From nanomaterials to global human movement: meet Wolfson’s thirteen new Fellows

The new Fellows include ten new Junior Research Fellows (JRFs), which are non-stipendiary positions awarded each year by the College following an open competition. Fellowships are for research at postdoctoral level and are open to scholars in all subjects and all disciplines.

Junior Research Fellows are a key part of the College community, making Wolfson home to a vast spectrum of world-leading research, representing multiple University departments, and coming from diverse international backgrounds.

Joining the new JRFs are three Fellows with significant experience and expertise: Dr Tugba Basaran, Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement; Professor Melody Clark, a molecular biologist leading the Adaptations group at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS); and Dr Adam Welstead, the University’s Head of Student Wellbeing.

Professor Jane Clarke, Wolfson College President, said: “Our new Fellows bring excellence in scholarship combined with passion for their research - some of which addresses some of the biggest problems facing the world today, from climate change to global health, mental health and the plight of refugees. I would urge our members in College to get to know them, and encourage our members around the world to look out for their cutting-edge research.

"I am delighted they have chosen to be Fellows at Wolfson – and that three of them are Wolfson alumni, rejoining the Wolfpack!"

Meet our new Fellows

Dr Beth Barker

Beth is a Research Associate at the Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development, and Learning (PEDAL) in the Faculty of Education. Her research has centred on understanding the links between parenting and child mental health, with a focus on the ways in which we can develop effective programmes of support to be delivered to families in the first few years of children’s lives.

Dr Thomas P Barrett

Thomas is a Japan-trained historian of East Asia, who specialises in the international, diplomatic and transnational history of the region up until the end of the long nineteenth century.

Dr Tugba Basaran

Tugba is Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Human Movement at the University of Cambridge. Her expertise is international relations - in research and in practice.

Dr Mohammed Chowdhury

Mohammed is a Clinical Research Fellow in Vascular Surgery with a key interest in invasive and non-invasive imaging of atherosclerosis in vascular disease.

Professor Melody Clark

Melody is a molecular biologist, leading the Adaptations group at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Melody’s research interests are in understanding how polar marine species have adapted to life in freezing seas and their responses to climate change.

Dr Claire Howlin

Claire is a psychology researcher interested in identifying the long-term impact of music and visual arts engagement on lifelong health and wellbeing using controlled experimental designs and evidence synthesis from large international datasets.

Dr Oumie Kuyateh

Working in the field of infectious diseases within Biological Sciences and Clinical Medicine, Oumie’s research uses metagenomic sequencing to discover new viruses and study their prevalence, host range, and diversity.

Dr Hannah Kurz

Hannah is an inorganic chemist working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. Her research focuses on the intersection of coordination and supramolecular chemistry.

Dr Yair Litman

Yair is a theoretical chemist at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on understanding how molecules move at the atomic scale including reaction rates and vibrational motion, where quantum effects play a decisive role.

Dr Katherine Sanders

Kate is a postdoctoral researcher working in the Engineering Department. Her research interests concern the scalable processing of nano- and micro-structured functional materials, and the use of droplets for material synthesis and assembly.

Dr Meelan Thondoo

Meelan is a medical anthropologist and environmental epidemiologist working in the global health arena. Meelan's research interests are in city-level health impact assessments (HIA) and multi-sectoral interventions and integrated policies for health.

Dr Jiawei Wang

Jiawei is a postdoc fellow at European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the University of Cambridge, mainly working with Dr John Marioni on single cell omics.

Dr Adam Welstead

Adam is the University of Cambridge’s Head of Student Wellbeing. His professional experience and specialist interests are in cognitive behavioural therapies, mental health and suicide-safer strategy, communications and wellbeing in education.