2022-2023 Committee

Jas Bath

President

Hi, I am Jas (She/Her). I am a third-year PhD student in American History and your MCR President for the 2022-2023 academic year. My main role is to represent you to the College. I oversee MCR committee activities and act as our liaison with College. I am here to help in any way I can. Never hesitate to send me an email or grab me for a chat (I am normally drinking coffee in the MCR most mornings haha). Looking forward to working for you this year <3
Clare Love, Jas

Tom Else

Vice President

Hi everyone I’m Tom (he/him) and I am your MCR vice president for next year. I’m just about to start the fourth and final year of my PhD in the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. My role is to support Jas and the rest of the committee, and to represent the views of the MCR in various college committees. I will also be organising some MCR stash towards the end of Michaelmas term, so keep an eye out for that. I’m also here to help you, so if you have any questions or concerns before you start, or any issues throughout the year, don’t hesitate to drop me an email and I’ll try and help as much as possible. Can’t wait to meet you all!

Bjarne Bergh

Treasurer and Computing Officer

I’m Bjarne and I’m currently starting my third year of my PhD in theoretical physics/applied mathematics.

As a treasurer I want to make sure that the MCR finances are well-documented and in order, but also try to ensure that the money we have is spent in such a way that maximizes the impact it has on improving everyone’s experience. For that I would like to give the whole MCR the possibility to be more involved in deciding on how we allocate the budget, and what we spend money on. Expect to hear from me multiple times a year via email with some information on how the MCR finances look like, what we plan on spending that on, and how you can voice any ideas regarding that.

Adelaide Brooks

Secretary

Hi everyone, my name is Adelaide Brooks, and I am a first year PhD student in Italian, focusing on Italian women’s Holocaust testimonies. This past year I completed my MPhil at Clare, and the MCR was where I met most of my friends in Cambridge and had the most fun, so I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to be more involved this year.

As your secretary, I will be eager to help everyone get the most out of MCR events by keeping on top of advertising MCR opportunities and important news in weekly emails. I am a very fast responder as well, if anyone ever needs to be in contact with questions of any kind, whether about the MCR or anything else you might be curious about (for example, as an MML student I feel like everyone should know that if you want to learn a new language with the language centre, Clare will pay for half the fees when you finish the course! Anyone wants to join me in “Upper Intermediate French through Stories and Film”?).

Alyssa Crabb

Social Secretary

Hi! I’m Alyssa, a third year PhD student in Biochemistry and one of your Social Secretaries for this year. I will be organising your Freshers’ Week and formals on Friday throughout the year. We’re looking forward to welcoming you at Clare and giving you the best start to your time at Cambridge. We’ll be running some other fun social events but feel free to let us know if there are any particular events you want on. Feel free to email me or drop me a message if you have any questions!

Arsham Nejad Kourki

Social Secretary

Let me write a pretty standard "about me":

I am currently doing a PhD at the Department of History and Philosophy of Science working on the evolution of complex organisation in biological and sociocultural systems, which is my primary academic interest. I have a mixed training in biology and philosophy, with some expertise on early animal evolution.

Why am I this year's social secretary? Mainly because I often find myself socialising with as many people as are around, inviting people to events, and sometimes running events myself. I also like doing a bit of paperwork (better learn to enjoy it before it piles up when I eventually enter the "real world")!

When I'm not doing a combination of theoretical science and philosophy, I tend to be cooking, playing piano, drawing, playing RPGs, going climbing, or doing some yoga (not really exceptionally good at any of them).

Finally, I would like to point out that doing all the social secretary work cannot—and indeed should not—be a one (or even two) person job, so hit me (or Alyssa) up with your wonderful and fun social event ideas (which I'm sure will be better than mine). Let's make Clare life as fun, inclusive, and memorable as all episodes of life should properly be!

Matthew Feitelberg

Bar Manager

Hello you beautiful people. I am Matthew and I will be one of your gorgeous bar managers for the next year. Over the next year Grant and I will do our best to keep the bar filled with cheap drinks, medium quality liquor, and good vibes. If you have any questions about how the bar works, want to request specific drinks, or maybe want to work for the bar, feel free to pop me an email.

Grant de Jong

Bar Manager

Hello! I'm Grant. Alongside Mathew, I have been graced with the most holy of tasks: managing the MCR bar. As Mathew aptly put it, when it comes to cheap drinks, medium quality liquor, and good vibes, we've got you sorted. Please reach out if you have any requests or (even better) if you'd like to join us.

Tim Moy

Welfare Officer and Library Officer

G’day. I’m Tim (he/him), a mathematics PhD student from down under. More than anything else you’ll probably see me using the coffee machine in the MCR. I will be your library officer for this year. This means I can raise any concerns you have regarding the library, study spaces, or academic affairs with the college committee. In addition, I’m also one of the general welfare officers. The welfare team is always available for chats in confidence. I’m especially keen to see the MCR welcome our international students, as (as I have experienced) studying abroad can be a big adjustment to make. I hope to see you all in fresher’s week and beyond!

