Welcoming the 2026 PhD Student Cohort to the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit

From L>R: Sadik Elshani (PhD representative), Tomisin Owolabi, Guilherme Rondi Fernandes, Xiuhe (Julia) Chong, Grace Werosta, Oluwaseun Afolayan, Sophie Coe, Caitlin Shaw and Rose Winchester. (Missing from the picture – Cenyujia Wang)
From L>R: Sadik Elshani (PhD representative), Tomisin Owolabi, Guilherme Rondi Fernandes, Xiuhe (Julia) Chong, Grace Werosta, Oluwaseun Afolayan, Sophie Coe, Caitlin Shaw and Rose Winchester. (Missing from the picture – Cenyujia Wang)

Today, the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU) officially welcomed its 2026 cohort of PhD students to the Unit.

The new students were welcomed by third-year PhD student and MRC PPU PhD Student Representative, Sadik Elshani; MRC PPU General Manager, Dr Monika Zwirek; and MRC PPU PhD Programme Lead, Professor Gopal Sapkota.








The 2026 PhD cohort brings together students supported through a range of funding programmes and partnerships:

MRC PPU core-funded students

Tomisin Owolabi

Guilherme Rondi Fernandes

Caitlin Shaw

Northwood Trust-funded student

Cenyujia Wang

Tricia Cohen Memorial Trust-funded student

Grace Werosta

Tenovus Trust-funded studentship

Xiuhe (Julia) Chong

Other PI-supported studentships

Oluwaseun Afolayan

Sophie Coe

Rose Winchester

We are delighted to welcome all our new PhD students to the MRC PPU and look forward to supporting them throughout their PhD research!