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Amira Bakkouche

Amira Bakkouche

About

Year 13 student Amira Bakkouche took first place at the Babraham Institute Sixth Form Conference in November. Amira won out of nine national finalists for her presentation on leveraging AI to track and analyse effects between proteostasis and cancer. Here she shares more about the experience.

Congratulations on winning first place at the Babraham Institute Sixth Form Conference! How does it feel to receive this recognition?

I feel really rewarded and happy to have achieved this recognition. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see my hard work and dedication pay off, especially in a field I’m so passionate about.

Winning first place has given me a boost of confidence in my abilities and has further motivated me to pursue research opportunities in the future. It also feels great to know that my work was appreciated by professionals in the field, which makes this recognition even more meaningful.

Amira at Babraham Research Campus

Did you find the experience useful for your current studies?

The topic of proteostasis linked closely with my studies in biology, helping me apply and extend my understanding of cellular processes. I explored some current research, then looked into other linking areas, such as cancer and AI. I used these as the basis for my poster topic. I found this process very engaging and insightful.

Meanwhile, therapeutic training is connected strongly with chemistry, particularly in understanding research methods and applications. These connections allowed me to combine my knowledge from both subjects, making the research process even more relevant and engaging.

What did you particularly enjoy about the experience?

I was able to hear talks from a variety of different researchers, scientists, and PhD students, which were very interesting. I got an idea of the type of research that’s currently being done and how it’s conducted, and gained a valuable insight into the life of a scientist, particularly in the area of proteostasis.

What advice would you give to other students interested in participating in conferences or pursuing their own research projects?

I would say to go for it! If there’s any opportunity to take part in conferences or similar events, it’s a great chance to boost your CV, gain a greater insight into research, build your research skills and help connect with others who share common interests. It’s also an opportunity to go beyond the curriculum because there’s so much more to learn than what’s in the syllabus and a much bigger story behind the topics being taught.

Most importantly, I would say to keep striving, trying your best and never give up, because persistence and hard work always pays off in the end.

Looking ahead, what are your goals or plans for the future?

My future goals are to go to university and pursue my interests in genetics and AI.