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Student testimonial - Yoon-Seo Jo
Yoon-Seo Jo studied the iBSc Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology, run by the Division of Infection and Immunity. She describes how it became one of her highlights of medical school.
1 November 2021
Put down the stethoscope and pain of rote-learning and pick up the pipette and joy of scientific inquiry. This iBSc is all about asking 'why' without necessarily foreseeing a definitive answer.
I found it to be an incredibly rewarding experience and a brilliant opportunity to hone skills in critical appraisal, academic writing, and theoretical or experimental lab work.
These skills are most exercised in the pièce de résistance of the programme, the research project.
For me, a timely choice of iBSc along with a keen interest in evolution enabled me to pursue my project on the characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 evolution.
Pioneering research
Going beyond the 'iBSc year' and into clinical practice, a sound understanding of immunology remains paramount to understanding disease.
With immune homeostasis at the core of many pathologies, and immune physiology increasingly forming the basis of novel therapies, it is exciting to learn about pioneering research first-hand.
It goes without saying that the gravity of infectious diseases has never been so apparent.
The relevance of such topics is constantly referred to as we read, study, research, and write about them throughout the year.
Pastoral support
Modules are comprehensive in both breadth and depth, and seminars, journal clubs or lab meetings allow for an immersive academic experience.
Last (but not least), there is extensive pastoral support from course leaders / administrators, and a sense of wholeness in the programme structure.
For all these reasons and more, this iBSc has definitely been one of my highlights of medical school.
Yoon-Seo Jo, iBSc Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology, 2020-21
