Bioengineering

An award-winning Bioengineering PhD student’s science writing has driven growing public and media engagement with brain ageing research, creating new opportunities to communicate emerging technologies beyond the lab.

Vanessa Drevenakova, a PhD researcher in the Morse Lab in the Department of Bioengineering, has seen her research reach new audiences following the publication of an award-winning science communication piece in The Observer. The article, which won the MRC Max Perutz Award for Writing, explores how emerging technologies could help support brain health as we age.

The piece introduces readers to microglia – small but vital immune cells in the brain – and explains their role in maintaining brain function over time.

Read Bioengineering PhD student wins MRC Max Perutz Award for science communication in full

This edition of News You Can Use brings together practical updates, funding calls, training opportunities and useful notices shared by colleagues across Bioengineering and Imperial.

Explore what is available, take advantage of opportunities that support your work or studies, and stay informed about important developments for our community.

Stay updated: Get alerts for new theses in Spiral

Did you know that most Imperial PhD theses are freely available online?

The majority are open access in Spiral, Imperial’s digital repository, while a small number are restricted to Imperial users only.

Want to be notified when new Imperial PhD theses are added? Or celebrate a student’s achievement when they complete their doctorate?

Read News You Can Use: Spring 2026 in full

There is a wide range of events taking place across Bioengineering and Imperial this term, including flagship lectures, skills workshops, networking sessions and community celebrations.

Whether you are looking to broaden your research perspective, build collaborations, develop new skills or connect with colleagues, these opportunities are designed to enrich your experience and help you make the most of our community!

Culture Evening 2026: Connecting communities through culture 📅19 February 2026

Join us on Thursday, 19 February, at Imperial’s inaugural Culture Evening as students compete for a £250 cash prize. Part of Imperial Connect, the evening brings together the Imperial community for a showcase of student performances celebrating cultural diversity through dance, music, and storytelling.

Read Events: Spring 2026 in full

2026 has gotten off to an exceptional start in the Department of Bioengineering, with staff and students achieving recognition across research, education, innovation, and public engagement.

This Spring 2026 Staff and Student Successes round-up brings together a selection of highlights from the past term, including funding awards, fellowships, competition results, publications, and external recognition.

We encourage you to read through the full list and join us in congratulating colleagues and students on their achievements. Taking a moment to recognise and share in these successes helps celebrate the collective strength and impact of our department.

Enterprise Fellowship awarded for translational research

Congratulations to Aditi Sitolay, Bioengineering MDDE MRes alumnus, who has been awarded a prestigious Enterprise Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Read Staff and Student Successes: Spring 2026 in full