Fellows and Academics

I am a Wellcome Trust early career fellow in the Department of Biochemistry. My research investigates organisation and biophysical properties of bacterial membranes.

I first started looking at the outer membrane during my PhD in the lab of Bart Hoogenboom at University College London. I then did a postdoc in the lab of Prof Tom Silhavy at Princeton University, where I learnt bacterial genetics.

In Oxford, I am looking at how and why the outer membrane of species like E. coli are kept organised and highly immobile. These are intriguing properties, since cells must be dynamic to survive. They must insert new proteins and lipids to grow, move molecules laterally to migrate, and deform the membrane to divide. I investigate these properties using atomic force microscopy, bacterial genetics and super resolution microscopy.

Amytess Girgis is a doctoral candidate in Politics. Her research focuses on the evolution of the  US labour movement.

She examines how precarity and changing political conditions exacerbate challenges to labour organising, how those conditions shape workers’ tactics in under-organised sectors, and how these trends situate the labour movement in relation to broader social movement building. 

Amytess completed her MPhil in Politics (Comparative Government) at the University of Oxford in 2023. Her graduate study at Oxford has been supported by the Rhodes Scholarship.

Ming Kit Wong is a DPhil student in Politics at Magdalen College and teaches Theory of Politics at Somerville.

His doctoral project focuses on the thought of Judith Shklar and Richard Rorty with the aim of reconsidering twentieth-century liberal conceptions of, and attitudes towards, utopia.

Ming has remained at Oxford to pursue the DPhil after completing the MSc in Political Theory Research. He additionally holds an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History from Cambridge, where he first read History as an undergraduate.  

For more information and a list of publications, see his departmental profile here.

I work primarily on the intersection of literature and economics (in the ‘Economic Humanities’), and have published works on modernism, economics, critical theory and the philosophy of language. 

As a Rhodes Scholar, I received my DPhil (PhD) in English from Hertford College, Oxford, in 2024. I am currently working on turning my dissertation on Walter Benjamin into a book. This project not only tries to demonstrate how Benjamin’s philosophy allows us to think traditional approaches to economics anew, it also helps us see how, in Benjamin’s words, we might begin to work ourselves free of “the net in which we are caught.”

I have an edited collection with Palgrave Macmillan due to be published at the beginning of next year, entitled Inflationary Modernities: Literature, Culture and Economy. 

Zhao Dong is a final-year DPhil candidate in Economics at the University of Oxford. She previously earned an MPhil in Finance from the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School) and a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the University of Bath.

Her research sits at the intersection of applied microeconomics and economic history, using original archival data to study how political institutions shape long-run development. She applies quasi-experimental designs in Qing China to examine how external shocks—such as wars and invasions—shift elite selection toward kinship, with implications for bureaucratic capacity. Complementary projects reconstruct GDP per head from the Han through the Yuan and analyse royal-household demography to test Malthusian dynamics. A broader comparative strand examines institutional systems across China and Europe—contrasting feudal, bureaucratic, and aristocratic arrangements—and situates China alongside the Roman Empire and the medieval Arabic world. Together, these studies show how shocks shape institutions, which in turn shape economic outcomes.

Zhao teaches Quantitative Economics at Somerville College and has previously taught Introductory Economics and Core Macroeconomics at Brasenose College. She is committed to clear, data-driven teaching and to fostering genuine enthusiasm for economics among her students.

Dr. Sontag González works on spatially-resolved luminescence approaches to date old archaeological sites in Spain.

Through innovative methods including infrared-radiofluorescence and infrared-photoluminescence of feldspar minerals, Dr. Sontag González is targeting Middle and Early Pleistocene localities relevant for human evolution studies to test the limits of state-of-the-art luminescence dating of sediment.

Previously, Dr Sontag González has worked as a postdoc at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), Stony Brook University (USA), and Justus Liebig University of Giessen (Germany), primarily investigating IR-RF dating methodologies and the complex interplay between luminescence characteristics and chemical composition. During her PhD at the University of Wollongong (Australia), she focused on improving available approaches to date samples from volcanic regions in Indonesia. She originally trained in molecular biotechnology and then transitioned into archaeological sciences.

View Dr Sontag González’s latest publications

I’m Arzhia, the Chapel Director and Fellow at Somerville College. I completed my DPhil at the Department of Education in Oxford, with a focus on global citizenship education. I bring my knowledge, research and lived experience in and beyond education to curating our Chapel activities and to explore questions of life and meaning alongside our student community.

