“The MSc course has a very strong community. One thing that stood out was how much more discussion is encouraged in class rather than passive learning.”
Harriet Ashley is a current MSc in Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells – Novel Therapies student and one of the recipients of the Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells Scholarships 2025/26. Let’s hear about what inspired her to pursue science at Imperial and some top tips to make the most of the Imperial experience.
What first inspired you to pursue Biological Sciences at Imperial, and how did that experience shape your decision to progress into the MSc in Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells – Novel Therapies?
When I was at my sixth-form college, I had very inspiring A-level Biology and Chemistry tutors. My Biology tutor built an environment where every student was seen and challenged and they encouraged us to read more about biology through her weekly book recommendations. I remember learning about CRISPR for the first time in Jennifer Doudna’s book A Crack in Creation and discussing in length the impact that gene editing technologies could have in future scientific research with my tutor. Skipping to 2026 and I’m now utilising CRISPR-Cas13 in my own master’s project to speed up the test control process of cell and gene therapies. To this day, I’m still grateful to her for encouraging my curiosity, having thoughtful discussions with me and inspiring me to continue Biological Sciences into undergraduate level. My Chemistry tutor studied Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and growing up near Doncaster, this isn’t a background you come across often. I’m grateful to him for giving me the confidence and resources to aim high for top universities like Imperial College London which I initially believed were unreachable.
Applying to Imperial for Biology was 100% the right decision for me and I’ve found the last three years nothing short of exceptional, having loved every moment of my course and all the friendships I’ve made along the way. Biology at Imperial has given me a range of opportunities, including studying abroad in Germany, joining the netball team as well as getting to join an Imperial research group for a 10-week project for my final year dissertation. With the early exposure to research that I’ve had during my undergrad, I was confident that I wanted to stay at Imperial to do my master’s. The MSc in Genes Drugs and Stem Cells – Novel Therapies stood out to me because of the opportunity to do a six-month research project in the industry, which I am currently undertaking at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult at Guys Hospital.
How has the transition from the BSc to the MSc felt for you?
As with any course at Imperial, the undergraduate Biological Sciences course is equally challenging and rewarding. Studying for exams over the holidays, pulling all-nighters in the library and full days in the lab have given me a lot of resilience and confidence in myself. Therefore, the transition to the workload of an MSc has been somewhat more manageable. Transitioning with some course mates from my BSc has also helped to build a more supportive environment. The course conveners and the lecturers have been very transparent from the start, creating a very welcoming environment. I feel that the course has been designed very well to encompass students from a range of backgrounds in life sciences, medicine and pharmacology to bring them to the same level, helping to ease the transition.
Could you share a module, a project or a session from the MSc that has had the biggest impact on your career aspirations?
One of my favourite parts about the course is the fact that for every session in each module, we have a guest speaker from a different department or institution, and this has helped me network and open my mind to a range of diverse perspectives. One of the most impactful lectures we had was about the application of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry, delivered by Dr. Andrée Bates from Eularis. The session explored how AI is transforming the drug development pipeline, from target identification and molecule design to clinical trial optimisation and regulatory processes and introduced me to new fascinating concepts like digital twins. Seeing strong female leadership in a highly technical field also reinforced the importance of representation in STEM. This has motivated me to pursue a career in innovative, technology-driven areas of the pharmaceutical industry.
How would you describe the community within the MSc programme? What makes it stand out?
The MSc course has a very strong community with regular socials held by the course reps every month. The staff are also very approachable and welcome any questions during or after lectures. One thing that stood out comparing to undergrad was how much more discussion is encouraged in class rather than passive learning, allowing the students and staff to learn from one another. Since starting my master’s project at a company, I have not felt disconnected from the course. My imperial supervisor still catches up with me regularly and there is also a range of events scheduled during the project phase such as an interim project presentation and a course cohort picnic!
Receiving the Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells Scholarship must have been a great moment! What did it mean to you, and what top tips would you share with future applicants who are planning for MSc study?
Funnily enough, I received the email that I’d been awarded the NHLI scholarship while I was working over the summer in London to save up for my master’s. Imperial attracts students from a multitude of backgrounds, and I soon learnt that not everyone has the same appreciation when it comes to finances. As someone who has worked throughout sixth form and during exam seasons, money was something that I thought about a lot and I suffered from quite bad imposter syndrome at the start of university. Whilst I was lucky enough to have support from family, I still had to support myself for general living expenses and costs. My top tips for funding an MSc study would be to apply for the full student loan from student finance England if you are a home student as it is not means-tested for postgraduate study. When you’re applying for courses, remember to check if the department offers their own internal scholarship for that course as well as checking what scholarships or bursaries the university offers and if you’re eligible to apply.
In terms of budgeting for your living expenses whilst studying your master’s, my best advice would be to get a summer job or internship and save up before you start the course. Imperial also offers plenty of student-friendly job opportunities during term time with very good pay. Some of these roles include being a student ambassador, a welcome ambassador, working as a graduate training assistant (GTA), working at the union bar or part time tutoring (and much more!)
If you experience any financial stress during your master’s programme, Imperial has plenty of services to help you deal with this including counselling services to help you navigate your options as well as a hardship fund which you can also apply for during term time for unexpected circumstances.
What advice would you give to students who are considering applying but feel unsure if this is the right programme for them?
If you’re interested in working in any aspect of advanced medicinal therapeutics such as cell and gene therapies, regenerative medicine, organ printing, tissue engineering, monoclonal antibody therapies or neurotechnology, then this course is for you. Whether you want to learn more about the intricacies of the science behind these therapies, or you’re interested more in the IP, commercialisation and distribution of these therapies, then this course covers both aspects in detail in the first six months. In the last six months, you will undertake an integrated research project. This can either be a laboratory project based at Imperial, a placement in industry or an international project at another university. The connections of the course offer so many opportunities with industry partners and university partners.
The course also attracts people from different backgrounds including biology, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacology and engineering, so don’t be afraid to apply regardless of your background!
Looking ahead, how do you think this MSc is shaping your future?
I’m currently undertaking a placement at the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, where I’m investigating how we can optimise methodologies to identify miRNAs that reflect the cellular state to help increase the efficiency of assessing critical quality attributes during the manufacturing of the cell and gene therapies. I have learnt so much during this degree and my company placement about the drug discovery pipeline, the pharmaceutical industry and the commercialisation of new drugs and advanced medicinal therapies. Being given the opportunity to work in industry for six months has helped solidify my understanding of how academic research translates into real-world clinical and commercial applications. I am excited to advance my career in industry, whether that be biotech or pharma, and this master’s has given me the knowledge and relevant experience to do so.
Lastly, if you could describe your MSc experience so far using only three emojis, which ones would you pick and why?
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I’ve picked the scientist because this course not only teaches you the core content for your chosen field in advanced therapies, but you get to put all your knowledge into practical experience with the six-month lab-based project! |
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I’ve chosen the sunset over the city emoji because of how beautiful of city London is! There’s always so much going on and sites to see, new restaurants to go to and exhibitions to visit! You’ll never get bored. |
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Finally, I’ve chosen the love letter emoji to represent the valuable friendships that I’ve made during my time at Imperial, which will last a lifetime! |
To learn more about the MSc in Genes, Drugs and Stem Cells – Novel Therapies and the postgraduate programmes offered by the National Heart and Lung Institute, please visit our Postgraduate taught website.