Bursaries reports 2025

Vasily Sorokin (University of Oxford)

71st Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society (RRS) | 21^st - 24^th September 2025 | San Juan, Puerto Rico

I was honoured to attend the 71st Annual Meeting of the Radiation Research Society (RRS) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where I presented my poster entitled “Dosimetric characterisation of the Oxford alpha-particle irradiator to support radiobiological modelling for Targeted alpha-particle therapy.” I was delighted to receive both the Scholars-in-Training (SIT) Travel Award and the Outstanding Scholar Award, recognising me among the Top 12 Scholars in Training at this year’s meeting.

The conference provided an excellent opportunity to share my research, which combines experimental and computational approaches to improve understanding of alpha-particle therapy. Using the Oxford Pu-238 alpha-particle irradiator, our team validated Geant4 and TOPAS-RPT simulations against measured spectra to model energy deposition at the cellular level. This work supports improved estimates of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in targeted alpha therapy and strengthens the link between microdosimetry and biological response.

Engaging with researchers from around the world and receiving feedback from experts in radiobiology and physics was extremely valuable. The discussions during and after my poster session offered new ideas for the future of my DPhil thesis. It was also inspiring to meet other PhD students and postdoctoral fellows working different branches of radiation physics and biology.

Beyond the scientific sessions, the meeting offered quite a warm atmosphere. Exploring San Juan’s historic streets, enjoying local cuisine, and dancing to the island’s reggaeton music made the conference a truly fun experience.

I am sincerely grateful to the Association of Radiation Research (ARR) for supporting my attendance through the travel award, and to the Radiation Research Society (RRS) for the recognition and opportunity to participate. I also thank Dr Mark Hill, Dr Víctor Valladolid Onecha, and Dr Alejandro Bertolet for their guidance and collaboration. Attending the conference has strengthened my motivation to advance targeted alpha therapy through integrated experimental and computational research. 

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Emily Durie (ICR)

ImmunoRad Conference (9^th Edition) | 17^th - 19^th September 2025 | Paris, France

Thank you to ARR for the travel bursary that enabled me to attend the ImmunoRad conference in Paris. This provided an invaluable opportunity to present and discuss my research on transcriptomic changes in breast tumours following radiotherapy. 

The conference's focus on the immunological effects of radiotherapy aligned perfectly with my own findings from transcriptomic data regarding immune responses in irradiated breast tumours. Engaging with world-leading experts in the radiation-immunology field was extremely valuable and relevant for my project, allowing me to learn and to develop new ideas that I can apply to my project.

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Lydia McQuoid (Queen's university Belfast)

ARR 2025 | 9^th - 11^th June 2025 | Keswick

I was delighted to attend the 2025 ARR meeting in Keswick, and to receive the first-place award for best early career researcher oral presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed the breadth of topics covered across the sessions – from space and nuclear physics to molecular radiation biology and clinical practice. Another highlight for me was the visit and tour around the Dalton Cumbrian Facility to see up close the extensive facilities and potential avenues of research available there. Overall, it was a fantastic few days of meeting and connecting with other researchers, with many interesting conversations that will hopefully lead to future collaborations.

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Adrija Bhowmick (University of Kent)

ARR 2025 | 9^th - 11^th June 2025 | Keswick

Attending the ARR 2025 Annual Meeting was a truly formative experience. Hosted in the stunning Lake District at the Lodore Falls Hotel, the conference brought together an inspiring cross-section of the UK’s radiation research community.

As a researcher preparing to begin my PhD, it was both a privilege and a major milestone to present both a poster and an oral talk. I was especially honoured to receive third place for oral presentation—a meaningful recognition as the youngest participant at the meeting.

The conference showcased a wide spectrum of topics, from radiobiology and oncology to radiochemistry, radiation protection, and even space science. Engaging with such a diverse group of scientists—especially early-career researchers—sparked a number of new ideas and left me feeling energised about my next steps in research.

A particular highlight was the visit to the Dalton Cumbrian Facility, where I gained valuable insight into the infrastructure that supports experimental radiation work in the UK.

I’d like to thank Professor Nigel Mason and Dr. Felipe Fantuzzi for their support and mentorship throughout this experience, as well as my colleagues in the KAIROS team (Kent Astrochemistry, Irradiation, Origins and Space (KAIROS) - Research at Kent [research.kent.ac.uk]). The ARR meeting was not just an academic opportunity, but a personal milestone—and one that I hope to build on as I begin my PhD journey.

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Emma Melia (University of Birmingham)

PTCOG 2025 | 2^nd - 6^th June 2025 | Buenos Aires, Argentina

I am very grateful to the ARR for awarding me the travel bursary that enabled me to attend the 63rd Annual PTCOG Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina (June 2025). This was my first opportunity to participate in an international conference as an early career researcher, presenting some of the exciting, novel research ongoing in the Parsons’ Group. It was a privilege to experience a large-scale international conference and to engage with the latest developments in the field of particle therapy. The PTCOG is an interdisciplinary conference, bringing together leading experts in physics, biology and both clinical and industrial applications. Over the five days, I attended a diverse range of talks and discussion sessions, deepening my understanding across all key areas of the field. This experience has given me new perspectives and valuable professional relationships that will undoubtedly benefit my developing research career in the radiobiology field.

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Joanna Kucharczak (University of Cambridge)

ESTRO 2025 | 2^nd - 6^th May 2025 | Vienna, Austria

I am very grateful to the ARR for the travel bursary to attend ESTRO 2025, where I had the opportunity to present my research on global enablers and barriers to academic training in radiation oncology.
Attending a large international conference was an inspiring learning experience and a significant milestone in my clinical academic career. I attended a range of talks related to radiobiology and radiation oncology education, which deepened my understanding of the specialty. I particularly enjoyed meeting leaders and peers from the field, with whom I discussed exciting research topics and exchanged valuable career advice. The experience at ESTRO 2025 has exposed me to new research ideas and reinforced my desire to pursue an academic career in Clinical Oncology.