The Quadram Institute held its annual Student Science Showcase on 20 January 2025. The event, organised by members of the Quadram Student Forum (QSF) committee , serves two purposes. It offers an ideal opportunity for students to present their research to the institute and it also functions as a training exercise to develop students’ presentation skills in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Behind the scenes: organising the showcase

The Quadram Student Science Showcase is a result of months of planning and hard work by QSF, a committee of four postgraduate research students. Beyond their own PhD projects, these students dedicate their time to organising events aimed at promoting both the wellbeing and professional development of their fellow students at the Institute.

Planning for the Showcase began last summer and continued over the following months alongside the committee’s PhD projects, which was challenging yet rewarding.

Raphael Hans Lwesya, QSF’s Engagement Officer says,  “ It required dedication, teamwork, and resilience, but seeing the event come together made every effort worthwhile”.

Elin Smith, Vice Chair of QSF, agrees that it was a “rewarding experience” and that’s “despite the many challenges that came with organising this event”.

The committee handled everything from catering and abstract reviews to poster setup, programme design, and coordinating with sponsors to cover the running costs and prizes.

Student talks take centre stage

The heart of the Quadram Student Science Showcase lies in the presentations given by students. This year’s event featured twelve talks, offering a fascinating glimpse into the diverse research occurring at the institute.

Josh Horton, chair of the QSF reflects “The talks provided invaluable experience for the students, especially for those needing practice before attending external conferences”.

The sessions showcased the diverse research at the Quadram Institute. The first session explored the link between diet, health, and the gut microbiome, including the impact of diet on the microbiome and efforts to genetically modify foods.

The second sessions highlighted cutting-edge sequencing technologies, particularly long-read techniques and their applications.

The third session focused on epidemiology, showing how sequencing and metadata are used to study disease spread, including SARS-CoV-2 and E. coli transmission.

Finally, Session 4 examined bacterial genomics, exploring how genomic tools investigate bacterial processes like plasmid transfer, microbiome therapies, and gene expression. Each session was hosted by members of the QSF committee, facilitating engaging discussions during the Q&A periods, and ensuring that the sessions ran smoothly and stayed within the allocated time.

Congratulations to all the speakers, and especially to Alice Nisbet, who won the “People’s Choice” prize for her insightful talk on typhoid fever.

The poster session

While the presentations showcased the work of more senior students, the lunchtime poster session provided a platform for students at all stages to share their findings.

Heloise Vinette, QSF’s Wellbeing Officer, says, “The poster session helped spark great conversations for potential future work.”

Elin adds, “It was really helpful to discuss my research with other students and researchers that you wouldn’t normally meet with day-to-day ”.

The poster session had prizes awarded to well-deserved individuals. Congratulations to Raphael Hans Lwesya, who received the “Best Presented Poster” prize, sponsored by the Institute’s communications team. Also, to Deus Kamya, whose work was recognised with the “Outstanding Research Poster” award, judged by a panel of group leaders.

An inspiring keynote

A highlight of the Quadram Student Science Showcase was the keynote address delivered by Professor Christopher Stewart from Newcastle University. His talk, titled “Diet-microbe-host interaction in early life: discovery of novel microbial therapies,” explored the crucial role of gut microbiome development in early life and its profound impact on both short-term and long-term health.

Professor Stewart discussed the fascinating development of the microbiome from birth, the influence of bioactive components in breast milk on shaping the infant microbial community, and how a deeper understanding of diet-microbe-host interactions is paving the way for the discovery of innovative microbial therapies.

Beyond the specific scientific content, Professor Stewart also shared invaluable insights into his own career path. He spoke openly about the various challenges he’s faced throughout his professional life.

Heloise remarks, “It was a nice reminder that every person’s journey is different.”

Josh adds “Christopher’s talk provided a realistic and inspiring perspective for those hoping to embark on their own scientific journeys.”

Concluding Thoughts

The Quadram Student Science Showcase proved yet again to be a resounding success, offering a valuable platform for students to share their research, hone their presentation skills, and engage in meaningful dialogue with students and staff.

The event underscored the importance of providing students with opportunities to practice communicating their science in a supportive and welcoming environment. From the insightful talks and engaging poster presentations to the thought-provoking keynote address, the Showcase highlighted the impressive calibre of research being conducted at the Quadram Institute and the dedication of its student researchers. It served as a powerful reminder of the crucial role students play in driving scientific discovery and shaping the future of research.

Heloise, previously the wellbeing officer, but becoming Chair this month, concludes, “I am very proud of the team effort the QSF committee showed and I am already excited to organise the next one in 2026”.

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