UK student becomes MSCA fellow
A student from the University of Cumbria, UK, has the opportunity to study a PhD at the prestigious Karolinska Institutet in Sweden as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fellow.
Sarah Wallcook from Arlecdon, Cumbria, graduated from Manchester University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in music. Having been interested in the arts and its positive impact on wellbeing, Wallcook recognised that artistic skills could be transferable to science-based applications. She then applied to study an MSc in Occupational Therapy at the University of Cumbria.
Wallcook’s thesis investigated the role of technology in citizenship, and its recognition by rural occupational therapists. Finding a correlation with a research post advertised by the Karolinska Institutet, Wallcook took the opportunity to find out more about the use of technology in cognitive problems, including amongst those suffering with dementia.
Consistently ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide, and the top 10 medical universities in Europe, the Karolinska Institutet offers education held in English, but with an international focus.
Speaking to local news website Cumbria Crack, Wallcook said: “This is not an opportunity I ever expected to come my way and I’m so delighted and proud that my studies at the University of Cumbria have led to this. I studied occupational therapy because I wanted to make a positive difference and I really look forward to continuing on that journey with the specialist research team at the Karolinska Institutet.”
The MSCA, under Horizon 2020, provides grants for all stages of researchers’ careers, encouraging transnational, intersectoral and interdisciplinary mobility, and equipping them with the skills and international experience for success.
