Alumni Day: MSc in Applied Cancer Science

What does life after the MSc in Applied Cancer Science look like? At a recent alumni event, former students returned to the Department of Oncology to share their personal journeys. Each speaker highlighted how the course shaped their thinking, opened new doors, and helped define their next steps, whether in cancer research, clinical trials, or entrepreneurial ventures. Their stories offer a glimpse into the diverse paths available to graduates and the growing impact of translational cancer science across sectors.

 Sruthi Shakthivel - Translational Support Technician in Early-Phase Clinical Trials

Sruthi Shakthivel kicked off the morning by sharing her journey into the world of clinical trials. With a background in engineering, Sruthi particularly enjoyed studying translational research and clinical trials as part of the Applied Cancer Science course.

Keen to explore this area further, she chose a dissertation project working on LungVax – a pioneering clinical trial aiming to develop the world’s first preventive vaccine for lung cancer. Through this project, Sruthi was exposed to the many steps involved in preparing vaccine products for clinical studies and had the opportunity to learn from colleagues across different specialisms.

After graduating, Sruthi started working as a Translational Support Technician at the Oncology Clinical Trials Office within the Department of Oncology. In this role, she supports the translational support team’s goal to improve the efficiency, compliance, and sustainability of sample management within trial workflows. By providing expert input at every stage of trial planning, development, and delivery, the team helps ensure that biological insights are meaningfully integrated into clinical research, with translational endpoints appropriately planned and delivered. Sruthi has broad responsibilities in this role, including sample processing and storage, preparing trail documentation, training trial sites, quality assurance, and supporting patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE).

Sruthi is also a Technician Champion in the Medical Sciences Division and established the "Tech Shadow & Share" programme, offering technical staff a learning and development opportunity through short-term shadowing and hands-on placements.

Ellena O’Keeffe - DPhil Candidate in Cardiovascular Science

Next up, Ellena O’Keeffe shared her journey to undertaking a DPhil in Cardiovascular Science. Ellena studied the MSc in Applied Cancer Science after completing an undergraduate degree in Medical and Health Sciences at University College Cork. With her interests lying in cancer biology and translational science, Ellena completed her thesis project at the Target Discovery Institute, characterising 3D organoid models for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Ellena is now undertaking a British Heart Foundation (BHF)-funded DPhil in Cardiovascular Science. While the focus of her project lies in a different discipline, she credits the master’s course with equipping her with a broad set of transferable skills, including lab techniques, scientific communication, and a wealth of knowledge in multidisciplinary topics such as stem cell biology, immunology, and angiogenesis.

Beyond her academic work, Ellena also works as an Investment Director for the Oxford Seed Fund, Europe’s largest student-led venture capital fund. In this role, Ellena is responsible for sourcing, funding, and supporting promising start-ups and founders within the University of Oxford ecosystem. Her work spans the full investment cycle, from conducting specialist research and due diligence to presenting to the investment committee and finalising deals.

Gift Gwawawa - DPhil Candidate in Oncology

Gift Gwawawa moved to Oxford from Zimbabwe after being awarded a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study the MSc in Applied Cancer Science. Having studied Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology at Midlands State University, the master's course allowed him to delve much deeper into cancer biology and basic research.

Gift’s main interests lie in cancer detection and prevention, especially in the context of minimising the economic and social burden of the disease. With around 90% of all cancer-related deaths linked to late detection, his goal is to explore innovative approaches to help tackle this challenge.

Since completing the course, Gift has joined the O’Neill lab, studying extracellular matrix stiffness as an emerging hallmark of cancer. His DPhil research is looking into how cells sense and respond to tension.

Beyond the lab, Gift is driven by a broader mission: to help shape a thriving innovation ecosystem in Africa. Drawing on his scientific knowledge and his experience as a start-up founder and Managing Partner of the Rhodes Incubator, Gift is keen to engage with policymakers and the private sector to explore how Africa can cultivate and scale its own innovations for global impact.

