My graduate work focused on how the brain controls our appetites. I found that a combination of two agents is synergistically more effective in appetite reduction than each one on their own. This could potentially allow either (1) for reduced severity and/or number of side effects of a certain (serotonin-based) class of obesity drugs if the current doses were used or (2) for greater efficacy using higher doses.

These findings were published in a scientific journal and I was invited to present them at several local and international conferences where they generated a lot of interest from pharmacological companies.

I contributed to projects published in several other scientific journals, won funding of over ~ 40,700 USD and several top presentation prizes.

Among other projects, I helped to ellucidate the function of a protein whose genetic variation is the most common genetic variation which increases our risk of obesity.

From the very start of my undergraduate studies, I sought to undertake relevant research experience, totalling 19 months of work in 4 different projects over the 3 years of studies.

I was rewarded for my academic excellence by 3 local and 1 national awards and graduated with First Class honours.

These accomplishments helped me to win a student laboratory experience grant from the British Society for Neuroendocrinology (~5,500 USD) for an 8-week summer project at the prestigious MRC National Institute for Medical Research.

During this time, I also set up a business of my own, whereby in 2008 I led a team of up to 9 workers providing services to 4 companies (including CNN).