Brightest talents win placement
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TWO talented young science students from Runcorn have completed placements carrying out real world research.
The duo, who both attended The Heath School before heading to Priestley College, were assigned to a hospital and a laboratory respectively.
Lucy Bridson, who studies biology, chemistry and psychology and who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, worked for a month in Liverpool’s Walton Centre radiology department as part of a Nuffield placement.
Her project involved researching the use of an agent used in MRI scans that is being studied amid fears it could be toxic and cause patients serious side effects.
Once completed, the study will be sent to the Royal Society Of Medicine, which is examining the same topic.
Lucy, who worked alongside the neurology specialists, is also undertaking the pre-med and graduate preparation courses in college.
The Walton Centre is a specialist hospital trust providing comprehensive neurology, neurosurgery, spinal and pain management services.
Lucy said: “It was amazing to be working alongside people who are so passionate about medicine.
“The work I did will actually feed into their research, which will be carried out on a larger cohort of patients.
“I was so lucky to get a placement that suited my interests perfectly.”
Michael Rawlinson, who studies chemistry, maths and computer science, completed his Nuffield placement in the laboratories at Unilever.
His work was confidential, but again was part of live research being carried out by the company.
He said: “We were analysing detergents you would find in your home to try and find out if a certain component could be found in them.
“It was great to meet people with PhDs and Masters to see how they worked.”