Class of 2018: Emily O'Neill

All this week we are celebrating the achievements of some of our students who are graduating in the class of 2018.

Emily O’Neill (BSc Biomedical Science) is starting the Ophthalmology and Vision Science Scientific Training Programme in September at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The three-year training programme incorporates clinical ophthalmic training, research and a Masters in Neurosensory Sciences.

“I’m so excited to start this new job and know that I have only been able to obtain this job because of the unique experiences available to me at Essex,” said Emily. “Studying at Essex exposed me to the newest research in biomedicine and how these transfer into clinical developments for patient care.

“The University has focused my career, arming me with experiences to prepare me for an exciting and challenging career ahead.”

During her degree, Emily also worked as a Frontrunner, where she helped organise the Big Bang event - which encourages young people to pursue a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.

She also received a Wellcome Trust Biomedical Scholarship where she got involved in research into retinitis pigmentosa - genetic disorders which affect the retina. “This placement encouraged me to find a career where I can contribute to vision science in the future,” she said.