Peter Brian Gallagher

What were you doing before you joined the MRC-DTP?

Before joining the MRC-DTP, I had just finished my undergraduate integrated Masters degree from the University of Warwick. During my degree I carried out a year long placement researching dengue fever in Vietnam for my Masters thesis.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Cambridge?

In my mind, Cambridge has always been one of the very best research universities in the world, particular for medical research. It was a place with a wealth of experts and resources where doing truly cutting edge research was possible; something I very much wanted for my PhD.

What do you enjoy most about your day-to-day work and the people you work with?

I work with a fairly large and independent group, meaning that I am able to talk to and learn from a wide range of researchers, each with their own projects and methods. This has meant I’ve learnt a lot as well as had a constant support/friendship group making the whole research experience much more enjoyable.

What do you most value about your MRC-DTP Studentship?

The studentship has meant that I’ve been able to do my PhD with as few financial worries as possible, removing a huge potential source of stress and allowing me to focus solely on my research. The extra classes and seminars offered by the MRC have also been invaluable, as a place to learn new skills and network with other students.

What do you plan to do after your graduate?

After graduating I want to stay in research, specifically continuing research in vaccinology and microbial therapeutics. Whether this will be within academia as part of a postdoc or in industry, I haven’t decided yet and will largely depend on the research projects available.