I work in collaboration with the Welfare Team as well as our Director of Chapel Music, and take a pro-active approach to well-being, supporting our student and staff community in developing cultures and practices of care, inclusion and belonging.

Throughout term time, I organise our Choral Contemplation programmes – a weekly Sunday encounter with music, poetry, faith-based writings in different languages and sometimes a reflection from a speaker. Additionally, in collaboration with our wellbeing practitioners, we run weekly Yoga and Meditation sessions in the Chapel and on Port Meadow, open to staff and students.

More broadly beyond the university, I facilitate workshops related to trauma informed approaches to education, paying particular attention to questions of belonging and diversity, and this year (2025-2026) will be undertaking training in Systemic Family Therapy at Brookes University.

I’m also plugged into Oxford’s vibrant inter-faith network, and available to support students and staff to connect with different faith communities. In these times of socio-political and global uncertainty, I’m here to chat with you about any of these matters, as well religious or spiritual questions of heart. You can find me at: chapel.office@some.ox.ac.uk

We welcome our community to shape our Choral Contemplations and Chapel offerings, so do feel free to get in touch if you ever wish to contribute a poem, prayer or particular or reflection to these programmes.

Hi, I’m Jess and I am a DPhil student in the Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.  I am studying the impacts of hot temperatures on mental health outcomes in England. I decided to focus my dissertation on this topic because mental health is personally very important to me and I want to better understand how the environments around us, and the changing climate, are impacting mental health. 

I am from the United States where I received my bachelor’s degree in biology and my master’s in environmental health. Outside of academics I spend a decent amount time doing some form of physical activity as I have a goal of running the original 6 major world marathons — I have already completed 3 and will be running the fourth this fall. I also enjoy photography, reading, traveling, and baking for my friends. 

I am excited to be a part of the welfare team and the Somerville community. Please reach out if you would like a friendly chat, if you would like a listening ear, or if you need support. 

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
• First Aid Training offered by St John’s Ambulance
• Junior Deans Training offered by the University Counselling Service
• Peer Support 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
• Introduction to Safeguarding – Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

Hello! My name is Jerry, and I am a DPhil student in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. I specialise in informatics and data science research, with a focus on climate change and road networks.

I am from Vancouver, Canada, where I completed my undergraduate and master’s degrees in electrical engineering. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, cycling around Oxford, and exploring local coffee shops and green spaces.

I’m excited to be part of Somerville’s fantastic community. Please feel free to reach out if you need any support, have a welfare concern, or want to have a chat — I’m here to help!

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

• 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
• Introduction to Safeguarding – Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

Dr Lucy Garner is a Senior Postdoctoral Scientist in Professor Paul Klenerman’s group within the Nuffield Department of Medicine (NDM).

Lucy’s research focuses on how the human immune system responds to infections and vaccinations. She specialises in T cells (critical defenders that destroy infected or damaged cells and coordinate the immune response) and uses advanced omics tools, including single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), to study the types, functions, and interactions of immune cells during disease.

Her recent work examined two types of COVID-19 vaccines – adenoviral vector and mRNA – uncovering the networks of cells and molecules underlying their distinct early immune responses after the first and second doses, as well as the reduced side effects seen with longer gaps between mRNA doses (Amini and Garner et al., Sci Immunol, 2025).

Lucy also works closely with the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Vietnam to study major infectious diseases in Southeast Asia, with the long-term goal of developing new vaccines and treatments. These collaborations have resulted in important studies on dengue (Gregorova et al., Nat Commun, 2025) and tuberculosis (Tram and Garner et al., J Immunol, 2025).

Lucy completed her MA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge. She then undertook a DPhil in Professor Paul Klenerman’s group at the University of Oxford through the Wellcome Infection, Immunology and Translational Medicine programme. Her doctoral research provided key insights into the function and regulation of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a unique subset of T cells with crucial roles in infections, inflammation, and cancer. She was awarded the NDM Overall Prize in 2020, which recognises exceptional performance during DPhil studies, and the Keshav Award in 2023, an annual departmental prize for the best trainee.

I am a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford, working across the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics and the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. My research sits at the intersection of linguistics, social science and applied healthcare, focusing on language aspects of clinical interactions.

With a background in sociolinguistics, my earlier work examined language variation and change in multicultural settings. Over more than a decade of teaching English and clinical communication to medical students in Ukraine, I became increasingly interested in how linguistic practices shape clinical encounters and influence the uptake of medical advice.

