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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I am so proud to say I have officially submitted my PhD thesis! I couldn't have dreamed of a better lab or a better university. It feels so strange cleaning up my desk and saying goodbye (at least temporarily) to CTF. On to the viva! 🎉🥂

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Thrilled to share that I’ve been invited to speak at the FBMH Social Responsibility Conference 2026! 🎤 I’ll be doing a fast-paced Pecha Kucha presentation showcasing my public engagement work throughout my PhD. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fbmh-socia...

eventbrite.co.uk

FBMH Social Responsibility Conference 2026

2026 Theme: Trust, Influence and the Future of Knowledge

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Had a wonderful time at the BSI "Signals and senses" event in London yesterday. Prof. Yasmine Belkaid’s keynote was a standout, and I’m genuinely honoured to have picked up the Best Talk award. Thanks to the organisers and everyone I got to meet and listen to!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Wrapping up my time as a PGR blogger at UoM feels incredibly bittersweet. 🐝 I’ve loved having the space to share the real side of this journey, and in my last piece, I’m looking back on the biggest lessons I've learned ⬇️ manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com/2026/08/21/r...

manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com

Reflecting on four years: what my PhD taught me (and why you should take the leap)

Wellcome Trust Immunomatrix in Complex Disease PhD student Holly looks back at what she has learned from her time at Manchester.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Still thinking about how much fun it was hosting the annual Becker Bar Rally two weeks ago! Truly the best team and so lucky to work with such a friendly and wonderful department. 🎉

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

It’s been an amazing first half of 2026! Really pleased to get a couple of shoutouts in the latest Lydia Becker Institute newsletter. Check it out here: sites.manchester.ac.uk/lydia-becker...

sites.manchester.ac.uk

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Excited to share that I’ll be presenting my work at the BSI London Immunology Group event, Signals and Senses: External Influences on the Immune System. 📅 Friday, 11 September 2026 🗣️ Talk: 11:50 AM on "Investigating B Cell Dynamics and Interaction with the Extracellular Matrix in COPD"

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Delighted to have shared my research at the Wednesday Immunology meeting today. It’s always a privilege presenting to such a brilliant, multidisciplinary group of academics across the Lydia Becker Institute! 🔬✨

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

So proud to have volunteered at the Global Education Innovation Forum at the UoM last week! 🌍📚 We brought together 100+ educators, researchers, and innovators from across the globe to shape the future of education. Huge thanks to the team and my fellow volunteers! 🤝

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

First BSI Member Rep Forum meeting in the books this week! 🙌 It was so wonderful to meet the rest of the committee. Thrilled to be representing PhD students and bringing our voice to the BSI. Onwards and upwards to the next in person meeting in London!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Delighted to be the Judges' Winner at the UoM 3MT Final! Huge thanks to the organisers, judges, audience, and fellow finalists. As someone with dyslexia, public speaking hasn't always come naturally, so I'm especially proud of this milestone. On to the national Vitae 3MT competition!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Had a fantastic time at the FBMH PGR Symposium! It was a privilege to get involved in so many ways: chairing a session, judging another, presenting my poster, entering the photo competition, and rounding off the day by winning the Fast & Curious Comp. A brilliant showcase of postgraduate research!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

How time has flown by! It has been an absolute pleasure to supervise Erasmus 4th-year undergraduate student Laia on her research project over the past five months. She has been an incredible student to mentor and I have no doubt that she has a very bright future ahead of her.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I'm delighted to have received the Best Contribution to Society - Local MDC Excellence Award. A huge thank you to everyone I've had the privilege of working with in our local communities. This award reflects the power of collaboration, engagement, and giving back. 🌟

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

It was wonderful to represent the Faculty of Biology, Health and Medicine at The Graduate Careers Fair 2026 yesterday, held at The Academy. It was lovely to be able to give back, share my experiences, and hopefully help others navigate their own PhD journeys with a little more confidence.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

It was wonderful to be part of the evaluation team at the Universally Manchester Festival yesterday. Great to chat with visitors and hear their feedback on such a fantastic day celebrating science, culture, creativity, and community.

