Emeritus, Honorary and Foundation Fellows

Rhiannon is a DPhil Student in Mathematics, specialising in Derived Algebraic Geometry. She previously completed a MMath Master of Mathematics at Oxford (2020). Visit her website here.

I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology and a Fulford Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College.

Vaccination is a critical tool to leverage our body’s natural immune responses to fight bacterial infections. Oral vaccines typically induce protective antibody responses which recognize sugars commonly found on the surface of gut bacteria. My research at the Dunn School involves studying the interaction between vaccine-induced antibodies and these sugar structures to understand how the immune system can recognize harmful pathogenic microbes and distinguish them from the ‘good’ gut-resident microbes which promote human health. Understanding this interaction is vital to inform the design of effective vaccines.

I completed my PhD in Microbiology & Immunology in Dr. B. Brett Finlay’s laboratory at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada where I used barcoding techniques to study microbial ecology and population dynamics of microbes living within the gastrointestinal tract; in particular, how pathogenic Escherichia coli sense and respond to regional gut environments to cause disease. I later worked with Dr. Agatha Jassem at BC Centre for Disease Control in Canada to explore cross-reactive immune responses to endemic coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2.

In November 2023 I joined the group of Dr. Emma Slack at the University of Oxford as a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate vaccine-induced antibody responses. My active research collaborations investigate the role of microbes in enteric disease, childhood malnutrition, and asthma development. In addition to research, I am a skilled science communicator, writer, and mentor, and have extensive experience with public engagement in science from working with the organization Let’s Talk Science in Canada where I organized outreach programs to better communicate science to the public. My current list of publications is available here.

Charlotte is a Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College and a Leverhulme Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Music.

Her research focuses on the transnational region of Karelia, which is partially in Finland and partially in Russia. Given the region’s tumultuous past and current events, issues of national, regional, and identity and belonging are complicated. Metal music artists on both sides of the border continuously negotiate questions of identity and belonging in their music through referrals to Karelian nature, significant historic events, and adaptation of folklore. The multiple languages in which lyrics are written – Karelian, Finnish, English, and Russian – give further expression to identity negotiations and how these are communicated with the outside world.

Charlotte finished her PhD at University College London (UCL) in 2022. Her thesis analysed the adaptation of Karelian Finnish folk poetry and the epic, the Kalevala, in metal music from Finland and connections to national identity in the lyrics. At UCL, she also worked as a postgraduate teaching assistant teaching various modules in sociology, history, and Finnish culture. She completed her master’s studies in Finnish language and culture at the University of Helsinki (2016) and her undergraduate studies in Finno-Ugric languages and cultures at the University of Groningen (2014).

She has co-organised conferences on multilingualism in metal music and the cultural, literary, and historic significance of cats. The latter conference was in conjunction with an exhibition organised by librarians of Senate House Library, London.

Stephanie Dalley is a British scholar of the Ancient Near East and Fellow of the Institute for Ancient and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES), where she taught Akkadian and Sumerian for almost three decades.

She is best known for her investigation into the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and her proposal that it was situated in Nineveh and constructed during the rule of Sennacherib. Her other achievements include her work on the Sealand Dynasty.

Dr. Shiwei Liu is Junior Research Fellow (JRF) at Somerville College. He is also a Royal Society Newton International Fellow at the University of Oxford. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. He obtained his Ph.D. with the Cum Laude from the Eindhoven University of Technology in 2022. His research goal is to leverage, understand, and expand the role of low-dimensionality in neural networks, whose impacts span many important topics, such as efficient training/inference/transfer of large-foundation models, robustness and trustworthiness, and generative AI. His current main research interest focuses on improving the efficiency and accessibility of LLMs, making them accessible tooling to everyone. Dr. Liu has received two Rising Star Awards from KAUST and the Conference on Parsimony and Learning (CPAL). His Ph.D. thesis received the 2023 Best Dissertation Award from Informatics Europe. Personal Website: https://shiweiliuiiiiiii.github.io/

Lachie is a Postdoctoral Researcher at Oxford’s School of Archaeology, and a Fulford Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College.

A biologist by training, Lachie’s research sits at the interface between the human and life sciences, employing the “celebrity science” of ancient DNA to investigate the role that humans and the environment play in shaping global animal populations. More specifically, he is focused on unravelling the causes and consequences of millennia of interaction between humans and their closest evolutionary companion, dogs.

Lachie is from New Zealand, where he completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees (in Geology and Zoology) at the University of Otago. He then moved to the United Kingdom to undertake a DPhil in Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford (Merton College), funded by a Clarendon scholarship. In 2024, he began his Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by a German Research Council Grant, with the specific aim of assessing the consequences of strong artificial selection on purebred dogs over the last two centuries.

Amy is a biochemist and biophysicist at the Centre of Medicines Discovery, in the lab of Dr. Oleg Fedorov. She uses high-throughput methods to screen drug candidates for a variety of human diseases, by measuring specific thermodynamic and kinetic properties of drug binding.

