Pembroke College Cambridge

Natural Sciences

UCAS Code BCF0. Around 544 admitted per year at Cambridge. Pembroke seeks to admit around 25 per year. Assessment with registration required. No written work required. See subject requirements below. A Level typical offer A star A star A. Scottish advanced highers typical offer A1 A1 A2. International baccalaureate typical offer: 42 to 43 points, with 776 to 777 at HL.

Natural Sciences at Pembroke

Pembroke is ideally situated - both geographically and in terms of personnel - for those reading Natural Sciences: the back and side gates of the College lead directly into the New Museums and Downing sites where most of the University biology laboratories are located.

The College has teaching Fellows in all the major science subjects, most of whom take a full part in university teaching (lecturing and laboratory work) as well as engaging in research in their own specialist fields (see below).

We admit between 25-30 natural scientists each year, roughly equally divided between physical and biological interests. We have about 90 postgraduate students in the sciences in residence at any time.

The Pembroke science society, the Stokes Society - named after a famous Pembroke mathematician - is run by a group of undergraduates and organises a series of informal talks from research scientists in many fields and a lot of socialising!

The course can be challenging, and we would expect those applying to have a very strong background in the appropriate sciences and mathematics. We require A Level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) Mathematics, and two more science subjects. Physical scientists taking Further Maths as a fourth A Level will also be asked for a grade in this subject. The most useful subject combinations are:

  • Physical sciences (including Chemistry) – A Level (or equivalent) Mathematics is essential. Further Mathematics is highly desirable, especially for potential Physicists. For Physics, one of either Physics or Further Mathematics (including the section on Mechanics) is essential. For Chemistry, Chemistry is essential. Applicants would be expected to achieve A* in Mathematics or Further Mathematics, and A* in Chemistry or Physics.
  • Biological sciences – A Level (or equivalent) Biology and Mathematics are essential. We recommend one of Chemistry or Physics.

Pembroke Natural Sciences Teaching Staff

Dr Hugo Bronstein: Chemistry

Prof. Nigel Cooper: Theoretical physics

Dr Sanne Cottaar: Earth Sciences

As director of studies in Earth Sciences, I coordinate supervisions for the courses, often in collaboration with colleagues in the department. I typically supervise the first term of 1A Earth Sciences and geophysical topics in later years. At the start and end of term, I meet second, third, and fourth years to discuss progress, ambitions, course choices, fieldwork/internship plans, and (academic) careers after their degree.

Occasionally I organize dinners for Pembroke Earth scientists across the years. I’m available to write references for (fieldwork) travel funds and other applications.

In my research, I uncover the deep Earth using earthquake waves and combine our seismological clues with knowledge of dynamics and mineral physics to understand the processes happening. My current work focuses on mapping the geology at the boundary between the core and the mantle nearly 3000 km deep. Here we find anomalous zones at the base of mantle upwellings, which cause volcanism at the surface (e.g. Hawaii or Iceland).

You can read more about my research here https://deepearth.esc.cam.ac.uk and we currently have an exhibition about our work at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences down the road from Pembroke.

Prof. Clare Grey: Chemistry

Dr Stephen John: History of Medicine/Philosophy

Dr Nick Jones: Materials Science

Prof. Lauren Kassell: History of Medicine

Prof. Rebecca Kilner: Evolutionary Biology

As Director of Studies I meet each student at least twice a term, to ensure they get the most from their final year at Cambridge and are well-prepared for whatever they want to do next. I'm a Professor of Evolutionary Biology in the Department Zoology, where I lecture on behaviour and evolution, and I'm also Director of its award-winning Museum.

The cohort I look after each year typically ranges from 2-6 students. I support Part II students by ensuring they understand how their course is structured, how to balance work on dissertations / projects against supervisions, and how to prepare for life after Cambridge - including support for postgraduate education application. I also troubleshoot any issues that arise during the year in relation to teaching, such as finding supervisors or access to key resources.

Pembroke students I have looked after have performed outstandingly well at Part II in recent years, obtaining the highest classmark in their year, for example, or getting the top mark in specific exam papers. Several have gone to study for an MPhil or PhD at Cambridge, or elsewhere in the UK or internationally.

I have been teaching at Cambridge for over 25 years, including stints as Part II / BBS Course Organiser in the Department of Zoology and as the Department's academic lead on Graduate Admissions. More details here: https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/directory/rebecca-kilner 

I have recently been on BBC Radio 4, talking about beetle behaviours and evolution. You can listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hf6q

Dr Johannes (Wanne) Kromdijk: Plant Sciences

Prof. Gos Micklem: Biology

As Director of Studies (DoS) for second year (Part IB) biology natural sciences I'm responsible for organising supervisions for the different modules that students can take. I meet each student individually at the beginning and end of each term so that we can review plans and progress and help them achieve their full potential.