Ashley Newton - DPhil Candidate in Oncology

Next up, Ashley Newton discussed how the connections he built during his master's helped to shape a DPhil project that closely aligns with his own research interests. Ashley studied Human Biology at Loughborough, before working as a Clinical Health Assistant within the NHS and volunteering on the chemotherapy wards.

Conversations with patients and healthcare professionals during this time sparked a deeper curiosity about the complexities of cancer care, inspiring him to study Applied Cancer Science to further his knowledge in the oncology field.

One of Ashley’s key takeaways from the course was the development of critical thinking skills; learning to reason, analyse, and hypothesise more effectively. These abilities, he notes, are essential for both clinical and research-focused careers.

Having seen the mental health challenges faced by cancer patients while working in the NHS, Ashley developed a particular interest in the overlap between psychiatric disease and cancer outcomes. Accumulating evidence shows that mental health can have significant impacts on survival and recurrence in cancer. Through conversations with academics during the master’s course, he was able to co-design a DPhil project tailored to his interests. Ashley’s current research in the O'Neill group focuses on how genetic polymorphisms associated with both cancer risk and psychiatric disease lead to morphological changes in brain cells.

Ashley also served as a student representative during his time on the MSc course and now chairs the student committee within the Department of Oncology. This role allowed him to build fruitful connections with academic and professional staff across the department and beyond, giving him opportunities he wouldn’t otherwise have had.

Pablo Lopez Ribelles - Industrial DPhil Candidate in Advanced Bioscience of Viral Products

Closing the alumni talks, Pablo Lopez Ribelles shared his experience of the MSc Applied Cancer Science programme and how it helped to fuel his career aspirations. Pablo undertook a BSc in Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, during which time he discovered an interest in cancer biology and took part in several research internships to learn more.

During the MSc course, Pablo particularly valued the abundance of learning resources and the chance to engage with world-leading experts, both in the classroom and through more informal interactions. These experiences gave him not only technical knowledge, but also insight into the real-world impact of translational science.

Since graduating, Pablo has gone on to start an industrial DPhil in Advanced Bioscience of Viral Products at the Dunn School of Pathology, in collaboration with the biotech company Oxford Biomedica. His research focuses on the development of lentiviral vectors for in vivo CAR-T cell therapy.

Finishing the day, the students and alumni heard from Dr Mike Moss, Careers Adviser at the Oxford University Careers Service. Mike shared valuable advice on career planning and job search strategy within the science and technology sector. The event concluded with a networking lunch, where students had the chance to connect with alumni and gain further insights into topics that had captured their interest during the talks.

 'The alumni day was a wonderful opportunity to connect with peers and witness the impressive range of career directions the MSc in Applied Cancer Science has supported. Seeing how our common skills and knowledge have translated into such a breadth of paths was truly inspiring.' - Jack Crusher, MSc Student 24/25

'Hearing from the students in the inaugural cohort of this program really opened my eyes to the wide range of opportunities that this degree provides as each former student was applying the skills and knowledge learned in this program in unique ways, within oncology and beyond. I found myself leaving the Alumni Day feeling very motivated because alongside the incredible DPhil and research work that these alumni are currently involved in, learning about the immense impact that they are also making in their extracurriculars reaffirmed a commitment to actionable change that I feel resonates throughout this program.' - Thomas Joyce, MSc Student 24-25

'It was lovely to connect with the ACS alumni at this year's reunion event. It was both fascinating and inspirational to hear about their diverse career paths following on from the course.'  - Lauren Woodman, MSc Student 24-25

The varied destinations of the inaugural MSc in Applied Cancer Science cohort reflect the flexibility of the course and the many doors it can open. By providing an environment for students to be curious, collaborate with experts, and develop cutting-edge knowledge and critical thinking skills, the MSc course has enabled alumni to refine their interests and forge their own paths. Their journeys highlight the value of stepping outside your comfort zone and exploring new opportunities. The Department of Oncology is proud to see the amazing roles our graduates have taken on and look forward to seeing how they continue to make an impact in cancer science and beyond.

To find out more about the course: MSc in Applied Cancer Science