Amy’s research projects focus on characterising drugs involved in epigenetics and the ubiquitin system, both of which are heavily associated with cancers. Prior to embarking on these research projects, Amy was a structural biologist investigating how protein receptors work together to control the wiring of the brain. Her DPhil and first postdoctoral role were also at the University of Oxford, in the lab of Prof. Elena Seiradake. Here, she used a combination of cell biology, biophysics, X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy techniques to investigate the interactions of large receptor complexes involved in mammalian brain development. The work aimed not only to enhance our understanding of neural connectivity but also holds potential implications for developing therapeutic strategies targeting neurological disorders. Amy is driven by the aspiration that her scientific contributions will one day lead to the development of various drugs that successfully pass clinical trials and ultimately save lives.

Dr Raffaele Sarnataro is a Fulford Junior Research Fellow and a Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Neuroscience, working in the Miesenböck group at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour. His research investigates how sleep-control neurons operate and how sleep need is physically encoded in their molecular machinery and circuitry network dynamics, and is aimed at unveiling the mystery of why we need to sleep. 

Raffaele studied at Scuola Normale Superiore and, in parallel, at University of Pisa, Italy, obtaining a BSc in Biotechnologies, an MSc in Molecular and Cell Biology, and a Diploma di Licenza in Biology.  After a visiting research experience at Harvard Medical School, supported by the award of an Armenise-Harvard Foundation Summer Fellowship, Raffaele joined the 4-year Doctoral Programme in Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, funded by a Wellcome Trust four-year PhD Studentship in Science. During his first year, he obtained an MSc in Neuroscience, working with Prof. Gero Miesenböck and Prof. Colin Akerman for his rotation projects.

He then completed a DPhil (PhD) in Neuroscience in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (University of Oxford), working in the Miesenböck lab at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, co-supervised by Prof. Vladyslav Vyazovskiy.  During his time in Oxford, Raffaele obtained a Jesus College Graduate Scholarship, gaining Oxford Scholar status in 2019, and received several academic awards by the Physiological Society, the British Neuroscience Association, the Guarantors of Brain, and Gordon Research Conferences.

In 2024, he was awarded a Fulford Junior Research Fellowship by Somerville College Oxford.  Raffaele has been President of the Oxford University Cortex Club, the neuroscience student forum, where neuroscience is discussed in formats ranging from small debates to panel discussions, to symposia with other universities, with talks featuring internationally prominent speakers and early career researchers.

At the same time, he is associate member of the Italian Center for Excellence and Transdisciplinary Studies, long-term collaborator of Italian National Association of Natural Sciences Teachers and Amgen Biotech Experience Italy, and was jury member at the 29th International Biology Olympiad, contributing to science communications and public engagement at various educational levels.

Dr Anker’s research focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of inorganic nanomaterials, with a particular emphasis on integrating machine learning and robotics within a self-driving laboratory.

At Oxford, he is working on integrating energy calculations into his modelling tools for scattering data and using energy calculations to provide prior information about which chemical compounds are stable under various synthetic conditions. This can guide the self-driving laboratory in achieving controlled synthesis of materials with tailored functionalities.

Dr Anker completed his PhD in 2023 at the University of Copenhagen and is now a Novo Nordisk Foundation postdoctoral fellow at the Technical University of Denmark and Oxford University. His achievements include the Danscatt PhD Prize and recognition in Forbes 30 Under 30.

Hi! My name is Chibuzor, and I am a DPhil student in Population Health. My research focuses on using genetic evidence from blood proteins measured in thousands of individuals to inform the repurposing of existing drugs for the prevention and treatment of various cancers.

I was born and raised in Nigeria and trained as a medical doctor. My work reflects my broader interest in precise prevention and treatment strategies for complex diseases like cancer, particularly in low-resource settings.

Beyond academics and research, I enjoy watching movies, listening to – and occasionally dancing to – good music, spending time with friends, and occasionally hitting the gym. I also have a keen interest in history, theology, and philosophy, as well as social issues involving race and minority groups.

I’m excited to be part of the amazing Somerville community. Please feel free to reach out if you need any support or just want to have a friendly chat.

Student Welfare Advisors are available to support students in crisis overnight and at weekends. We provide a listening, support and signposting service. We can listen, provide guidance and support if you’re experiencing difficulties such as personal problems, poor mental health, or other welfare/wellbeing matters.

I have undertaken the following training for my role as Student Welfare Advisor:

• Supporting Reported Students Training organised by the University of Oxford Peer Support Programme

• Sexual Violence Awareness provided by the Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service

• First Aid Training offered by St John’s Ambulance
• Junior Deans Training offered by the University Counselling Service
• Health and Safety Training – Somerville Lodge Porters
• Fire Evacuation Training – Somerville Lodge Porters
• Welfare Policy and Procedures – Student Welfare Lead
• College Rules and Procedures – Decanal Officer
• Active Bystander Intervention training provided by the University’s Equality and Diversity Unit

Alison assists the Graduate and Tutorial Officer in the Academic Office.

