St Cross Research Presentation Prize Competition 2024 winner announced

Emma Watts, a current Biology DPhil student, has been announced as the winner of the 2024 Research Presentation Prize Competition. 

The 2024 Research Presentation Prize Competition was open to all current St Cross students encouraging them to hone their presentation skills. Those who were shortlisted were invited to deliver their Oxford academic research in brief talks, limited to 5 minutes and 3 PowerPoint slides, during an online Zoom event in 7th Week of Hilary Term 2024. The presentations were expected to be understandable to non-experts, emphasizing the significance of the student's research and its current outcomes. The online event was accessible to all College members, and the winner, who received a £300 cash prize,was chosen through a live Zoom poll.  

Prize winner Emma Watts' talk focused on the broad field of Environmental Biotechnology, in which she works, and her more specific PhD work involving the use of plants as biofactories for antibody production. 

Speaking about the event Emma said “I was grateful for the opportunity to receive feedback and questions on my project from other college members representing a diverse range of fields. I was truly honoured to be announced as the winner, but my main takeaway from the event was hearing about all the exciting research projects happening at St Cross.” 

Emma completed her Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, pursued an MRes in Systems and Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London, and is currently enrolled in a DPhil program in Interdisciplinary Bioscience (BBSRC DTP) with a focus on Biology at St Cross College. 

Heartiest congratulations, Emma!