President: Teresa Krieger
Teresa is a PhD researcher at the Gurdon Institute, looking at the role of stem cells in brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders. She previously studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge and MIT, and has undertaken research projects at the interface of physics, biology and medicine. Teresa is interested in how an evidence base for policy decisions can be established in an unbiased way and communicated efficiently to policymakers and the public. She also enjoys teaching and outreach activities, and hopes that empirical thinking can empower people to engage critically in the political process.
Head of Lectures: Josh McTigue
Josh is a PhD researcher at the Cambridge University Engineering Department. His research project is on the modelling and optimisation of a thermal energy storage system and is interested in implications that policy can have on energy storage. Josh previously completed a BA and MEng in Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge, where he specialised in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. In addition to his involvement in CUSPE, Josh is currently the Secretary of St. Catharine’s College MCR and has previously been Co-President and Treasurer.
Head of Workshops: James Hynard
James is a research assistant at the innovation charity Nesta where he works on the Longitude Prize 2014, a £10 million incentive prize for a diagnostic which can tackle antibiotic resistance. He recently graduated from the University of Cambridge having completed a Masters in the History and Philosophy of Science and a BA in Natural Sciences. His research encompassed the original 1714 Longitude Prize, the scientific study of sex in eighteenth-century France, and the conflict of scientific and national policy considerations in the ongoing multinational Square Kilometre Array radio telescope project. He is interested in encouraging better government by strengthening connections to evidence and research networks. He hopes to pursue a career in science policy.
Head of Finance and Fundraising: Sarah Morgan
Sarah Morgan is a PhD researcher in the Theory of Condensed Matter Group in the Physics Department. Her research focuses on the theory of open quantum dynamics in nanoscale systems, in particular the role of quantum mechanical effects in photosynthesis and the use of a new technique called 2D spectroscopy to characterise physical systems. She has also recently undertaken a 6 month secondment to BIS, working in the EPSRC Funding Unit on the UK Quantum Technologies Programme. Sarah enjoys teaching and outreach activities and is interested in education policy and increasing the visibility of women in science.
Head of Liaison: Giovanni Offeddu
Giovanni is a PhD student in Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at the University of Cambridge, researching new materials for regenerative medicine, particularly soft tissue repair. Before coming to Cambridge, he studied Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester. Giovanni is interested in evidence-based approaches to medical and public health policy development. Outside of his PhD, Giovanni acts as a consultant in the area of technology commercialisation.
Head of Publications: Jenni Stuart
Jenni is a PhD student at the University of Cambridge Pathology Department. Her research focuses on how viruses evade the host innate immune response, utilising vaccinia virus as a model system. Prior to commencing her PhD, Jenni obtained an MRes in the study of infection and immunity and a BA in Zoology from the University of Cambridge. Jenni is particularly interested in the role of scientific evidence in the development of education policy and she is also passionate about the importance of effective communication of scientific developments to both the public and policy makers.
Head of Marketing and Communications: Micaela Crespo
Micaela is a Marie Curie PostDoctoral Fellow at the Department of Chemistry. Her research topic revolves around the generation of solar fuels – that is of energy rich substances from CO2, water and sunlight – much like in plant photosynthesis. She is interested in the implications of this kind of research on policies based on climate change and sustainability. She previously completed her PhD at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and her MsC in Chemical Engineering at the University of Barcelona, Spain. From this perspective, she is particularly interested in European science policy.
Chairman: James Dolan
James is a PhD student at the Nano Science and Technology Doctoral Training Centre. His research, an interdisciplinary collaboration between three groups in the Departments of Engineering and Physics, concerns the investigation and application of self-assembled optical metamaterials. Prior to studies at Cambridge, James graduated with an MEng in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford, where he specialised in electrical, electronic and control engineering. He is particularly interested in the role of scientific evidence in highly politicised situations and the potential for innovative scientific and technological policy solutions to break political deadlock.
