Alumni in the Spotlight: Alison Y

• What university are you at, and which major are you studying?
• Why choose this university and this major?

I am currently studying biotechnology at Imperial College London. I have always loved London and I've always been particularly interested in biotechnology. In Mr. Lam’s CCA extended project in high school, I did an experimental project to explore the significance of positive and negative pulmonary nodules using three detection methods (99mTc MIBI scan, X-CT and serum tumor markers). Because chemistry, biology and statistics were my favourite subjects in school, and I enjoy doing this subject very much, I am further convinced that biotechnology is the field I want to study deeply. In the process of doing this subject, I have read many documents. X-CT has some limitations, but the more accurate PET-CT is still rare in China. In this respect, the technology of the Commonwealth countries is very mature. Imperial College London is a research university with advanced equipment. I like small class sizes. Biotechnology only has 20-30 students at Imperial College London, so this is ideal!

• What is it like studying at this university?
• What kind of club activities have you participated in?
• Or internship experience?

Due to the impact of the epidemic, I have not officially joined the club activities this year. But I feel that the online course system of our school is still very advanced. My biochemistry Professor graduated from Stanford and once worked in Cold Spring Harbor. I especially enjoy listening to his lectures.

• In what year did you graduate from Dulwich?
• Why did you choose Dulwich?

I graduated from Dulwich in 2020. At that time, about 40% of the reasons for choosing Dulwich were that I liked the western teaching style, and about 60% of the reasons were that my father had high expectations for me - hoping that I could enter the top 20 universities in the world, so I chose Dulwich

• What courses have you studied in Dulwich and which teacher had the greatest influence on you? Why?

I have mainly studied art, economics, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics in Dulwich. The teachers who have influenced me the most are Dr. Feeney and Mr. Smith.

Dr. Feeney has a typical British style sense of humour and his blackboard writing in class is very concise and easy to understand. After his class, I always felt I had learned it completely. I didn’t need to do any extra study after class, and I would still be among the best in the grade. This was all due to Dr. Feeney’s excellent teaching skills. He gave me a taste of university style lecture teaching in advance, so I found it easy to adjust to university lectures.

Mr. Smith is very interesting. He often uses vivid analysis in class. The atmosphere in his class made me feel biology was fun and that I wanted to study it further.

• What CCA activities did you take part in?
• Which event impressed you?

I have participated in the 7 min workout club, and I believe that my love of sports is closely related to the "Enlightenment" this club gave me at that time.

• What experience in Dulwich made you decide which major to study?

I think it is the subject of the extended project that made me certain that I wanted to choose this major, but the choice of biotechnology was the direction I have been heading in since I first came into contact with biology.

• Can you tell us about your experience of studying at Dulwich?

I think many courses of Dulwich are in line with the courses I have in University.

• Do you have any advice for younger students?

BE YOURSELF. Stay true.