Matthew Burnett is 18 years old and in his final year in the Sixth Form of the Stamford Endowed Schools in Lincolnshire. He is studying Maths, Chemistry and Biology.

Matthew has long harboured an interest in a career in Biochemistry and intends to read it as his degree course at university.

Matthew Burnett at his studies at Stamford School

Recently he was able to take advantage of a brilliant opportunity to develop his interest and understanding through a four week placement working under Professor John Greenwood at the University College of London’s Institute of Opthalmology. Matthew’s Chemistry teacher, Mrs Nicola Cliffe, arranged the placement for him and also helped to secure a Nuffield Bursary, which funded his travelling and living expenses for the duration of the placement.

Matthew worked with PhD students studying the migration of white blood cells in the human body. His investigations focused on the eye and the brain and, through the use of the Institute’s advanced facilities, including electron microscopes and 3-D imaging laser technology, Matthew was able to make a significant contribution towards the understanding of how migration paths and proteins involved in them can contribute to sight degeneration and other malfunctions in the nervous system.

Matthew in University College’s laboratories