The girl who defied convention to become an electrical engineer

Nikita Hari did exceptionally well at school and university. But she didn’t see herself as a high flyer until a chance meeting helped change her mind. As a PhD student at Cambridge she’s committed to encouraging others…

The University Challenge star propelled by a love of maths

With his unusual name and irrepressible good humour, Bobby Seagull emerged as one of the star contestants in the latest University Challenge series. One of four brothers, he grew up in the London borough of Newham and after…

The materials scientist whose letter from the Queen arrived in shreds

Sir Colin Humphreys is known for his pioneering work in LED technology. In parallel with his scientific career, he’s spent 50 years…

The multi-talented scientist who finds inspiration in far-flung places

Tom Bundell is a leading biochemist who packs a lot into life. His passions for politics, music and travel enrich his scientific…

The scholar whose career began in the books section of his local newsagent

Geoffrey Khan grew up with a sense of not belonging. His passion for languages led him to discover the forgotten pronunciation of ancient Hebrew and set him on a quest to record the world’s last…

The student who was ‘amazed’ by her excellent A levels — and is inspired by her dad

Two years ago Tara Khalid achieved the grades she needed to take up her Cambridge place. She describes herself as defying most of the Cambridge stereotypes. Her passion for learning was…

The graduate student who wants us to talk about eating disorders

James Downs is exceptionally talented — both academically and musically. He’s also a perfectionist who has struggled with OCD and anorexia. It was more than six years before he found treatments that suited him. He now…

The trans scientist keen to promote Cambridge’s inclusive ethos

Rachael Padman was awarded last year’s Gay Times honour for excellence in science. Australian-born Padman arrived in Cambridge to take a PhD…

The boy who dared to take the chalk from the teacher’s hand

He revised for GCSEs with his course books in one hand and a Persian-English dictionary in the other. Kourosh Saeb-Parsy is a transplant surgeon at Addenbrooke’s Hospital where he combines clinical practice with teaching and…

The star rower whose research examines teachers’ perceptions of intelligence

Daphne Martschenko, president of Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club, is determined to make the sport of rowing more…