Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge Ex antiquis et novissimis optima - The best of the old and the new Welcome to the official fanpage for Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Established in 1869 as Fitzwilliam Hall, a hostel for non-collegiate students in order to widen access, Fitzwilliam College was formally constituted in 1966. Among the College's most notable alumni are historian and broadcaster David Starkey, musician Nick Drake and politicians Norman Lamont, Julia Goldsworthy, Andy Burnham and Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of the Republic of Singapore. Today Fitzwilliam is a community of approximately 750 students and is widely regarded as one of the friendliest and most open colleges in Cambridge. We encourage you to visit this page often as we make regular updates.

Huge congratulations to Fitz Visiting Fellow (25/26) Elizabeth Strout, whose most recent book 'The Things We Never Say' ...
23/09/2026

Huge congratulations to Fitz Visiting Fellow (25/26) Elizabeth Strout, whose most recent book 'The Things We Never Say' has been shortlisted for this year's Booker Prize. The winning book will be announced on Monday, 9 November 2026 at a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London 🤞

Meet Tejas who undertook a degree in clinical medicine here at Fitz:In a few lines please describe your research:‘My res...
15/09/2026

Meet Tejas who undertook a degree in clinical medicine here at Fitz:

In a few lines please describe your research:

‘My research looks at the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and why patients with IBD are more likely to develop other comorbidities. In our recent paper, we found evidence of shared genetic links between IBD and conditions including colorectal cancer, primary sclerosing cholangitis and celiac disease.’

What drew you to this subject?

‘During my preclinical years, I became interested in genetics, immunology and pathology. I wanted to not only observe patients’ symptoms but to understand the mechanisms behind them. This led me to intercalate in Immunology, Cancer and Genetic Disease and then pursue computational genetic research, which I later developed further during my gastroenterology elective at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard. The elective inspired me by showing gastroenterology at the cutting edge!’

How did you come to be at Fitz?

‘I wanted to study at a college where I would feel comfortable being myself. I knew six years of Medicine at Cambridge would be tough, so I was looking for somewhere welcoming, open-minded, and supportive, while still being academically ambitious.
Fitz stood out because it felt like a place where people came from a wide range of backgrounds and where individuality was embraced. I remember sitting in the Grove on interview day in front of Dr D’Sa and Prof Saeb-Parsy feeling that I could genuinely imagine myself fitting in here. Looking back, I am glad for my choice.’

What is the best thing about Fitz?

‘The community and openness. Everyone is so friendly, and I have made life-long friends here. Fitz has also offered much more than academics; I have always felt encouraged to explore interests beyond medicine, whether through research, music or cricket.’

What do you hope to do next?

‘I am now an Academic Foundation Doctor in Leicester, while continuing my research in gastroenterology and genetics. I hope to build a career in gastroenterology combining clinical medicine with research that helps advance our understanding of disease.’

Tejas recently had a paper published in ‘Digestive Diseases and Sciences’, you can read it here. https://buff.ly/GhRn9OK

Prospective postgraduate students come along to our Open Days!Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September, 9am-5pmMeet students ...
14/09/2026

Prospective postgraduate students come along to our Open Days!

Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September, 9am-5pm

Meet students and staff, go on a tour of the College and enjoy some cake!

Zaid Mathieson a Clinical Medicine student here at Fitz recently spent four weeks at Singapore General Hospital undertak...
10/09/2026

Zaid Mathieson a Clinical Medicine student here at Fitz recently spent four weeks at Singapore General Hospital undertaking two 2-week placements in renal and respiratory medicine respectively.

Zaid said of his experience:

'I got to meet a lot of very helpful and friendly doctors and learned a great amount about renal and respiratory medicine during my time in Singapore.'

'I also learned all about a different healthcare system - particularly the advantages and disadvantages of a system where patients fund their own care with varying degrees of subsidies.'

'On top of this, I got to meet great people outside of the hospital and eat great food! I am sure that the information I learned there and the different approaches I saw will help me massively in my future medical career.'

Who's coming to see us on Friday?Remember we're open from 9am, with our Admissions Tutors Talk and Q&A at 9:30 - perfect...
08/09/2026

Who's coming to see us on Friday?

Remember we're open from 9am, with our Admissions Tutors Talk and Q&A at 9:30 - perfectly timed for a quick tour beforehand!

Reserve your seat via our website.

Meet Laura-Cristina who recently completed her PhD in Engineering here at Fitz.In a few lines please describe your resea...
08/09/2026

Meet Laura-Cristina who recently completed her PhD in Engineering here at Fitz.

In a few lines please describe your research:

‘To assess the performance and efficiency of new aircraft engines and gas turbines in development, we need accurate and reliable experimental techniques. I investigate the physical mechanisms that cause measurement errors in the most commonly used pressure sensor in turbomachinery research, to optimise its accuracy.’

What drew you to this subject?

‘My research topic is very hands-on and it allows me to work on a wide range of skills, from developing numerical models to working with wind tunnels. I also enjoy the international collaboration aspect. In my PhD I work with the large gas turbine manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, based in Japan, to translate my research into an applied solution to improve experimental measurements in industry.’

How did you come to be at Fitz?

‘I put Fitz as my first choice when I applied to Cambridge! I was drawn by the history of the college and its beautiful grounds. Fitz is also conveniently located for quick access to both central Cambridge and West Cambridge where my department is based.’

