Graduate scholar Miranda Bate
Miranda Bate (2024) is in her second year of a DPhil in Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease. Here, she speaks about her field research and how life at Merton enables her to pursue her passion for sports alongside her studies, playing Blues lacrosse.
"Initially based at the Dunn School of Pathology in a wet lab role, I later transferred to a clinical research group within the Department of Paediatrics and the Centre for Human Genetics. My research focuses on nutrition and the infant gut microbiome. I am leading a new study on the coast of Kenya at KEMRI-Wellcome Research Trust Programme, based in Kilifi. There, I met the other members of my research group and worked closely with local field teams, visiting rural villages to better understand the cultural, social, and healthcare contexts in which our research takes place. Meeting local families and spending time in schools, hospitals, and village health centres was invaluable in helping me appreciate the broader picture behind my research and also informing practical aspects of my sample collection, such as lack of refrigeration in participants’ homes.
"Being in the field has reignited my passion for science as a force for tangible change. I’ve found that being closer to patients and vulnerable populations brings into focus the real-world impact and responsibility of scientific research. It reaffirms why I want to be at the forefront of scientific knowledge, and what that truly means for people’s daily lives in the wider world.
"I never imagined that by the end of the first year of my DPhil I would lead my own project, write a grant application, and switch to computational biology. Changing fields and developing into an independent researcher have been incredibly rewarding. This highlights for me that pursuing a DPhil at Oxford isn’t only about what you learn, but also about equipping yourself with the skills to be able to teach yourself, remembering that you can learn anything, and the value of connecting and listening to people from all sorts of backgrounds with a diverse range of expertise. In our modern world where things are constantly changing, this is more relevant and important than ever before.
"Outside of my research, I’m actively involved in the Merton community. I serve on the organising committee for the Merton Biomedical and Life Sciences Network, and last Trinity term, I organised our first in-person student research symposium. I also enjoy being a Merton tour guide, sharing the College’s rich history and modern life with visitors from around the world.
"And then there is sport, which is a huge part of my life here at Oxford and a large part of who I am. Sport has always provided me with balance, mental clarity, and community alongside academic life. My undergraduate degree was in the US, on a sports scholarship, and I played NCAA Division 1 lacrosse. Here at Oxford, I had the opportunity to continue the sport, and last year I was awarded a Blue for representing Oxford in the Women’s Lacrosse team, receiving a Merton Lisle Award for my part in winning the Varsity match. I have also been able to start new sports, namely athletics, for Oxford University Athletics Club. I’m grateful that Oxford and Merton are helping to sustain opportunities for sport in my life here.
"Having gone through the first year of my DPhil, I am clear that clinical science is exactly what I want to pursue, and that my DPhil will pave the way for an exciting career. I am incredibly thankful for the support from Merton which enables me to pursue work that feels both meaningful and right."
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