Alumni Story Sophie

When Sophie joined the Immerse Education Online Research Programme, she was still uncertain about the direction she wanted her academic interests to take. At the time, she describes the experience as “a turning point in my academic journey,” particularly because it helped her realise that she wanted to combine psychology with biochemistry rather than pursue either in isolation. She was drawn to the programme by the opportunity to carry out focused research and work closely with a tutor who could act as a mentor, hoping it would give her clarity as well as challenge.

From Sophie’s perspective, the value of Immerse lay in how it strengthened her scientific literacy while giving her the space to test those skills in practice. “From consolidating English scientific terminology in chemistry to gaining transferable skills in conducting online research, Immerse helped me build a strong scientific literacy foundation,” she explains. She credits the programme with preparing her for later academic work, adding that it “taught me how to critically analyse and synthesise scientific literature – a skillset that continues to support me through my current bibliometrics internship.”

That foundation is clearest in the research project she developed during the programme. “Through my research, I searched for an answer to the ongoing debate surrounding human pheromones, focusing on the gap between popular claims and scientific evidence,” she says. Rather than accepting commonly cited conclusions, she examined why compounds such as androstenone, androstenol, androstadienone are frequently cited as pheromones, despite methodological flaws and inconsistent findings limiting their validation. By examining molecular inaccuracies in supporting studies, her work demonstrates the very analytical approach she describes, highlighting how concentration and bioassay rigour are often overlooked in odour research.

After Immerse, Sophie presented her research at an Immerse symposium, and her literature review was later featured in the Young Scientist Journal. Around the same time, she completed high school in the United Kingdom on an academic scholarship and went on to secure a summer research assistant position at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where she worked with human brain organoids.

She is now studying Human Development at Cornell University. While her degree has a stronger social and psychological focus, she says this is something she deeply appreciates, even as she continues to pursue her interest in the biochemistry of neuroscience alongside her studies. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue this work at doctoral level.

Reflecting on the experience, she sees Immerse as formative in helping her test her interests honestly. She advises future students to use it as an opportunity to reflect on whether this subject is truly what you want to pursue at university, adding that the programme is most valuable when students engage fully by asking questions and taking as much as they can from each and every class.