Student Education News

The Faculty of Biological Sciences had great success at the 3rd annual Postgraduate Research conference

The Faculty of Biological Sciences had great success at the 3rd annual Postgraduate Research conference
Two students from the faculty have been named in the awards

The Faculty of Biological sciences enjoyed some impressive success at the 3rd annual University of Leeds Postgraduate Research Conference.Image of the UK as mapped by genes

Sebastian Eves-van Den Akker was placed 1st in the Postgraduate Research ‘Image of the Year’ and Natalie Hirst achieved 2nd in the ‘Postgraduate Researcher of the Year’.

Sebastian’s winning entry was a visually striking image of a set of genes representing the UK as seen from space.

His research project focuses on the potato Cyst nematode, Globodera Pallida, and the genome for this organism has recently been sequenced.

Sebastian sees the image (seen above) as a visualisation of the whole genome, where each gene (A,G,C,T) is visualised as a corresponding direction. Each gene can then be drawn following the idea that sequence and length are represented through shape and colour respectively.

“Lots of people from different departments who had seen my picture came over to talk to me afterwards, which was quite nice.”

Natalie Hurst was also recognised for her work on an early diagnostic test for a particular complication of bowel surgery that could save lives and reduce further complications. We have gathered some promising data and there is a view to commercial application which is ‘exciting stuff.’

“I came out of the event really proud to be part of this institution with lots of people doing amazing things for research.”

Please follow the link for more information on The Showcase PGR Conference 2012.

13th March 2013