Scientist Mwila joins Oxford Vaccine Group to fight virus
A DERBYSHIRE scientist has joined the Oxford Vaccine Group and hopes her work will help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Mwila Kasanyinga was a pupil at Wilsthorpe School in Long Eaton and has gone on to join the team battling against Covid-19’s spread in the UK.
From clinical trials to monitoring the success of the Government’s Covid-19 vaccine, Mwila is doing her part to help stop the pandemic for good and to fulfil the Government’s promise to end social distancing.
She says that she wouldn’t be where she is now without Wilsthorpe School, where she studied A-levels in maths, biology, chemistry and physics.
Mwila said: “Wilsthorpe helped me to shape my future – it was really encouraging and the staff were amazing. They helped me to become the scientist I am today. I hope that my story can inspire future generations to continue striving hard and never giving up on their dreams.”
After attending Wilsthorpe, Mwila went to the University of Sheffield, where she studied biomedical science, before undertaking a master’s degree in human and molecular genetics.
From there, she became a research assistant at the Oxford Vaccine Group which, according to Mwila, has been non-stop. “The first couple of months were quite intense as you can imagine, but working at the Oxford Vaccine Group has been such an amazing experience.”
Wilsthorpe School is proud of the work Mwila is doing. Derek Hobbs, the head teacher, said he was “thrilled and honoured” to hear about Mwila’s position at the Oxford Vaccine Group.
He said: “As the new head of the school, this was the first thing I learned about our school’s alumni, and what a way to start!
“The story of Mwila and her work at Wilsthorpe as a student, going on to university to study an undergraduate degree and master’s, and then to work at the Oxford Vaccine Group has really inspired me and I hope it will inspire everyone at Wilsthorpe and beyond to be the best that they can be, just as Mwila has.”