
Our MCR Committee
The 2024/25 Committee
We are the current Sidney Sussex MCR committee for 2024-25. We not only organise a lot of social and welfare events for you but also sit in on college committees and the SU and are your contact people for anything you’d like to raise with them.
Please get in touch with any of us if you have any questions or concerns. We also have some unoccupied committee roles so also get in touch if you are interested in joining us!
The Sidney Sussex MCR is governed by a constitution which can be read here: Sidney Sussex MCR Constitution.
You can find more information about what we do on the Sidney Sussex Website.
Meet the Committee
-
Clara Chen
President
sidneymcr-president@srcf.ucam.org
Hi everyone! I'm Clara, a fifth year medic, and really excited to be your MCR President for 2024/25! I’m looking forward to working with the committee this year to continue to support and represent the MCR, and make sure the postgraduate community is enjoying everything about college life! We're here to support each and everyone of you, so if any problems and concerns arise, please do get in touch with me or anyone else on committee!
-
Marco Fioratti
Vice President
sidneymcr-vicepresident@srcf.ucam.org
Ciao! I’m Marco and I am a third-year PhD student in linguistics. I’ll be VP for this year, which means that I am here for anything you and our amazing officers need. I’ll try to be in touch with everybody and help out as much as possible, working closely with Clara. I am linguist, so just as languages connect people, cultures, and enlarge communities by making people care about each other, as a VP I would like to do the same: I want to act as a bridge between people. Please, just remember you can reach out for anything, just drop a message, even if you just want to chat about the weather. Ci vediamo a Sidney!
-
Jakub Lastowiecki
Treasurer
sidneymcr-treasurer@srcf.ucam.org
Hi everyone! I'm Jakub, MRes+PhD student at the Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (FIBE2) CDT. Hopefully I won't steer us into bankruptcy, but I will declare it in Michael Scott fashion if necessary. As Treasurer, please get in touch if the MCR owns you money or you'd like to spend some (within reason and I might say no)!
-
Yuan Yan
Welfare Officer
sidneymcr-welfare@srcf.ucam.org
Hey! I am Yuan, a second-year PhD student in history and one of the welfare officers for this year. As an introvert who took a while to feel comfortable entering a pub in her first year at Cambridge, I can relate to those trying to join a new community here at Sidney. I will be involved in welfare events throughout the year, ready to be there when you need someone to talk to. I hope you experience kindness, empathy, and love during this brief encounter with Sidney in your life :)
-
Ruari Marshall-Hawkes
Welfare Officer
sidneymcr-welfare@srcf.ucam.org
Hi! I’m Ruari, a first year PhD student in Zoology and in my second year at Sidney. As one of the welfare officers this year, I’ll be involved in organising free and relaxed events for postgrads, as well as liaising with college about postgrad physical and mental wellbeing. Please get in touch if you want to chat or need advice – I’m happy to help!
-
Yasmine Xuning Kanagalingam
Social Officer
sidneymcr-social@srcf.ucam.org
Hello! I’m Yasmine, I’m a fifth year medic, and I’m staying on as social officer for 2024/25! We had a really fun time spending college money on pre-drinks, post-drinks and entertainment for our formals, and I look forward to continuing to spend college money!
-
Katya Bungay-Hill
Social Officer
sidneymcr-social@srcf.ucam.org
Hey everyone! I’m Katya, a 4th year studying History and Philosophy of Science. I’m looking forward to organising formals and other social events for the MCR this year. If you have any special requests or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to let me know when you see me around, or, if I’m nowhere to be found (likely stuck in another Whipple Library black hole), use the email address above!
-
Freya Taylor
Social Officer
sidneymcr-social@srcf.ucam.org
Hi! I’m Freya, a second year PhD candidate in Divinity. I’ll be one of the social officers this year. Last year’s themed formals and swaps were super fun and great oppurtunities to meet new people, and I am excited to work with my fellow social officers to arrange more this year!
-
Chris Carpenter
Socials Officer
sidneymcr-social@srcf.ucam.org
I'm a first-year PhD student in Politics & International Studies, researching digital surveillance and data privacy in FemTech. I was at Sidney during my MPhil in 2017-2018 and am thrilled to be back for the PhD. I'm serving as a Social Chair for the MCR--if you have any hopes and dreams for formal themes or other social events, send them my way!
-
Cherub Wu
Social Media Officer
sidneymcr-socialmedia@srcf.ucam.org
Hey there! I’m Cherub Kaida Wu🥕, a graduate medical science student at Sidney Sussex College, diving into the brain 🧠 to figure out how brown adipose tissue dysfunction might be linked to obesity. My research keeps me fascinated by the inner workings of our minds and how they influence everything from dreams to daily habits.
When I’m not in the lab, you’ll find me daydreaming 💭 and turning those dreams into art 🎨! I love blending science with creativity, making paintings that reflect both my research and imagination. I also have a soft spot for history 📜 because, let’s face it, the past is full of cool stories!
As your friendly Social Media Officer 📱, I’m here to keep our Sidney grad community connected and entertained with updates, fun events, and maybe a few memes along the way. Let’s make this journey together—where science, art, and a bit of humor collide! ✨
-
Bethan Lloyd-Owen
Green Officer
Hi, my name is Bethan, and I’m going into the second year of my PhD in Medical Genetics! I’ll be one of the Green Officers for Sidney this year, please feel free to get in contact about anything green/sustainability related🌻☀️!
