Three doctoral students and three recent graduates honoured with 2024-25 Gwynne-Vaughan prize

The winners of the 2024/25 Gwynne-Vaughan Medal prizes have been announced by the Birkbeck Graduate Research School (BGRS), recognising doctoral researchers who have made the most notable contributions to their fields during their studies.

Named after Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, one of the first female professors at the University of London and long-serving Head of Botany at Birkbeck, the award celebrates excellence in research and the spirit of intellectual curiosity that defined her career.

Usually, two prizes are awarded: one to a current doctoral student and one to a recent doctoral graduate. This year, however, the judging panel was so impressed by the calibre of entries that three prizes were presented in each category, reflecting the depth and quality of research currently taking place across the College.

Doctoral awardee prize winners 

Mark Stringer – Business and Law
Mark’s research applies complex ideas from French philosopher and psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan to organisational behaviour, exploring how desire drives workplace dynamics. His work deepens understanding of engagement, motivation and the human forces that shape organisational life, offering valuable insights for building healthier, more effective workplaces.

Sean Cham – Humanities and Social Sciences
Sean’s PhD, completed in partnership with London’s National Gallery, examined how the British Empire influenced the Gallery’s founding, collection and display practices. His thesis, described by examiners as courageous and innovative, reintroduces the lives of enslaved individuals from Britain’s Caribbean colonies into the institution’s history. A three-part film based on his research brings this hidden narrative to new audiences and has helped connect scholars, curators and the public in re-examining museum histories.

Astrid Bowen – Science
Astrid’s ESRC co-funded PhD studentship bridges academic research and commercial educational practice. Her work focuses on applying evidence-informed approaches to real-world interventions while balancing methodological rigour with practical constraints. Astrid’s research has been instrumental in strengthening the link between education science and classroom application, supporting both educators and learners through robust, realistic evaluation methods.

Current student prize winners 

Ioanna Lachana – Business and Law
Ioanna’s research explores how investor sentiment, captured through textual analysis of media, influences asset pricing in both the short and long term. Her co-authored study, Investor sentiment, social media and stock returns, has been published in the Journal of Financial Markets. Ioanna’s international collaborations and grant success — including support from the American and European Finance Associations — reflect the global impact of her work and the recognition it has brought to Birkbeck.

Tobias Shinyemba – Humanities and Social Sciences
Tobias’s research focuses on violence against children in Namibia and has already led to tangible social impact. He has published multiple papers, contributed to national discussions through media and outreach, and helped inform policy and practice to support vulnerable adolescents. His dedication, intellectual rigour and advocacy for children’s wellbeing in the Global South make him a deserving recipient of the Gwynne-Vaughan Prize.

Mollie Virgo – Science
Mollie’s pioneering work uses zebrafish infection models to investigate how organisms interact with bacteria that live within them. Her findings open new avenues for understanding bacterial communities, infection biology and immune responses. She has presented internationally and published a well-received review in Trends in Microbiology, marking her as a rising star in her field.

The BGRS congratulates all six winners for their remarkable achievements, which exemplify the creativity, dedication and research excellence that define Birkbeck’s doctoral community.