Syeda Begum is an MRes Advanced Biological Science student within the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton.
Graduated in 2020 with a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Southampton. For my dissertation I worked on phosphatidylinositol research. This is where I utilised CRISPR-Cas9 technology to knock out the SRSF1 gene to assess the localisation of PI(4,5)P2 in nuclear speckles.
My research interests include molecular and cellular biology and the impact it has on various human diseases. My undergraduate dissertation allowed me to explore the various molecular signalling pathways and the wide functions in cells. My project specifically focused on the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate pathway and how lipids are regulated in the cell to modulate upstream and downstream signaling events.
For my MRes project I am focusing on the tumour suppressor gene PTEN the second most frequently mutated gene in many cancers. I will study the role of PTEN in the hypoxia pathway, a tumour in many cancer types including breast cancer. As well as this I will have the freedom to study various other ones.
Furthermore, I have worked in a DNA nanotechnology lab and am very interested in biotehcnology and bioinformatics. I would like to explore this field more once I have completed my MRes to expand my skillset.
Why I chose MRes Advanced Biological Science
I chose to do an MRes in Advanced Biological Science because I am fascinated by research and the way it can help improve our understanding of various human diseases so future work can be carried out to develop targeted anticancer therapies. My goal is to contribute valuable research for the field of cancer research.
Aims for the future
I would like to go on to a PhD in a topic related to my current MRes project so that I can pursue a career in research.
Computational and Systems Biology
Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, MRes Advanced Biological Science