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Reposted by Holly Sedgwick

Lydia Becker Institute @lydiabeckeriii.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

📢 More fantastic news! @hollysedgwick.bsky.social and Dr Stephane Guillaume from the Menon lab have both been elected to represent early-career researchers at the @britsocimm.bsky.social We're proud to see our researchers shaping the future of the immunology community. tinyurl.com/yt2ep8sm

tinyurl.com

Lydia Becker members Holly Sedgwick and Stephane Guillaume will represent early-career researchers at the BSI

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Had an amazing lab away day at Alton Towers! 🎢 It was great to step away from the bench, spend time together outside the lab, and make some fantastic memories with the wonderful people of the Menon Lab. Feeling very lucky to be part of such a brilliant team.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

It was wonderful to attend our Wellcome Trust Away Day at Low Wood Bay last week. Alongside the training and discussions, it was especially great to spend time with the cohort and enjoy the beautiful Lake District setting.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

I am absolutely thrilled to share that I’ve been elected as the PhD Representative for the British Society of Immunology ✨ Thank you so much to everyone who voted in this record-breaking election. I can’t wait to advocate for and represent our PhD community! www.immunology.org/news/new-bsi...

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

What an incredible day taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 10K as part of the Team Manchester Purple Wave, celebrating its 10-year anniversary! 💜🏃‍♂️

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Had an amazing time speaking at the Pint of Science evening: The Exposome Strikes Back! 🧬 A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to the other speakers for their brilliant talks, and to the organisers for putting together such a great event.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

My new blog is up! 🎓 “Resources every Manchester PhD offer holder should bookmark”. The top 10 links, tools, and university resources I recommend every new PGR saves before starting their PhD at Manchester (based on experience). manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/r...

manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com

Resources every Manchester PhD offer holder should bookmark

Holly, a final year PhD student researching Immunology and Inflammation (immuno-matrix and respiratory health) as part of the Wellcome Trust Immunomatrix in Complex Disease PhD programme at Manches…

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

So many exciting things are happening in 2026, and I’m thrilled to share that I’ve made it through the heats and will be competing in the Manchester 3MT final on 11th June ✨

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

In my latest blog, I share 10 reasons to consider Manchester for your PhD, from the vibrant student community to the incredible opportunities that have made my own PhD journey so rewarding and enjoyable. 🐝 manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com/2026/04/24/1...

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Really proud to share I was awarded 2nd place in “Student of the Year – Benefiting the Wider Community” at the University of Manchester Volunteer of the Year Awards 2026 🎉 For my outreach work engaging the public, helping demystify pathways into STEM, and making immunology more accessible.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Once again, it was lovely to take part in the PhD Cafe ☕️ The PhD Cafe gives current Manchester students a chance to meet and chat 1-2-1 with postgraduate researchers and admissions teams in a relaxed setting (with plenty of tea, coffee, and sweet treats!).

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

I’m happy to share that I won Best Seasonal/Spring Transition in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) photo competition! A big thank you to everyone involved 🌸

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Excited to share that I’ll be speaking at Pint of Science 2026 on Wednesday 20th May, 7–9pm at The Salutation, Manchester (M15 6ED)! 🍻🔬 I’ll be giving a talk titled The Hidden Biology of the Air We Breathe. 🎟️ Tickets are now on sale: pintofscience.co.uk/event/the-ex...

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

🚀 Happy to share that the new Menon Lab website is live! I had the pleasure of helping design it, showcasing our amazing team, research, and public engagement work. Big thanks to everyone who contributed! Check it out here: www.menonlab.co.uk

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

It was fantastic to return and support another cohort of undergraduate and PGT students at the 2026 Allied4Health Bootcamp. Always inspiring to see such creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful ideas in response to complex issues, and a brilliant chance to share insights into postgraduate research

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Had a wonderful time volunteering at the Lydia Becker stand this morning for British Science Week at Manchester Museum! Loved bringing back the newly renovated fan-favourite games, like Splat the Virus 🎯 so much fun seeing everyone join in!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Had a wonderful visit to the University of Oxford yesterday! It was fantastic working with the Oxplore team to translate our immunology-focused resources into engaging, interactive lessons. Excited to see these ideas come to life and help make complex science more accessible for learners.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Happy to be involved in creating three Biology lesson packs for ages 13–14 on the immune system and vaccine pipeline, with Olivia Shorthouse (University of Manchester) and Rachel Hindmarsh (University of Oxford) as part of T4TM. www.immunology.ox.ac.uk/about/public... www.tes.com/resources/se...

immunology.ox.ac.uk

Thanks for the Memories (T4TM)

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

Happy to share my latest PGR blog is live! 🎉 I explore the hidden perks of PhD life, spoiler: it’s not just experiments and deadlines. 🎓✨ Check it out here 👉 manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com/2026/01/09/p...

manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com

PhD life beyond the lab coat: Hidden perks of being a PhD student

Discover the diverse opportunities for PhD students at Manchester, from networking to teaching, all enhancing your research journey.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Great to be part of the PhD Discovery Cafe yesterday! ☕️🍰 Really enjoyed chatting with prospective researchers about PhD life, application timelines for 26/27, and everything in between. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a brew, a sweet treat, and some great conversations!

