Balancing a Full-Time Research Career and Studying: Insights from an MSc Precision Cancer Medicine Graduate

The MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine at the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology is a two-year, part-time course, offering students from diverse backgrounds an overview of the scientific and clinical principles involved in precision medicine. The multidisciplinary course equips students with advanced knowledge and cutting-edge skills across cancer genomics and pathology, omics techniques, experimental therapeutics, bioinformatics, ethics, and health economics.

Sergey Dyshlovoy, Priv.-Doz., PhD, DSc, undertook the MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine in 2022-2024, alongside his full time role as a postdoctoral researcher and becoming a new parent. He shares his experience of the programme and how it has inspired new projects in his lab.

Can you tell us about your background?

I did this MSc at a rather advanced stage in my career. First, I studied chemistry and did my PhD in this discipline. Then I worked in research and completed my second degree, which was a DSc in biochemistry, and then did my habilitation (a German equivalent to an Associate professor). Currently, I work in Hamburg at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf as a postdoc and I am involved in the research of aggressive variants of prostate cancer.

How did you hear about the MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine course and what made you decide to apply?

As with many things nowadays, I learned about the programme from the internet while searching relevant courses. Being a chemist and biochemist by training, I wanted to upgrade and update my knowledge in the dynamic field of precision cancer medicine, as well as get an education closely related to the medical field that I currently work in. And if you invest your time, you certainly should learn from the best professionals in the field. Therefore, I decided on this course at Oxford. At the same time, the part-time nature of this course allowed me to commit to it without leaving my job.

What did you enjoy most about the course?

I personally loved the bioinformatics module, though I have never touched this field before. This led me to writing a dissertation on bioinformatics under the brilliant supervision of Dr. Dimitris Vavoulis and Dr. Grigore-Aristide Gafencu. However, the course had a rich variety of modules related to precision oncology, so anyone interested in the topic will benefit from this MSc program.

How has the MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine helped you to achieve your career goals?

The course has significantly advanced my knowledge and understanding of the field while equipping me with a valuable set of skills, including programming and data analysis. Having obtained so much new knowledge, I feel inspired and full of ideas for potential new projects to start in my lab. I just finished this program 2 weeks ago, so I am excited to see what happens next!

Would you recommend the course?

I would absolutely recommend this MSc to anyone with some background in oncology who wants to deepen their knowledge. At the same time, we also had several highly motivated students in our cohort who were new to the field.

What is your top tip for students wanting to study here?

There are a few key tips I’d like to share. First, as this is a part-time course, being well-organized and highly motivated is essential, especially if you work full-time. Having a clear purpose for pursuing this MSc will help keep you on track. Prior experience in the field can also be an advantage. Second, when choosing a dissertation topic, focus on an area that genuinely interests you—this will make the process far more engaging and allow you to develop skills that may be useful in your future career. Finally, remember that studying at Oxford is demanding but achievable with good time management. Yes, these past two years were extremely challenging, but I achieved a very good final mark while working full-time and having a baby at home, who was born just two weeks after the course started. With focus and dedication, you can do it too.

The MSc in Precision Cancer Medicine welcomes applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds, including health professionals, bioinformaticians, statisticians, and scientists working in target discovery and drug development. Coming from a chemistry background, Sergey gained valuable new skills through the program, which he now applies to his research in prostate cancer.

For more information and application details, please visit the Graduate Admissions webpage.