Alumni Profile: Francesco Rivetti (2022-2023)

Before coming to the MSc I studied biochemistry at Imperial. My bachelor’s thesis was on the intracellular movement of chloroplasts during infection. I enjoyed this, but I wanted to experience a more hybrid project, where I could work on both computational and experimental techniques. Following my MSc I started a PhD in interdisciplinary biosciences at Oxford, where I am currently applying my wet and dry lab skills to decipher the role of peculiar RNA-DNA structures in health and disease.  

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MSC IN GENOMIC MEDICINE AT OXFORD?

 After my undergrad in biochemistry, I wanted to complement my studies by taking a course that combined computational biology and molecular biology. The MSc course was the only course that granted me to explore this interesting intersection, which I discovered to be very fond of. 

WHAT WERE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MSC IN GENOMIC MEDICINE FOR YOU?

My highlight were the tutorials, as I learned a lot and very much enjoyed discussing science with other students and professors. Discussing and talking is the place where I think I learn the most, and the tutorials enabled me to expand on this. 

WHICH SPECIFIC ADVANCED ELECTIVE MODULES DID YOU CHOOSE, AND WHY?

Advanced bioinformatics: it was challenging and useful to expand my understanding of computer science, as it is an area I am very interested but I have not had too much of an experience, as I am a biochemist in training. 

Single cell: it was extremely useful for my thesis to begin to have a good understanding of how to analyse single cell data, which is a key skill to have in modern genomics. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR MSC RESEARCH PROJECT AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF GENOMICS AND RESEARCH SKILLS.

I had the possibility of doing a half wet and dry project, which was exactly what I wanted as I was able to expand these two key areas in preparation for my PhD. I produced and analysed single cell RNA-seq data to assess the role of transposons during early mouse embryogenesis. 

HOW DO YOU ENVISION THE MSC IN GENOMIC MEDICINE BENEFITING YOUR FUTURE CAREER OR ACADEMIC PURSUITS? 

It has compensated my background in biochemistry with a genetics and bioinformatics perspective, hence it has made me a better researcher as now I have the ability ad knowledge to understand a biological question from multiple angles. 

IF YOU COULD OFFER ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS CONSIDERING THE MSC IN GENOMIC MEDICINE AT OXFORD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Challenge yourself. A master is not long, so use this to assess really what you like and experience new fields and or techniques. Your ability to try new things decreases as you get progress, so use the master to define your research interests and aspirations.