How is Life as a Cancer Research PhD Student?
COVID-19 rocked the entire world. But with vaccination programs now being rolled out, it looks like we're on the cusp of returning to something that resembles normality. However, this wouldn't be possible without the work of an amazing army of workers including doctors, nurses, health policy planners, and volunteers. We recently caught up with one of these people. Lottie is a cancer and immunology PhD student at Queen Mary’s University in London. As part of our podcast series, she discussed the PhD application process, funding opportunities, and making new friends as an international student in a big city like London. Lottie also shared her insights into the future of cancer research and what it's like working as a COVID-19 vaccination volunteer!
- Healthcare Studies

Hi Lottie. Can you start by telling us about your situation? You're studying at two universities, right?
Sure! I'm a second-year PhD student in cancer and immunology. I'm kind of under the umbrella of Queen's University, and under that there's a couple of more institutes. So I do my research at Barts Cancer Institute, but I'll receive my actual PhD from Queen Mary University of London.
Many English universities are very historical, like Oxford and Edinburgh. What are your campuses like?
They're very different. Queen Mary's is a very modern campus. But Bart's Campus is an ex-monastery where monks lived. It's very historical and very cool. There’s an old plague pit underneath where we eat lunch.
That's really cool. We're interested in hearing more about your program...
The program I'm on is an integrated PhD It's referred to as a 1 plus 3, which means in my first year I rotated around three different labs. I did three four-month placements, which was really cool. I got to explore different ways of working. Then at the end of my first year, I got to choose which program to continue.
Can you walk us through the application process?
I started applying in February for a September start. And I got offered this PhD in March. Because I was applying for a general PhD, it was a fairly straightforward process. I had to write about why I wanted to do a PhD and what I could bring to the program. All that part was online. Then I got offered an interview. The interview format was a 15-minute presentation about anything I wanted. I presented my master's research. Then it was just a general interview, asking PhD-style questions.
How does the funding work with your Ph.D.?
I'm fully-funded by the Medical Research Council. My fees are paid for. I also get a stipend, and that’s tax-free. But there are lots of funding options. Some are funded by universities. Others by charities.

Where are you living? And what's the cost of living?
I'm in East London, Hackney. I live about a 15-minute cycle from the university. That's super useful. But as I'm sure you've heard, London is not cheap! Rent is anywhere from £650 [$900] per month. You can get by on a PhD salary, but you can't save anything. But London is still a fun place to live.
And what about other expenses? Like transport and food?
Lots of the other students cycle, too. It's safe, but I always wear a helmet. And lock up your bike, as there are some bicycle thefts in London. Public transport costs are capped at £9 [$12] a day, so you can't spend more than that. And you can get some financial support from the university for transport costs. I spend about £50 [$70] a week on food.
Do you work part-time to earn some extra cash?
Not generally, but I can pick up the odd shift here and there. I'm lucky that I have some savings from working before. That helps. You can get by here. You just need to be careful with money.
With the COVID situation, has it been hard making friends?
I started my course before COVID. So I knew a lot of my team already. So when we Zoom, it's quite easy to chat. But I don't envy people starting now. There isn't all that social interaction, but we can work in the lab as we've all gone into bubbles to stop the spread. And there are Zoom events in the evening. They're not ideal, but I'd suggest joining as many as possible.

What tips do you have for international students looking to make new friends after lockdowns start to end?
Go to all the socials. We do lots of pub quizzes. We also like pizza and movie nights. And there are lots of societies you can join. Whether you enjoy sport, poetry, or whatever...there's literally a society for everything.
Are there any culture shocks international students should prepare for?
English people are quite sarcastic! We often make fun of each other. It can come across as a bit rude to other people, but it's all meant in a friendly way!
Where does your passion for medicine come from?
I've always been interested in the human body and how it works. I did bio-med at undergrad. That's when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. I went along to lots of his treatments and I was also doing volunteer work for Cancer Research UK. I think all that sparked my interest.
You're helping out with the COVID vaccination drive in the UK. How's that going?
I applied to be a volunteer vaccinator. I had a Zoom interview. Then I went to a training session on how to give vaccines and speak to patients. I'll be deployed to a big vaccination center in London soon!

Recently it was World Cancer Day. Given your research, did you do anything special?
I always do, although obviously this year was a little different. We had a big Zoom call where lots of cancer charities and organizations got together. There were talks from researchers and patients in recovery. It wasn't as cool as meeting up in person, but it was still a nice event.
And how far have we come with cancer research?
COVID has been a huge setback. Funding for cancer will be cut soon, and there aren't as many opportunities for fundraising events. But overall, we're on an upward trend. The human genome sequence was one of the biggest things that happened and technology is helping massively. Lots of the data we use comes from computer analysis.
What will cancer research look like in the future?
It's becoming more personalized. People react to the same treatments really differently. Genetic sequencing of cancer tumors is going to be the future. And each patient will be treated individually. There won't be any one-size-fits-all treatment plans.
What are your plans after graduation?
I love research and being in the lab. So I think I'm going to stay in academia. I love the freedom of exploring ideas that interest you.
Do you have any last bits of advice for anyone thinking about doing a PhD?
It's a long process, but don't let that hold you back. Giving those extra years will get you into the career you want to be in. And it's beneficial in other ways. You learn so much about yourself. It's a great opportunity.
Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. You’re inspiring. You make me want to do more!
Thank you! And thank you for inviting me on. It's been really fun!

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Ashley Murphy
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After graduating with a degree in English literature and creative writing, Ashley worked as a bartender, insurance broker, and teacher. He became a full-time freelance writer in 2016. He lives and writes in Manchester, England.
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