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

It was my absolute pleasure to present at this year’s BSI Congress as part of the Brightsparks PhD talks and the Mucosal Immunology session. An amazing experience meeting new people and learning about the remarkable immunology research happening across the UK.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Happy to announce our new video is out! 🎓 Alex Neve and I sat down to answer some of the most asked questions about doing a PhD, straight from Reddit’s r/PhD community. Check it out here: youtu.be/OppNMvyh03k

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Answering your Reddit PhD Questions with Alex and Holly

YouTube video by Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health UoM

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Excited to be presenting my project, ‘Investigating B cell dynamics and interaction with the extracellular matrix in chronic lung disease’, at the BSI Congress this December. 📍 Bright Sparks in Immunology – PhD 🗓 1st Dec 2025 📍 The Ins and Outs of Mucosal Immunology (Part 1) 🗓 2nd Dec 2025

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Here's some photos from our incredible Wellcome Trust ICD PhD Away Day back in July 🌳🧠 It was a great day of reflection, connection, and learning at Shrigley Hall

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Incredibly proud to be part of the vibrant postgraduate research (PGR) community at Manchester. 🌟 Explore what makes research at Manchester so inspiring: 🔗 www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear... 🎥 Watch the video: youtu.be/FgmHHlKv5ME

youtu.be

Postgraduate Research at the University of Manchester

YouTube video by Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health UoM

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

Really enjoyed being part of the "Understanding Funding in Biology, Medicine and Health" seminar on Wednesday, 1 October. If you're thinking about postgraduate research, sign up to access recordings and content from the webinars: www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/resear...

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Had the pleasure of hosting three brilliant Year 12 students through the In2Science programme from late July into August, as part of the Menon Lab. Grateful to be part of a scheme that opens doors to future scientists. I'm confident they have bright futures ahead in STEM.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Feeling incredibly thankful to be Highly Commended in three of the five categories (Beauty of Research, Life as a Postgraduate Researcher and Open Category) in the FBMH Postgraduate Research Photography Competition! 🎉📸

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Had a wonderful time working at the University of Manchester Open Days on Saturday 21st and 28th June. Great to see so many future students exploring campus—it brought back so many memories! 💜

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

I was grateful for the chance to present my work at the DAGS Summer Symposium this past Thursday and was delighted to receive the Best Oral Presentation award as well as 2nd place for the Best Poster, alongside having the privilege of chairing the Cell Biology session.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Had a fantastic time at Dangerous Matter – a powerful opera on the history of vaccination, premiered at the RNCM in collaboration with the University of Oxford. It’s been a privilege to be involved in project – from speaking at the Science and Industry Museum workshop to hosting students in the lab.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

It was an honour to take part in Translational Research at Manchester 2025 yesterday. From inspiring talks by Translation Manchester Awardees to the keynote by Professor Simona Francese - what a brilliant day of collaboration, innovation, and future-focused research.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Grateful to the British Society for Matrix Biology for the incredible opportunity to share my work and connect with an amazing ECM & immunology community at the Extracellular Matrix, Immunity & Infection meeting (April 14–15, 2025), hosted by Dr. Anna M. Piccinini at the University of Nottingham.

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Holly Sedgwick @hollysedgwick.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Excited to share my latest blog post for the University of Manchester! 🎓✨ Here I discuss my journey as a PhD student with dyslexia, offering tips on finding support and boosting confidence in postgraduate research. Check it out here: manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com/2025/03/12/n...

manchesterbmhstudents.wordpress.com

Navigating a PhD with Dyslexia

Holly Sedgwick is a second year PhD student researching Immunology and Inflammation (immuno-matrix and respiratory health) as part of the Wellcome Trust Immunomatrix in Complex Disease PhD programm…

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