JoJo Benn

Welfare Officer

Hi, I’m JoJo (somehow derived from Jonathan) and am one of this years general welfare officers for the MCR. I’m a fourth year PhD student in Clinical Neuroscience and so have been around for long enough to see what a brilliant, but at times stressful place Cambridge can be. As a member of the welfare team I’ll be around to discuss, signpost and help with any issues that might arise over your time at Clare so please feel free to reach out at any time.

Owen Taylor

LGBTQ+ Welfare Officer

Hello fellow queers, questioning individuals, and allies (talk Valentina). I’m Owen (he/him) and I will be your LGBTQ+ officer for Clare MCR over the next year. By day, I’m a second year PhD student in cardiovascular epidemiology (well, sometimes). By night, you’ll see me dancing round the MCR…when I’m not rowing at 5am.

As welfare officer for the LGBTQ+ community I will always be around to listen and chat with anyone who might have anything they wish to discuss. I will act as a point of contact and help direct people to other support options available at college, the university and around Cambridge.

I will also plan fun activities including queer bar nights, LGBTQ+ formal swaps with other colleges, and film nights. I look forward to getting to know you over the upcoming year🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Ellie Dunstone

Disabilities Officer

Hi there!
I'm Ellie, and I'm a ???th year PhD student (I'm near the end, i promise...) in cancer genomics. Get in touch with any queries you have about disability, illness or neurodiversity-related things in college or the wider university, including dealing with the DRC or applying to the college or university for adjustments, support or funding. Really happy to have a chat with anyone whenever, about disability-related things or otherwise - just get in touch!
Ellie x

Glynn Maynard

Admiral of the Punts

Hi newbies, I am a co-Admiral of the Punts this year along with my intrepid compatriot Aliya. We make sure the punts are tight, fresh, and clean for all your serving and giving uses. I am a fourth year PhD in Archaeology studying the cultural consensus of demon iconography in early 1st millennium BCE Iraq. Feel free to send any punt-related grievances, uncertainties and/or praise our way.

Aliya Ali

Admiral of the Punts

Hi, I’m Aliya. I’m one of your Admirals of the Punts this year, I along with Glynn are tasked with taking care of the punts. When I’m not running after unlocked punts that drift to Jesus Lock, I read Arabic texts from the Late Antique period. Clare has been my home for the last three years and I’ve made the most extraordinary friends and memories. I hope your experience here will be great and I’m looking forward to meeting you soon.

Izzy Greenhalgh

Green Officer

Hello everyone and welcome to Clare! I’m Izzy and I am the Green Officer at Clare (alongside going into the 2nd year of my PhD examining early infant neurodevelopment). I am involved in environmental and green matters across Clare including waste reduction / sharing schemes & recycling, access to more eco-friendly living plans and products, and further carbon neutrality plans in college. I am always open to further suggestions for how we can improve our carbon footprint and sustainability and if you have any suggestions or questions please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Hanna Bjone

Sports Officer

Hello! I’m Hanna, this years sports officer and a second year PhD student in Pathology. Having rowed before coming to Cambridge, I joined Clare Boat Club in Michaelmas and have really loved taking part in Clare sports this year! As sports officer I will sort out sports equipment for the MCR and do gym inductions. Feel free to contact me about anything sports related and I will do my best to help.

Ekim Luo

Exchange Officer and BAME Officer

Hi! I'm a PhD student in psychology. I organize formal swaps with other colleges. I'm also the BME officer, so if you have any BME-related inquiries or issues, please do reach out.

Jack Kincaid

Quartermaster (Temporarily)

Hello everyone! My name is Jack and I’ll be serving as your Quartermaster! Tasked with making sure the MCR is equipped with an assortment of biscuits, cakes, teas, and milks, my job is to keep our stomachs full and hearts happy. I’m from Saint Louis, Missouri in the US, and studied Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism at Case Western Reserve University. At Cambridge, I’m reading in Clinical Biochemistry, where I leverage molecular genetics and whole animal physiology approaches to investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying obesity and type 2 diabetes. Outside of academics, I’m an avid tennis player!

Eve Robertson

Quartermaster

Hi all! Only a Shortbread while ago I was in med school in Bristol… I'm now an orthopaedic surgery trainee, and I’ve most recently been Twix-ing poorly Fingers. I am currently taking a break (having a Kit Kat) from the clinical Club, for an MPhil in the Department of Surgery at the Stem Cell Institute. I to-tea-ly love it, so I’m going to really Milk it and go on to a PhD.

Being a Jammy dodger, digestive been posted as your new Quatermaster. Fresh as, I didn’t Jaffa-n idea what this was*. Dr Google tells me it is:

‘An officer responsible for making sure equipment materials and systems are available and functioning for missions.’

