London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Educational/professional background

I hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. My BSc majored in biology, and specialised in microbiology, and my BHSc majored in environmental population health. I completed a six-month exchange at the University of Sheffield before graduating in June 2024. I then worked as a research assistant at the University of Liverpool on a mosquito surveillance project at Chester Zoo and the Leahurst University of Liverpool campus, before moving to London to begin my MSc. 

Research interests or career goals

I am most interested in the impact of climate change on the spread of zoonotic diseases. My previous research projects have focused on the risks associated with vector mosquito breeding in the UK, Canada and New Zealand. I am also passionate about improving public access to, and understanding of, microbiology and environmental health through science communication and writing.  

Why I chose LSHTM/my programme

I first found LSHTM in 2019, during my final year of secondary school in a rural town of New Zealand. I was drawn to its international focus and the interdisciplinary nature of its modules, which aligned with many of my interests then and now. I chose the MSc Climate Change & Planetary Health course because its focus is on improving the health of people, whilst promoting the health of the planet. This field is not only deeply important it is also becoming increasingly relevant within public health. 

Extra information

I am currently studying part-time while working on various research assistant projects during my MSc.