IGEM congratulates the winners of the inaugural Chris Bielby Summer Studentship Programme 2025

This year’s winners impressed the judging panel with their commitment to improving CO safety and their innovative research proposals:

• Genna Smith, Manchester Metropolitan University, is investigating the impact that CO exposure has on heart valves and the extracellular matrix (ECM), which influences valve development.
• Tryphine Gumbo, Sheffield Hallam University, is exploring how social media can be used to raise public awareness of the risks of CO amongst young people. Tryphine’s work will help identify the optimal strategies for educating and engaging with young people about CO poisoning, assessing both social media outreach and direct, in-person engagement. 

As co-funder of the scholarship with the CO Research Trust (CORT), IGEM recognises the importance of developing early-career researchers who can bring fresh thinking to the field of gas safety. 

Commenting on the award, Ian McCluskey, IGEM’s Head of Technical and Policy, said: “IGEM have a history of supporting programmes which encourage young people into careers in the gas industry. We are therefore delighted to extend this support to researchers looking into gas safety. Chris Bielby spent 50 years tirelessly lobbying and canvassing support for gas safety issues, so it is entirely fitting that this programme be named in his honour.”

The studentship will provide funded placements over the summer, which culminates in a national presentation of findings at the CO Research Trust conference later this year.

Full details and project summaries: Chris Bielby Summer Studentship Programme 2025