Well, your mission is to enjoy the MCR work hard which necessarily requires a biccy** and a cup of tea. Oh, and maybe a few Nice events here and there.

I just can’t stand the sight of an empty Cookie jar - that really takes the biscuit. Cavallucci inside and let me know if it’s getting low, Oreo won’t have any left.

So for me, a year ahead to serve you and all your essential needs.

Amaretti? You bet I am.

*happy to be referred to also as Quater-madre.
** a colloquialism for a ‘biscuit’ which comes from the Latin 'bis' (twice) and 'coquere' (to cook), (here referring to a flat hard treat typically eaten with tea/coffee rather than what might also be called a ‘scone’, or, if you are Canadian, a ‘British person’), also known across the pond as a ‘cookie’, although more correctly, a cookie probably isn’t even a subset of ‘biscuits’ (being only baked once, so as not to burn the chocolate or other additives), but a whole separate category of confectionery or even a cake. This is of course a highly topical and contentious topic, and debate is not only welcome but encouraged.

Emma Gleave

Mature Students' Officer

Hi everyone,
My name is Emma Gleave (ejg78), and I am the Mature Students’ Officer. Mature students are generally defined as students who have taken some time out between their undergraduate studies and matriculating at Cambridge and who are older than average.

I fit into this category as I am a retired solicitor who established my own legal firm and built it up to be one of the largest personal injury firms in the country.

In 2014, I sold my law firm and retired from legal practice. I quickly became bored of retirement and decided to pursue an academic career, completing a Masters degree at King’s College, London. I am now studying in the History Faculty as a part-time second-year PhD student and am a keen rower for Clare.

In 2021 I was elected as the Clareity President and organised regular talks on various topics and then the Clareity Symposium in April 2022. The Symposium was a great success in large part due to the twenty-one great postgraduate student speakers.

Older students at Clare sometimes face different challenges from those facing younger students. I plan to create a Newsletter, organise regular social get-togethers, including a dinner and establish a mentoring scheme whereby new mature students would be mentored by a second-year plus postgraduate student.
At my suggestion, a similar mentoring scheme has been set up for first- year postgraduate students in the History Faculty. The scheme has worked well.
I also want to set up a social media platform such as Slack so that we can better communicate with each other.

As a group we are often overlooked, and I would like to build up our presence and make our time at Clare even more enjoyable.

Please email me on ejg78 and I will add you to the email distribution list for slightly older post grad Clare students. I need your email address to make this work!!

Sam Hodder

Clareity President

Hi Everyone! My name is Sam (she/her) and welcome to Clare! I am entering the third year of my PhD in Biochemistry. One of the things that I love most about Clare is that you get to meet such amazing people that all research completely different areas. That is why I’m very exited to be coordinating Clareity this year (with Ross), which is a series of informal evening talks where MCR members present their latest research to the grad community – with pizza and wine of course. We will also have a college-wide symposium in March (more information to follow). If you are interested in presenting do not hesitate to email me. Hope to see you in our first Clareity Evening soon after the Freshers’ Week!

Ross McGinn

Clareity President

Hi everyone! I’m Ross, a fourth year PhD student in Biophysics and one half of your Clareity team this year. Sam and I are responsible for organising a series of talks throughout the year where MCR members (along with some fellows, alumni, and others) get a chance to informally present their work to the MCR community. We will also organise the Clareity Symposium (normally in March), which allows us to highlight the huge range of interesting research work done by members of the MCR. Both the regular talks and the symposium are a great opportunity to find out what everyone actually does all day, as well as a chance to celebrate each other’s work and achievements.

Sammie Mason

Accommodation Officer

Hey Everyone! I’m Sammie (she/her) and I’m your MCR Accommodation's Officer. I’m starting the third year of my PhD in Haematology. My main role is to represent student's views and interested to the College regarding Accommodation issues. I’m here to help you resolve any accommodation issues. Please always feel free to drop me an email or grab me for a chat, I’m very friendly I promise!

Olivia Smith

Welfare Officer

Hi I’m Liv (she/her) and I’m a first-year Biochemistry PhD student. As one of the Welfare Officers this year, my role is to make sure that your time at Clare is enjoyable and provide you with support should you need it. I am able to provide a point of contact with the College and signpost you to the resources that will be most helpful.

I’m always up for a tea or coffee so if you have any welfare issues relating to the MCR or need someone to debrief to after a stressful week, please feel free to drop me a message or find me for a chat!

Dina Körzdörfer

First Year Officer

Hey everyone, I am Dina (she/her) and just started my masters in Management at the Judge Business School. Along with Capucine, I will be your First Year Representative - supporting the MCR social and welfare team. Throughout the year we hope to organise many amazing events and I look forward to making Clare life as fun, inclusive, and memorable as possible. So get involved and always feel free to reach out if you have any suggestions or just want to chat.