In their third year (Part II) and for those who stay on for a fourth year (Part III) Pembroke students are assigned Directors of Studies based on their subject specialisation. I typically look after the following Part II courses: Biochemistry, Genetics (one of my home departments), Pathology, Pharmacology, PDN (Physiology, Development and Neuroscience) as well as Part III Systems Biology (for which I'm the course organiser and senior examiner).

I'm Professor in Computational & Molecular Biology with a joint appointment in the Department of Genetics and the Department of Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics (DAMTP). I co-direct the MPhil in Computational Biology in DAMTP, and run the Part III in Systems Biology in the Department of Genetics and a course for third-year engineers, Molecular Bioengineering I, in the Department of Engineering.

My group has worked on large scale data integration for many years, a field important due to the huge quantities of data produced by modern biomedical research. More recently I've started working in the field of synthetic biology, which involves building new systems rather than working out how existing ones work. Further information: http://www.micklemlab.org

Prof. Mike Payne: Physics

Dr Stephanie Smith: Chemistry

As Director of Studies for third and fourth year chemists and for second year students taking double chemistry, I am responsible for organising all College-based chemistry teaching in the subject. This includes arranging supervisions for all first and second year, and many third and fourth year, chemistry courses, and ensuring that third and fourth year students taking specialist lecture courses for which we do not have a supervisor in College receive appropriate supervision via the chemistry department.

As a 50% College teaching officer (teaching only) at Pembroke, teaching chemistry to our students is my primary job, and this allows me to do a significant amount of the small group teaching myself, alongside our amazing graduate supervisors. Guiding and nurturing our students through each stage of their degree to achieve their full potential is my passion, and I have twice been awarded a Student-Led Teaching Award for my teaching.

While my main background is in molecular modelling of organic chemistry, I have a broad interest across all areas of chemistry and supervise all parts of the first- and second-year course (including organic, inorganic, physical, theoretical and biological chemistry) and several of the more specialist third- and fourth-year options.

My university roles include delivering two lecture courses in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry: a second-year course on “Aromatic and Enolate Chemistry” and a fourth-year course on “Aromatic Heterocycles and Medicinal Chemistry”. I am also a senior demonstrator in the second- and third- year organic chemistry practical laboratories and in the second-year physical chemistry laboratory, and sit on the Chemistry Department’s Teaching and Outreach Committee and Chemistry Consultative Committee.

Dr Tim Weil: Developmental Biology

Biological Natural Sciences is a diverse and exciting course. It enables students to study "what they like" in the Natural Sciences which includes cell biology, physics, chemistry, conservation, behaviour, pathology and much more. Supervisors are always keen to work with Pembroke students because they have a reputation for being bright, hard-working and curious. We have excellent supervisors and experienced Directors of Studies to help students find their best path through the course. While our students often perform near the top of the tables in assessment, we are even more proud of what they go on to do after University.

I am the Director of Studies for all first-year Natural Science (Biological) students. In addition to organising supervisions and meeting bi-termly with students to discuss their academic progress, I try to help students manage any challenges with the transition to University. I'm always happy to chat over coffee and find it rewarding to support students on their academic journey.

In my day job, I'm an Associate Professor in Zoology, lecturing and running practicals on developmental biology in all three years. I am also the Deputy Head of the School of the Biological Sciences, working on undergraduate teaching strategy. In my free time I play and coach sports.

Prof. Mark Wyatt: Astrophysics

I am Director of Studies (DoS) for all first-year (IA) Natural Sciences (Physical) students. This means that I meet twice a term with such students to discuss their academic progress. An important role of the IA DoS is to make sure that students choose the courses that are most suited to them, so a constant source of discussion is IB options (and IA options at the beginning of the year). I also arrange the supervisions in the physical subjects and help the students to manage the transition from school to University. 

Outside of Pembroke I am a Professor of Astrophysics at the Institute of Astronomy, where I am also co-Director. Some Pembroke NST students choose to study Astrophysics in their 3rd and/or 4th years (Parts II and III), in which case they may end up being lectured or supervised on research projects by me. My research is in the area of extrasolar planetary systems, that is understanding what the planetary systems of other stars look like, including the possibility that they might harbour life. Often I approach this by focussing what we can learn from the asteroids, comets and dust found orbiting stars.

Dr Albert Cardona: Neuroscience

 

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