Dhruv Gupta
MSc Applied Cancer Science, 2024
I am an MSc Applied Cancer Science (2024-25) student, offered by the Department of Oncology. In addition to this, I hold a B.Pharm+MBA (Focus: Pharmaceutical Technology management) dual degree, from NMIMS’ SPP School of Pharmacy (Mumbai, India).
In addition to this, I enjoy writing for science. I’ve authored several papers that have gone on to be published in international journals of repute. One of my greatest learning curves over the course of my degree has been collaborating with my faculty mentors and international research scientists, and this has offered me a holistic view of the technical publishing space.
Some of my past assignments include technical training at pharmaceutical manufacturing units, and a four-month stint as a Business Development Intern at Sun Pharma (India business). I look forward to applying my academic learnings, and creating a difference in as many ways as I can.
Contact: dhruv.gupta@gtc.ox.ac.uk
Doctor of Medicine, 2024
Doctor working as a clinical research fellow with Simon Draper and Angela Minassian at the Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine conducting malaria vaccine clinical trials and challenge studies.
My research project is developing a relapsing Plasmodium vivax controlled human malaria infection model.
Interested in infectious diseases and global health. From Scotland. Enjoy running, cycling and hill walking.
Contact: andrew.duncan@gtc.ox.ac.uk
MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment, 2024
Ellena (Ellie) joins Green Templeton College, pursuing an MSc in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, graduating with highest honours in 2023.
Ellena led Carleton University’s student investment fund ($2.0M in assets under management on behalf of the Carleton University Endowment Fund), spearheading the integration of responsible investing and ESG principles across internal, asset, and portfolio levels. Research framing ESG as a financial sacrifice sparked Ellena’s interest in the nexus between value and values, fuelling her commitment to empowering the financial sector to deliver on the sustainability agenda.
Ellena’s interests include reshaping investment strategies in hard-to-abate sectors and advising on capital deployment to foster sustainable development. Moreover, Ellena is eager to research how impact investing can support the resiliency of Indigenous infrastructure globally.
Outside of academia, Ellena is a former competitive sailor where she competed at the Provincial and National levels in dinghy racing. Ellena is further passionate about ocean conservation, having helmed a sailboat around the British Virgin Islands when she was 18 years of age.
Get in contact with Ellena at: Ellena.damini@gtc.ox.ac.uk
MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy, 2024
Go Muramatsu is a Japanese Government Long-Term Fellowship Program Scholar and an experienced public policy professional with a diverse background in public-private partnership (PPP), finance, and strategic policy planning. He is currently pursuing an MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy at the University of Oxford. Prior to this, he served as General Deputy Director at the Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters and as Senior Deputy Director at the Public Private Partnership(PPP)/Private Finance Initiative(PFI) Promotion Office of the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan.
In his previous roles, Go led major initiatives such as contributing to Japan’s PPP/PFI Action Plan 2022 under Prime Minister Kishida’s ‘New Capitalism’ policy, investing over £176M in infrastructure projects, and revising the ‘Act on Promotion of Private Finance Initiatives.’ He also played a key role in the national response to COVID-19 by coordinating comprehensive economic measures amounting to £18B.
Go’s private sector experience includes working as a Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) professional at Recruit Holdings Co., where he led managerial accounting and budgeting activities, contributed to securing funds for reinvestment and corporate acquisitions, and implemented digital transformation strategies. He holds an MSc in Financial Management with Distinction (expected) from SOAS, University of London, and a BA in Policy Science from Ritsumeikan University. Passionate about global governance and finance, he aims to contribute to sustainable development and effective policy implementation.
Contact: go.muramatsu@gtc.ox.ac.uk
MSc Clinical Trials, 2024
Dr Haresh Selvaskandan is an NIHR Clinical Lecturer of Nephrology, based at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He has a strong interest in glomerular diseases and has broad expertise in translational research. His work includes the application of laboratory-based methods (transcriptomics, digital spatial profiling) to identify new pathways for treatment, managing and analysing large datasets, and clinical trial delivery related to glomerular diseases. Dr. Selvaskandan also has a keen interest in medical technology and AI, and holds leadership positions with national and international networks related to the deployment of medical technology and the delivery of glomerular disease related clinical trials.
Dr Selvaskandan completed his medical degree with honours in 2013. He simultaneously undertook a research-focused Bachelor of Sciences, from which he graduated with a first-class degree. He pursued his interest in glomerular diseases through an NIHR funded Academic Clinical Fellowship, which allowed him to train in nephrology whilst undertaking a Masters in Research methods. He was awarded a distinction for this, and presented and published his work related to novel biomarkers and therapies for glomerular diseases. He subsequently secured a competitive Kidney Research UK Fellowship which allowed him to study the application of digital spatial transcriptomics to IgA nephropathy, a glomerular disease that progresses to kidney failure with few disease-specific therapies approved for treatment. This work has been presented internationally, has won awards, and secured him a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD).
During his time as a nephrology trainee and a PhD student, he actively sought opportunities to become involved in clinical trials. Engaging as sub-investigator and associate-principal investigator for several clinical trials for kidney diseases, he acclimated to the practical aspects of trial management and gained insights into the challenges of site selection, recruitment, and retention. He has since secured a European Renal Association (ERA) – ERAC fellowship to pursue a Masters of Science in Clinical Trials with the Nuffield Department of Population Health, with the hopes of advancing the care of those with kidney disease worldwide.
MBA, 2024
Having always known that I wanted to pursue a career in impact, l left Switzerland to study Geography at the University of Oxford, followed by an MSc in Gender, Media and Culture at the London School of Economics. Both these experiences gave me a specialised and interdisciplinary vision on social and environmental challenges and opportunities.
Eventually this complex understanding led me to take a position in the corporate sustainability team at SCOR, a global reinsurance firm, where I was responsible for delivering multiple sustainability reports and set out the firm’s sustainability strategy. Based in London and collaborating with teams in Paris and Singapore, I explored business solutions on topics such as climate change, biodiversity, community resilience, and gender equality.
I am currently pursuing an MBA at the University of Oxford, Green Templeton College where I aim to specialise my knowledge of efficient sustainability business propositions.
