Rea

I’m Rea and I’m in my fourth and final year of Molecular Bioengineering. 

I grew up in Albania and attended the public education system there until I was 17 years old. In my penultimate year of high school, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to pursue the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at St. Clare's in Oxford – an opportunity that not only facilitated my transition to the UK as an international student but also provided me with the foundations to handle the academic rigour of my undergraduate studies here.

Choosing Bioengineering

I have always been intrigued by how knowledge and tools from maths, physics, chemistry, and computer science can be leveraged to solve biological problems – both in terms of understanding fundamental science and coming up with innovative solutions to healthcare and environmental issues. During my university application process, I came across the Molecular Bioengineering course at Imperial and it almost sounded as if someone had read my mind and designed the dream course for me at the intersection of science, engineering and medicine.

Research at Imperial

Inspired by her TED talk, one of the very first emails I sent with my Imperial email address was to Professor Molly Stevens the summer before I started my first year, asking if I could join her lab as an undergraduate researcher. Being part of the Stevens Group has been a centerpiece of my experience at Imperial, as I have grown personally and professionally in one of the most prominent, diverse and supportive bioengineering research groups in the world.

I have been fortunate to be mentored by incredible postdoctoral researchers including Dr David Peeler (immunoengineering expert and my fantastic mentor for the past two years), as well as Dr Vernon LaLone and Dr Jelle Penders. My final year project primarily focused on developing characterisation methods for nanomaterials as nucleic acid delivery platforms used in the context of targeted vaccines to fight and prevent disorders ranging from cancer to infectious diseases. Not only have I been engaged in exciting, cutting-edge bioengineering research, but also in some of the most enjoyable lab social events ranging from sports games and a scavenger hunt in Hyde Park to gala nights.

The past few years have been a pure joy, and I am absolutely thrilled to continue this journey as a PhD student from next year.

Imperial Horizons

While Imperial has a reputation for being a world-class STEM institution, there are plenty of opportunities to explore disciplines beyond your degree through Horizons classes. During my first year, I took Making and Prototyping, which was still a technical course, but helped me gain some useful practical skills such as Arduino, 3D printing, and laser cutting through fun hands-on activities. In second year, I did German level 3, and in third year I did Science, Policy and Power, where I was able to explore the intersection between science and policy-making and reflect on the wider societal impact of our scientific advancements.

Effecting Change

When I had just started first year, I decided to run as an academic representative for my Molecular Bioengineering cohort, not quite knowing what I was signing up for at the time. Since then, I have the privilege of representing bioengineering students for four years in a row, as well as 9,000+ students as a Faculty of Engineering union council representative for the past two years.

The Department of Bioengineering has made incredible efforts in upholding the highest standards of student-staff relations, particularly throughout the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, they decided to appoint a member of the academic staff as a ‘Student Liaison Officer’ to advocate on students’ behalf and collaborate directly with the reps. This role was expertly handled for the first two years by Dr David Labonte, whose contributions laid the foundation for the bioengineering representation network that exists today.

Engaging in representation roles within the department, faculty and the union has brought me closer to my peers and staff members, and our collaborations have proved to be extremely positive and productive.

Whether it be the implementation of new educational policies, curriculum modifications or campaigns ranging from enhancing the accessibility of UROPs to addressing the cost-of-living crisis, it’s truly gratifying to think of the multitude of ways in which Imperial students and staff spearhead not only groundbreaking scientific advancements, but also changes that enrich the student life and experience.

Extracurriculars

With so many clubs and societies at Imperial, you can be certain that you will find something you like outside of your studies. At some point during second year, I remember counting about eight extracurriculars that I was engaged in simultaneously. While it may be overwhelming to strike the right balance between extracurriculars with academic responsibilities, these pursuits have enriched my experience and given me a sense of purpose and belonging that couldn’t have been replicated by sitting in the library all day. Among all the fun activities with clubs and societies, one of the most memorable experiences for me will be the beach volleyball tour to Portugal this year - a fantastic combination of competition and fun social activities with fellow students from all over the UK.