For forty years, SCI has supported and recognised the excellence of early career scientists, by aiding their studies in the form of an SCI Scholarship.
Since 1985 more than 80 scholarships have been awarded which have not only given the recipients financial assistance, but have enabled them to broaden their network, and strengthen their skills and knowledge. SCI Scholars receive access to publishing and mentoring opportunities and are given a platform to present their work amongst esteemed scientists and industrialists, raising their profile within the scientific community.
We are delighted to announce that Harry Palmer, from the University of Strathclyde, has been awarded an SCI Scholarship of £5,000 over two years to support his PhD project.
In addition to the scholarship, Harry will benefit from publishing opportunities, access to a high-calibre network to help launch his career, and opportunities to present his work and raise his profile within the scientific community.
SCI Scholarships are prestigious and well respected by the industry. The SCI Scholars Fund was established in 1920 by the requests of Rudolph Messel and John Gray, both former presidents and founding members of SCI. SCI believes in nurturing the scientists of the future. Each year, SCI provides scholarships and bursaries to early career scientists including opportunities to attend or present at an international conference.
"I received my BA and MSci degrees in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge in 2023. As part of my undergraduate studies, I completed my master’s research project under the supervision of Prof Robert Phipps investigating strategies for functionalising aromatic molecules with sulfoniums, a chemical linchpin which offer a rich selection of further chemistries. In my final year, I was awarded the Gordon Wigan Prize for best organic research project, as well as the Raphael Prize, awarded to the best student in Organic Chemistry. In 2024, I began my PhD studies on the collaborative programme between GSK and the University of Strathclyde in the research group of Prof Glenn Burley.
"My research aims to develop new chemical strategies for the synthesis of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), an exciting new chemical modality which is seeing a rapid growth in the clinic. These combine two key entities: antibodies, and anti-cancer medicines. Antibodies can recognise and bind to cancer cells bearing distinct surface structures, whereby the antibody is then carried into the cell. By combining antibodies with potent cancer drugs, ADCs function as targeted chemotherapeutics, driving the delivery of the attached drugs into cancerous cells selectively, thereby sparing healthy cells and leading to improved tolerability and better patient outcomes.
"The overall aim of my research is to build new methods which offer a greater level of control over this drug attachment process, forming novel ADCs with greater efficacy and stronger safety profiles, enabling the design of next-generation ADCs, and accelerating their development for the clinic.
"I am incredibly honoured to have been awarded with this SCI Scholarship, and grateful to the SCI for providing invaluable training and support over the final two years of my PhD. This scholarship will enable me to broaden my scientific network, through sharing my research with other emerging industrial scientists in the College of Scholars. Furthermore, I look forward to discussing my research with the wider industrial and academic scientific communities at SCI conferences and events. Combined together, these will accelerate the development of my career as a scientist in industry, improving the quality of research in my PhD and beyond."
Harry Palmer, GSK/University of Strathclyde Collaborative Industrial PhD Programme
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