What is the best thing about Fitz?

‘The postgraduate community at Fitz is very active. We have great dedicated social spaces for postgraduates and there are plenty of events all year round. Here I’ve met some of my best friends since I arrived in Cambridge.’

What do you hope to do next?

‘I have recently passed my PhD viva examination after submitting my thesis and I will be staying in Cambridge working as a Research Associate at the Whittle Laboratory.’

Meet Nika, a Neuroscientist here at Fitz doing a PhD in the Cambridge Chemistry Department.In a few lines please describ...
01/09/2026

Meet Nika, a Neuroscientist here at Fitz doing a PhD in the Cambridge Chemistry Department.

In a few lines please describe your research:

‘I am working on two bioinformatics research projects. One investigates the molecular hallmarks of healthy ageing and neurodegenerative diseases. The second uses ancient genomics and computational protein analysis to investigate how evolutionary mutations affect protein solubility.’

What drew you to this subject?

‘To me, the two most interesting questions in the world are how we came to be as human beings and how our minds work. Being able to explore both neuroscience and ancient genomics is a great privilege that allows me to delve into both of these topics.’

How did you come to be at Fitz?

‘I grew up in Cambridge, before moving away to Cardiff to do my Bachelor's in Neuroscience and Master's of Research in Biosciences. It has opened up a whole new world for me to be back in my home town now as a PhD student. Being part of any college is a fantastic experience, and I am thrilled that the warm and welcoming community of Fitz is the college I get to call my own.’

What is the best thing about Fitz?

‘Everyone says it but it's because it's true - the people! It is such a diverse mix of studies and nationalities, all sharing ideas and laughs. There are activities on every week in the college, from crafts to sports, to help students come together away from work. The committee also does a great job organizing lots of formal swaps with other colleges, so you get to see more of the University.’

What do you hope to do next?

‘I will soon be entering the 3rd and final year of my PhD. After that, I would like to step away from academia to see what the world of industry has to offer in the bioinformatics field.’

Meet Amos who is undertaking a PhD in Materials Science here at Fitz.In a few lines, please describe your research:‘I am...
25/08/2026

Meet Amos who is undertaking a PhD in Materials Science here at Fitz.

In a few lines, please describe your research:

‘I am a crystallography PhD student based in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy. My research focused on understanding the structures of novel crystalline materials using a variety of diffraction techniques. I am particularly interested in characterising disorder in these materials (when some aspect of the 3D pattern of the crystal is broken) and how this may impact their properties.’

What drew you to this subject?

‘Crystallography is so beautiful and I find diffraction techniques fascinating! Diffraction is a very powerful tool for understanding the structure and behaviour of materials. I was utterly amazed by the elegance and diversity of applications when I was first introduced to them as an undergraduate. And this amazement and appreciation for its beauty only continues to grow.’

How did you come to be at Fitz?

‘When looking for a college to apply to Fitz's open and inclusive atmosphere and location a little way out from the busyness of the city centre seemed to be a perfect fit (and it is!).’

What is the best thing about Fitz?

‘Firstly, college is very calm, peaceful, and full of nature. Second is the people and the strong sense of community. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. And I am very proud to be a Fitz member!’

What do you hope to do next?

‘The first thing I’ll be doing when my PhD is finished is spending some time travelling in New Zealand, spending lots of time in the mountains and (hopefully) seeing lots of Kiwi (birds)! After that, I’d like to stay in crystallography-based research and continue exploring the vast and intriguing world of disordered materials using electron diffraction.’

Meet Christian a doctoral researcher in law and President of Fitz’s MCR:Describe your research (in a few lines):'My rese...
18/08/2026

Meet Christian a doctoral researcher in law and President of Fitz’s MCR:

Describe your research (in a few lines):

'My research sits where company law meets finance. It asks how the rules that govern corporations shape the way capital is allocated, and how sustainability is actually governed, especially in settings where institutions are weaker or more constrained. I focus on Colombia and Mexico as a lens for understanding how corporate law and financial markets interact in emerging economies, and what that means for investment, corporate governance and sustainable development.'

What drew you to this subject?

'Having practised as a transactional attorney in law firms in Bogotá and New York, worked as in-house counsel, and taught corporate and financial law, I kept coming back to the same puzzle: much of the theory in company and financial law is built on the assumptions of a few advanced economies, yet it is applied in very different institutional realities. I wanted to understand how corporate law and finance genuinely work in Latin America, and how they might be designed to serve better capital allocation and sustainability there.'

How did you come to be at Fitz?

'I was chosen by the invisible sorting hat, and it has turned out to be one of the luckiest situations I have found myself in.'

What is the best thing about Fitz?

'The community. Everyone finds their own space to thrive and grow, whether personally, academically, in sports, the arts, or really any other interest.'

What do you hope to do next?

'I hope to bridge scholarship and practice: to finish my doctorate while contributing to the institutions that shape investment and development in Latin America and beyond, through a mix of academia, policy, and practice.'

Last month Fitz Fellow Prof Jason Rentfrow was in Seoul and it was fantastic to take the opportunity of his visit to bri...
14/08/2026

Last month Fitz Fellow Prof Jason Rentfrow was in Seoul and it was fantastic to take the opportunity of his visit to bring together some of the local Fitz community! Huge thanks to David Gartside (Law, 1995) for hosting a really special event 🙏 🇰🇷

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