My research draws on Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis to investigate how clinicians use language to navigate sensitivities of advice-giving, maintain rapport, and support behaviour change—particularly in the context of weight management. In addition to theoretical contributions, I am involved in applied projects that translate linguistic insights into practical communication strategies for healthcare providers.

Beyond academia, I have worked as an interpreter for election observation missions with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, supporting real-time communication in high-stakes, politically sensitive contexts. This experience has deepened my understanding of language under pressure and the ethical dimensions of communication.

I work across a range of externally funded studies. I previously held a prestigious British Academy fellowship, and I am a co-investigator on a NIHR policy research programme grant.

I am committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, international academic exchange, and public engagement, with a particular focus on improving the policies and practices of healthcare communication through linguistically informed research.

Research Interests

• Clinical Communication
• Conversation Analysis
• Discourse Analysis
• Interactional Linguistics
• Sociolinguistics

Abi Punt is a foundation doctor working at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She graduated from Somerville with a BA in Medical Sciences in 2022, and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBCh) in 2025. Her specialty interests include obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics. She is passionate about medical education, and is committed to creating a supportive learning environment where students can thrive during their time at Somerville.

I am a DPhil student in Medieval German, researching healthcare in medieval German convents. I like to go on long rambling walks, have a (supposedly) questionable obsession with peanut butter, and enjoy meeting friends and new people for shared food and nature excursions!

Hello, my name is Harry, I’m studying for a DPhil in Engineering Science, my research is on how to synthesise metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on textiles. MOFs are porous crystal structures which, when coated on textiles, can break down organophosphates found in pesticides and nerve agents, like Parathion or Sarin, providing protection against dermal exposure for agricultural works and civilians. As Somerville MCR president I hope to make sure the MCR is welcoming and accessible to everybody, whether it is celebrating a particularly special cultural event or ensuring a particular banger is played at one of our BOPs. I am especially interested in the history of our MCR and graduate house (known as Margery Fry), and want to embrace this history during my term as president. If you have any questions or simply want to talk to somebody about Somerville, please feel free to get in touch at mcr.president@some.ox.ac.uk.

Narhitya is currently the Programme Administrator with the OICSD. She supports the Centre’s work on scholarships, events, and strategic partnerships, and serves as the administrator of the Schmidt AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme.

Narhitya holds a Master’s degree in Modern South Asian Studies from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. She also received a special mention in the British Association for South Asian Studies (BASAS) Master’s Dissertation Prize 2024 for her master’s thesis at Oxford.

Narhitya’s work is animated by a deep interest in feminist political philosophy and literature, particularly in how knowledge structures are created, legitimised, and contested. She has previously worked at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in India where she contributed to research and policy discourse on gender, development, and international relations. She also served as a Research Intern with the United Nations, contributing to a large-scale “Sports for Peace” programme in Central Africa. Additionally, she also interned at Teach for India, where she designed culturally responsive curricula and facilitated English and social-emotional learning sessions.

She is also the co-founder of Adira, a grassroots non-profit initiative based out of Allahabad, India, to support marginalised women through education, capacity-building, and livelihoods training. Her dedication to building inclusive and equitable academic and professional spaces informs her work at OICSD, especially in advancing women’s leadership and socially engaged scholarship.

Dr Anne Makena (2012, DPhil Chemical Biology) is Co-Director of the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), a vibrant platform for all things Africa at Oxford. 

The goal of Dr Makena and her AfOx colleagues is to make Africa a strategic priority for the University of Oxford by facilitating equitable, sustainable and impactful collaborations between Oxford and African institutions.

Working with partners across 30 African countries, AfOx facilitates academic and research partnerships by supporting activities including a travel grant scheme, visiting fellowships for African academics, high quality research engagement meetings and financial, academic and mentorship support for African students and research staff in Oxford. AfOx has an ambitious, but justified, aim to increase the number of African graduates at Oxford from 3 to 10%.

Dr Makena is responsible for developing and implementing AfOx’s overall strategy, as well as leading on fundraising and stakeholder engagement, and supporting the delivery of core AfOx programmes. Under Dr Makena’s guidance, AfOx is making strides to support the creation of a culture-shifting cohort of emerging African leaders whose experiences and passion can be practically addresses to some of the most pressing challenges in Africa, recognising moreover that Africa is the most rapidly changing continent whose future demographic and economic growth will have a major influence globally.

Dr Makena holds a DPhil in Chemical Biology from the University of Oxford and an Executive MBA from the Said Business School. She was made an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College in June 2025.