Published: 12 February 2026
We’re proud of our connections with local universities and academic groups at BioAscent, and one of our key priorities is to enable the education and training of local early-career scientists.
Our students and early-career researchers play a meaningful role across our drug discovery programmes, bringing fresh perspectives, energy and curiosity to complex scientific challenges. Several of our recent students have made particularly strong contributions to our GPCR projects: a true win-win for their development and for our science.
Spotlight on Sophie O’Neil
Sophie O’Neil joined BioAscent for a 12-week placement as part of her MSc in Precision Medicine and Pharmacological Innovation at the University of Glasgow. During her time with us, she worked on a project characterising the pharmacology of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors and receptor ligands.
Sophie shared her experience:
“During my placement, I gained valuable hands-on laboratory experience across a range of assays, whilst also getting an insight into the wider drug discovery industry. As most of my previous experience was academia-based, it was particularly beneficial to gain practical industry experience to prepare me for leaving university. Another highlight was working with such a welcoming team who supported me every step of the way and made my placement extremely enjoyable.”
Kyle Thompson, Sophie’s supervisor at BioAscent, added:
“Supervising Sophie has been a rewarding experience, supporting her as she developed her scientific curiosity, resilience and professionalism as a young researcher. Through access to BioAscent's specialist capabilities and extensive expertise in biological assay development, she gained valuable hands-on experience that strengthened both her technical skills and scientific confidence. I believe the foundation she has built here will be an asset as she progresses into a successful research career.”
Sophie showcased her research last year, presenting a poster at ELRIG; download it here to explore her findings.
Spotlight on Louise Lamarra
Louise Lamarra is currently undertaking a year-long placement at BioAscent as part of her MSci in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Glasgow. Her project focuses on developing a T Cell Killing Assay for an orphan GPCR to support immuno-oncology and immunology drug discovery programmes.
Louise said:
“So far in my placement, I’ve gained experience in cell culture, assay development, and a range of immunology-based techniques such as flow cytometry. It has been incredibly valuable to learn within an industry setting and expand on theoretical knowledge from university. I’m excited to see how this project progresses and continue working with such a knowledgeable and supportive team at BioAscent!”
Speaking about Louise’s time at BioAscent, her supervisor, Grant McGregor, says:
“Supporting Louise throughout her placement has been a real pleasure. She approaches every challenge with curiosity and a thoughtful scientific mindset. Louise has applied herself to an ambitious project and shown impressive initiative as she builds both her technical skills and her understanding of complex immunology.”
Discover more about BioAscent’s GPCR drug discovery expertise, and how we can support your project, here.
