We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of one of our Psychology students, Hannah Li, who independently took part in the IRIS six‑week Winter Programme.

Under the guidance of UCLA professor Dr Jorge Avila, Hannah explored Neuroscience and Genetics and attended a series of advanced lectures in neuroscience and psychology.

As part of the programme, she produced a research paper titled Sex Differences in Gene Networks in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex for Learning and Memory. Supported by a dedicated mentor throughout the research and writing process, Hannah submitted her work to the International Journal of Health Sciences and Research (IJHSR), where it was selected for publication following a competitive review.

Hannah said: “The experience really helped me to develop valuable time‑management and research skills, particularly as I had to produce the paper in just six weeks!”

Our Head of Sixth Form, Mandy Ladbury‑Webb, added: “This publication highlights the exceptional academic calibre within our Sixth Form, but more importantly, it reflects Hannah’s intellectual curiosity. We are immensely proud of her achievement, which is a testament to her determination, and to the enthusiasm and hard work she brings to her studies every day.”

You can read Hannah’s paper here.