-
Markus Verlemann
Green Officer
Hello there, I’m Markus, a first-year PhD student in maths studying general relativity and freshly baked green officer. Contrary to the maths stereotype I am a really social guy and will do my best to make the best college even better. I hope all of you have an amazing experience at Sidney. Some of my many hobbies include cooking, techno/jazz, boardgames and bouldering. But you know what I like even more than those things? That’s right – the environment. So don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any cool suggestions or inquiries about anything green related!
-
Tim
Green Officer/interim Welfare Officer
Hey all, I'm Tim, an MPhil student in Energy Technologies focusing on applying machine learning to power the energy transition (did u get the pun?) ! As you might guess, I'll try to drive initiatives to make our college a lil bit more sustainable but I'll also take the role of a Welfare Officer from time to time and organize fun and relaxing events ! I'm also a sports freak so you might see me on a basketball or handball court, throwing frisbees or rowing on the river Cam. If you have any questions -welfare related or not- or if you just want to have a drink and chat, feel free to reach out to me any time!
-
Shalvi
BME Officer
Hi everyone! I'm Shalvi, an LLM student, and I’m truly excited to be your BME Officer for 2024/25! As part of the committee, I’m committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone feels celebrated and supported.I aim to work closely with the committee to organise events, provide resources, and create safe spaces where we can share our experiences and celebrate the diversity that makes our college so special. Whether you have suggestions, concerns, or just want someone to talk to, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to listen and help in any way I can!
-
Beatrice Pepera
BME Officer
sidneymcr-bme@srcf.ucam.org
Hi everyone! I’m Beatrice an MPhil Engineering student and I’m looking forward to serving as one of your BME Officers this year. We’ll be organising some fun and informative events, as well as liaising with other university groups to address specific challenges and opportunities here at Cambridge.If you have any specific requests or ideas, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email or when you see us around!
-
Sam Russo
Computer Officer
sidneymcr-computer@srcf.ucam.org
Bonjour tout le monde!! I’m Sam, postgraduate fresher at the MPhil in Scientific Computing. When I go away from my laptop (which is not often as you have guessed), you might meet me at the bouldering gym or hiking on the swiss alps! I will be the Computer Officer for 2024/2025, so don’t hesitate to hit me up with any IT related issues you have, or if you have any requests about our website! ✨
-
Mike Martin
Freshers' Rep
sidneymcr-freshers@srcf.ucam.org
Salve(te)! I'm Mike, an MPhil student in World History, and, most importantly, a Sidknight. As the Freshers' Representative, I will ensure the new postgrads are getting the maximum of their college experience. Don't hesitate to contact me whenever you want (casual chatting included).
-
Ye Sun
Gym Officer
Hi all, I’m Ye, currently in my second year of a PhD in economics, and I’m very happy to be the gym officer this year. I’m looking forward to helping everyone make the most of the Sidney gym facilities and supporting an active, healthy lifestyle in our community. If you have any questions about the gym or suggestions on how we can improve things, feel free to reach out!
-
Kehan Lu (Lulu)
Women & Non-Binary Officer
sidneymcr-women@srcf.ucam.orgNihao! My name is Kehan Lu, and I am an MPhil student in Criminological Research. I will be serving as the Women and Non-Binary Officer for the MCR at Sidney Sussex College in the upcoming academic year.
In this role, I am committed to advocating for the welfare and rights of women and non-binary members. Some of my responsibilities include providing sanitary and hygiene products, distributing free sexual health supplies, and organizing events for Women's History Month (in March), among other initiatives. If you identify as a woman or non-binary and encounter any uncomfortable situations related to your gender during your time at Sidney Sussex, please don't hesitate to reach out. I am here to offer support and can seek further help from the MCR on your behalf.
Together, we can create a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all women and non-binary individuals at Sidney!
-
Elizabeth Hawke
LGBTQ+ Officer
Hi, I’m Elizabeth (she/her for now)!
I’m the LGBTQ+ rep - I’ve been doing various queer stuff at Cambridge both town and university affiliated, from roller derby 🛼, organising ace meet-ups (the sexuality, although we also very cool 😎) and also coordinating uni-wide LGBTQ+ stuff from socials to talks to clothes swaps to Dragtime theatre trips.
A good place to start finding stuff stuff is here: https://www.facebook.com/cambridgesulgbt
I’m also an engineering student doing double time - it’s an alternative to intermission that is more suitable for chronic conditions, so if you have any questions about accessibility, disability and mental health feel free to get in touch!
Aspec love 💜💚 x
-
Sahib Patel
Externals Officer
sidneymcr-external@srcf.ucam.org
Hi there! I’m Sahib - my name means ‘friend,’ and I’m always ready with an ear to listen and plenty to chat about! 😊 If you ever fancy a friendly face around the wonderful Sidney community, I’m your person. As the new External Relations Officer, I’ll be connecting interesting speakers with Sidney students, so keep an eye out for exciting events!
I’m in my second year of an MSt in International Relations, diving into everything from international security to geopolitical power plays, and even how the UK shapes US views in the so-called ‘special relationship’. I’m a part-time student with a full-time role at Amazon in London (though I’ll be moving to the UK Civil Service soon!). You’ll find me at Sidney most weeks, and I’m always up for the fun stuff here!
If you have any new ideas, feedback, or suggestions for interesting speakers we should bring to Sidney, please reach out—I’d love to hear from you!
Join the Committee!
If you’re a current Sidney Sussex MCR member who want's to get involved in the committee please get in contact with our president Clara. The following roles are open:
Greens Officer (x2)
