Newly appointed PhD Representatives at ICGEB India, Italy, and South Africa are a key focal point for students within the international ICGEB community.
In Cape Town, Ms. Chiara Foret (Cancer Genomics) and Mr. Hasam Sayedi (Plant Systems Biology) are the current PhD student representatives. In New Delhi, the current representatives are Ms. Umme Yasmeen, Ms. Amina Mohamed Ali, and Mr. Atul Kumar. On 4 November 2025, Director-General Dr. Lawrence Banks met with them for an engaging discussion and exchange of ideas, focusing on student welfare, academic support, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration across Components. Meanwhile, in Trieste, the current representatives are Ms. Giulia Canarutto (Computational Biology) and Mr. Kominist Asmamaw Anley (Biomanufacturing group).
Student representatives across all Components play a pivotal role in strengthening peer connections, representing student interests, and facilitating communication between students and faculty. To further support collaboration and communication, the Student Council in New Delhi is exploring ways to organise regular meetings, exchange ideas across Components, and share news and updates among all students.
By creating stronger links across different locations and research areas, these representatives contribute to a more supportive, collaborative, and enriching PhD experience at ICGEB.
Dr. Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Director-General, is keen to encourage interaction of the student bodies across the Components. “The students belong to the same, unique, international scientific community at ICGEB, and we are seeing how reaffirming connections between past and present students across the globe can really improve the PhD experience at ICGEB and enrich their future careers.”
