2014 Alumni
Our very first cohort are now entering their writing up, submission and graduation year. Some have already passed their viva and others are writing up whilst in paid employment. We are looking forward to seeing them all at graduation!

Alastair Davy
Currently writing up
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Detection of melanoma"
Professional experience
Research and Development Scientist at NanoComposix

Alisia Sim
Business Analyst
PharmaVentures, Oxford
PhD OPTIMA PhD " Microcalcifications in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques" Viva passed!
Professional experience
Business Analyst Internship at MedCap Funds
Business Development Internship at iThera Medical

Catherine Lynch
Currently writing up
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Detection of extracellular vesicles released during non-Hodgkin's lymphoma"
Professional experience
Intellectual Property Internship at HGF

Evita Ning
Senior Research Associate in Pharmaceutics
School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Raman detection of bacteria in biofilms"
Professional experience
Research and Development Scientist at CellInk

Joseph Willson
Currently writing up
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Investigation of the role of the neutrophil mitochondria in the context of neutrophil hypoxic survival"
Professional experience
Expedition Scientist during APEX5 Expedition to Bolivia
Press Officer at the University of Edinburgh Press Office

Holly Fleming
Currently writing up
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Developing fibre-based smart probes for in vivo lung imaging"
Professional experience
Policy Specialist at the Royal Society of Edinburgh

Rachael Cameron
Part-time Records Management Executive
Clintec
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) assessment of anti-cancer drug-nanoparticle
conjugates in non-small cell lung cancer"
Professional experience
Senior Records Management Executive at Clintec

Samuel Stanfield
Application Scientist
Edinburgh Instruments
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-based nanosensors:
- measuring redox potential and immune response in human lungs
- measuring pH in cystic fibrosis macrophage phagolysosomes"
Professional experience
Assistant Editor at THINK Magazine

Thane Campbell
Enterprise Services Research Intern
Edinburgh Innovations
PhD OPTIMA PhD "Multimodal imaging of elastase in vascular and pulmonary disease"
Professional experience
Recruitment and Challenges Lead Internship at Deep Science Ventures