Damian Clements is the Somerville College accountant. He joined Somerville in January 2024 after working at All Souls College, Oxford, and supporting a comprehensive transformation of the 18^thCentury stately home Harewood House in Yorkshire.

Damian first trained as an accountant with Deloitte in Jersey after reading PPE at Trinity College, Oxford. He then worked for several years in TV and for the BBC before deciding to concentrate his energies on charities including London Zoo, the Royal Court Theatre, Leeds Culture Trust and the aforementioned Harewood House.

Despite going to Trinity, Damian has a strong Somerville connection; his mother and two close family friends read zoology here, as did his cousin and older sister. Now Damian is keen to help Somerville increase its financial management and love of Excel spreadsheets. Outside work, Damian listens to many hours of radio drama and audiobooks while going on long walks to pubs, normally with a play script in his pocket to read when he gets there

I’m a DPhil student in History, researching memory, identity in postcolonial nation-states. As Welfare Officer, I care deeply about fostering an inclusive and supportive MCR where everyone feels welcome and heard. Whether you’re looking for someone to talk to, advice on resources, or just a quiet cup of tea, I’m here to help. I’m also a big believer in small but sustainable joys—so expect occasional sweet bites, helpful scheme plans (feel free to share ideas) and low-pressure events to keep spirits up. Please feel free to reach out anytime!

Mounir comes from a lovely small city on the east coast of the Mediterranean: Saida, Lebanon. Mounir received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering – Design, Materials, and Manufacturing track along with a minor degree in Arabic and Near Eastern Languages from the American University of Beirut (AUB). His interest in language goes far to the study of classical texts in the early Arabic Grammar and Lexicography. 

Mounir has worked with the Insight Club AUB to construct a supportive community to university students by balancing between physical intellectual and spiritual needs. Mounir is interested in the field of solid mechanics and mechanics of composite materials has published in reputable journals and received faculty awards.

Mounir aims to apply his experience to Metal Organic Framework Materials (MOFs) in studying their mechanical properties and their composites in polymer matrices and different geometries. This includes exploring the time dependent properties of MOFs and composites at different length scales. In addition, the fracture of MOFs and their toughness is of interest for designing damage-tolerant structures for energy absorption applications.

Beyond engineering, Mounir is interested in walking and in reading classical and folk literature.

Hello all! My name is Juliette, I am a DPhil student in Economics where I work on environmental economics. As Music rep, I am in charge of organising all the music events such as music lessons, karaoke, open mics and charity concerts! 

When I’m not doing these things, chances are I’ll still be behind a piano… in the kitchen maybe, as I am a fond baker of French pastries. 

Hey! I’m Francess and I’m a graduate entry medical student at Somerville. I am based mostly in the John Radcliffe hospital, but you can often find me in the library or in any of the wonderful cafés we have in Jericho.

As Vice President, my role involves supporting the president in the running of the executive and representative committee. I also play a role in organising initiatives with focuses ranging from social conscience to promoting personal and academic development. My goal is to work collaboratively with the committee to provide sufficient opportunities for postgraduates to thrive and leave Oxford with a fulfilling, memorable experience.

I always love to hear from you, whether that’s to share ideas about future events or to grab a coffee – do not hesitate to reach out for a chat! 

Ishani is a candidate for the D.Phil. in Law at Somerville College. Her doctoral research aims to evaluate the present paradigm on disability-selective abortions in India and develop an ‘indigenous’ normative and legal framework for governing such abortion in India. In contrast to sex-selective abortions, which are prohibited in India, disability-selective abortions are positively sanctioned under the Indian legislative and judicial framework. She seeks to underline how the present paradigm reduces women to ‘gatekeepers of perfection’ and disregards the State’s duty of non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation towards disabled people. Given the unique context of evolution of reproductive rights and disability rights in India, she will attempt to highlight the limitations of Western intellectual tradition and develop an ‘Indian’ framework to address this debate in India. In doing so, she will endeavour to fill a theoretical gap in Indian feminist and disability-rights scholarship and make appropriate recommendations for legal reforms.

Ishani is keenly interested in analysing rights-based frameworks through feminist and critical legal scholarship and undertaking comparative and inter-disciplinary study of human rights and corresponding State obligations. Prior to the DPhil, Ishani read on the Bachelor of Civil Law programme at the University of Oxford as a Cornelia Sorabji Scholar. She opted for public law courses, like Medical Law and Ethics and Comparative Equality Law. She also graduated with the B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) degree from Jindal Global Law School, India.

As the Welfare Officer, she hopes to make the MCR a more comfortable, welcoming and inclusive space for all members of the MCR, through different events, initiatives, and schemes. If there is anything that the MCR can support you with, please feel free to reach out to her.