Webmaster: Isak Herman
Isak is a PhD Student at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory’s Graphics and Interaction Research Group and a collaborator within the Crucible Network. His research focuses on mobile crowd-sourcing of collaboratively filtered bioacoustic data. Isak previously worked in the fields of Human Computer Interaction, Computational Acoustics, and Biodiversity Monitoring. He holds a BA and MA from Stanford University. Isak is particularly interested in the intersection of technology and policy on a national and international level, especially in the domains of citizen science and biodiversity assessment. In addition to his involvement in CUSPE, Isak is currently the President of Darwin College’s Students’ Association.
Secretary: Mark Goodwin
Mark is Mellon Fellow in Public Policy in the Department of Politics and International Studies, Cambridge. His current research focuses on the public policy functions of the UK Parliament and the use of research evidence to support legislative scrutiny. Mark has previously published work on schools policy and on the regulation of human reproductive technologies. Before moving to Cambridge, Mark worked at De Montfort University and completed a BSocSci in Politics at the University of Manchester and an MA and PhD in Political Science at the University of Birmingham. Mark is also a member of the management team for the Cambridge MPhil in Public Policy.
Treasurer: Viet Nguyen
Viet received both Bachelor and Master Degree in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University. Viet is currently a PhD student at Center of Research in Electrochemical Science and Technology. His project concentrates on the understanding and improvement of chemical sensors for field applications. Upon joining CUSPE, he is particularly interested in the making of policies which regard the efficient production, distribution and conservation of energies (e.g. oil, natural and shale gas, etc.). Outside research, Viet also enjoy activities which promote science to public, such as Science Road Show (ChaOs).
Senior Events Organiser: Edward Oughton
Edward is a PhD researcher at The Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research (4CMR), The University of Cambridge and currently works on Work Stream 3 of the Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC). His research investigates how the evolution of the physical Internet infrastructure has impacted on the economic development of cities. Edward has active research interests and experience in a range of urban, regional, national and international issues, in a variety of fields, from economics to geography to innovation studies. Through his work on evolutionary economics he has developed a special interest in innovation, entrepreneurship and technological development, particularly how the policy nexus intersects these key areas and impacts on economic development. Edward previously spent time at Cambridge completing his MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration during which he completed a policy review for Gateshead Council.
Workshops Team: Corinna Frey
Corinna Frey is a PhD student at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, in the Organisational Behaviour and Information Systems Group. Here she focuses on evidence-based policy making in International Development. Her background in Political Sciences and her work experience with the United Nations gave her valuable insights in existing challenges of ‘evidence-based development’. Learning from other disciplines, she currently analyses mechanisms and technologies used for evidence-based medicine within hospitals to inform evidence-based development. Passionate about sharing research with a broader audience, Corinna is author for the journal ‘The Cambridge Globalist’.
Lectures Team: Kirstine Szifris
Kristine is a PhD student at the Prison Research Centre, Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge, funded by the ESRC. Kristine was previously a Policy Intern in Policy Challenges at the Centre for Science and Policy, University of Cambridge, and was a Lecturer in Foundations in Applied Statistics at the Social Science Research Methods Centre. Having previously worked as a Mathematics teacher, she has a keen interest in prison education. Her PhD research is focused on the impact of engaging prisoners in philosophical dialogue in an educational setting. Kristine is interested in policy and has previously been a Committee Specialist for the Joint Committee on the draft Voting Eligibility (Prisoners) Bill in the House of Commons.
Lectures Team: Apurva Chitnis
Apurva Chitnis is a Masters Student in Computer and Information Engineering at the Department of Engineering and is associated with Emmanuel College. His studies are broadly focussed around machine learning, and he is currently conducting research in optimal spatial hearing. Recently he has been interested by the social, political and ethical issues posed by new technologies, which are inexorably tied to their power to change society. As such, he recognises the need for both a voiced public opinion and evidence-based political decisions to guide the impact of modern developments. Having nearly completed his undergraduate degree, Apurva is looking forward to applying his knowledge to solve real problems, with the aim of creating a better world.
Photographer: Rui Sun
Rui is a PhD in Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge. She is interested in emotion, culture and prosocial behaviors. Her current research involves how socioeconomic status and prosocial behaviors interact to influence friend choice, both in real life and online social network. Rui is interested how to transform psychology research into psychology in life, and benefit the great public in a broad sense. Outside research, Rui is interested in photography, dancing and cultural experiences.
