01 Jul 2026

Molly McKenzie - Winner of the 2026 BACR Student Impact Award

I’m Molly McKenzie, a final year PhD student at the University of Glasgow, currently writing up my thesis on inflammation in colorectal cancer. I am grateful and thrilled to receive the BACR Student Impact Award, which celebrates the PhD journey outside of the lab. This opportunity to reflect on my path to PhD feels only fitting, as I am in my last couple of months as a student after nearly a decade of studying (not all for the PhD, but sometimes it can feel that way!).
Growing up, school, learning and the friendships I made there were a lifeline through some challenging times. Science, particularly biology, always brought a lot of joy to my life, whether it was running around the garden with a bug viewer or building my own experiments in high school. Part of what made these experiences so special was the people around me- my wonderful mum who always nurtured my curious side, my friends for patiently teaching me calculations, and my teachers- particularly Mr Martin and Ms McMinn (thank you for the box of teeth- I won’t elaborate further).
Due to their support and help, I went on to study Biomedical Sciences at the University of Dundee. It was here that my passion for cancer research really took hold, through classes in experimental cell culture, physiology and pharmacology. I would like to highlight Professor Stephen Land’s teaching for being particularly inspiring, and my wonderful friends for holding my hand through many late-night library sessions.
Outside of the classroom, we were encouraged to get involved in wider university life as much as possible- an attitude I’ve tried to hold onto throughout my PhD journey. At Dundee, this looked like being a committee member for the largest sports club, developing an award-winning health solution for the management of Parkinson's symptoms, and spending 2 months in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a research-based internship. In this time of uncertainty and change in higher education, I think it is important to highlight the wonderful experience I had at the University of Dundee, not only through world-class teaching, but also the focus and care given to student experience.
Fast forward four years, and it was the spring of 2020. Graduation was on the horizon, and it felt like nothing could go wrong. As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the future we had planned. Through the challenges of lockdowns, isolation and health worries, I wanted to continue learning and hold onto the passion I had for cancer sciences. I undertook a master's at the University of Glasgow in Cancer Research and Precision Oncology, where I furthered my knowledge of Cancer Biology. The quality of this year would not have been the same without the hard work of Dr Laura Richmond, who made sure even a global pandemic wouldn’t hold us back.

I was fortunate to undertake a laboratory-based project, examining androgen receptor signalling in breast cancer, where I met Professor Joanne Edwards.  Her knowledge and enthusiasm for research were infectious, and I applied to work as a technician within her research group. During this 6-month role, I gained invaluable experience in immunohistochemistry and histology, but more importantly, this experience taught me that I loved research and working within a team of scientists.
A PhD always felt like a dream that was too far away to achieve, and I was not certain it was something I could do. However, through Joanne and her team’s teaching, I started my PhD in 2022 and have not looked back since. I have had incredible opportunities- undergoing training in 3D tissue models at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, presenting a poster at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer in Maryland, US, and engaging with cutting-edge techniques such as spatial transcriptomics.
Outside of the lab, I was again encouraged to make the most of every opportunity. It was important for me to engage with the wider community, whether that was the fellow researchers in my building, students at local high schools and the university, or the general public.
Within my direct research environment, I wanted to get involved in the postgraduate research community. As a member of the PGR Forum committee in 2023–24, I helped relaunch regular social events, creating opportunities for PhD students to connect and support one another. I also helped organise a student-led conference; we were delighted to welcome Dame Anna Dominiczak as keynote speaker. Beyond the Forum, I co-organised a three-day laboratory retreat for around 50 researchers across five groups, combining discussion and activities to encourage collaboration and a more inclusive research culture.
I have also taken numerous opportunities to engage with the next generation of scientists, through my roles as a day-to-day student supervisor, graduate teaching assistant and high school tutor. This has allowed me to give back to the student community and contribute to supportive learning environments, which foster an enthusiasm for science. 
One of the most rewarding parts of engaging with the wider community has been public engagement. Across four years at the Glasgow Science Festival, I have helped deliver hands-on activities such as “immunotherapy darts” and engage in conversations about the immune system and cancer. I was selected for STEM Seedlings, a programme connecting female STEM researchers with Scottish primary schools, where I co-developed a classroom game inspired by “The Traitors” TV show, to introduce school pupils to inflammation and its role in fighting cancer. More recently, through Glasgow Science Centre’s AMPLIFY2 incubator, our team received £900 to create “Mighty Microbes”, a multi-station activity exploring digestion and the microbiome, which has engaged around 400 visitors. Across these projects, my aim has been simple: to show that science is for everyone and to make cancer research feel relevant and within reach. Particular thank you to Dr Emma Parsons for pioneering so much of this within our school.
Throughout my journey to a PhD, there was one constant throughout life changes, different universities, and a global pandemic- the people I surrounded myself with. I hope to have shown that the networks we make throughout our lives are invaluable and have been my greatest support system. We are better when we work together, and I hope this is what the future of cancer research holds.
Thank you to BACR for presenting me with this award, and for highlighting the impact public engagement, teaching and wider outreach have within research and public health. The events run by BACR have been a highlight of my research journey, and I am excited to see what is next for cancer research in the UK.
Lastly, but certainly not least- a big thank you to the incredibly supportive research team I have been part of during my PhD. I have been very lucky to work in this environment, particularly thanks to my supervisor, Professor Joanne Edwards, who fosters this and who always pushes us to make the most of each opportunity. Also, a big thank you to all other members of the team, particularly Dr Kathryn Pennel (I hope to bug you with questions for another 4 years). To my family and Rory, thank you for making all of this possible.
 

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