed my time at the Anne Rowling Clinic so far and look forward to learning even more over the coming weeks.
Céleste Cliquet
Supervisor: Sophie Hawkins
Laboratory: Selvaraj/Chandran Lab
I am an incoming third-year Neuroscience undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh. During my eight-week research project, I am investigating the metabolism of disease-relevant oligodendrocytes using human stem cell-derived ALS models in the Selvaraj/Chandran Lab.
In the future, I hope to pursue a career in neurodegeneration research.
Destiny Irimagha
Supervisor(s): Yinhuan Dong, Christine Weaver & Prof Suvankar Pal
Programme: HDR UK Black Internship Program
Hello! I am studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Dundee and am currently working as a digital intern. I am supporting a pilot study investigating the use of wearable devices for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
After completing my degree, I hope to continue exploring health data science and how digital technologies can improve healthcare.
Ruaridh Johnstone
Supervisor: Daria Iakovleva
Laboratory: Selvaraj/Chandran Lab
Programme: Edinburgh Medical School (EMS) Biomedical Science Scholarship
I am entering my final year as a Neuroscience undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh. My research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.
This summer, I am investigating how disease-associated mutations affect microglia—the brain's resident immune cells—and how these changes may contribute to chronic inflammation and disease progression. I am particularly interested in combining laboratory research with the analysis of large biological datasets to identify new therapeutic targets.
In the future, I hope to pursue a career in clinical research, helping translate discoveries in neuroscience into new treatments that improve the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
We are delighted to welcome and support the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals as they gain hands-on experience in research into neurological conditions.
We wish all of our students every success during their time with us and look forward to seeing where their journeys take them.
Header image - top row left to right: Maria Adjoa Amoah, Céleste Cliquet; bottom row left to right: Ruaridh Johnstone, Destiny Irimagha