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.
Rebecca Stevens was awarded an SCI Scholarship in 2024. At the end of their scholarship, SCI Scholars present a report to SCI. Read on to find out what she has done in her first year as an SCI Scholar.
" My PhD research has focused on accelerating the discovery of new medicines, specifically an exciting class of molecules known as targeted protein degraders, by miniaturising chemical synthesis and removing the purification bottleneck that is typically required before testing compounds in biological assays. This process known as ‘Direct-to-Biology' allows a 10-to 100-fold increase in throughput during the early stages of drug discovery and has received significant interest in the pharmaceutical industry over recent years. My PhD project has resulted in three primary research papers in peer-reviewed journals, as well as a review article on the use of Direct-to-Biology and high-throughput methods for targeted protein degrader discovery, which was published in RSC Chemical Society Reviews. We are currently preparing a final manuscript from this work, which we hope will be published soon.
"I have really enjoyed attending events run by the SCI during my PhD, including the 2024 SCI Scholar’s Showcase where I was able to present my research to a wide audience, and pleasingly awarded one of the annual poster prizes! The SCI events have also really expanded my scientific network, providing an opportunity to learn from those who are further on in their careers and receiving helpful advice for my future career in science. These interactions gave me my first insights into the biotechnology sector, which I have subsequently started a role in following the recent completion of my PhD.
" In March, I used the funding from the SCI Scholarship to attend the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring 2025 conference, one of the largest international events in chemistry. I was invited to speak at the session entitled ‘Accelerating Drug Discovery with Direct-to-Biology', alongside top contributors in the field. This was incredibly exciting for me as the Direct-to-Biology field was minimal upon the start of my PhD and this event provided an opportunity to not only meet the key drivers of growth in this field but also present my research alongside them. I would really like to thank the SCI for this amazing opportunity, which would not have been possible without the Scholarship."
Rebecca Stevens
PhD Student
University of Strathclyde
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