Sport and academics absolutely feed off each other, and it’s rewarding to see success in both disciplines
Alumna Olivia Jamrog on the benefits and support that come with rowing at Cambridge
Lucy alumna Marta Tomaselli on her time at Cambridge and her dance career
My name is Marta, I am 28 and I have just finished a PhD in Plant Sciences, at Lucy Cavendish College.
I will be starting work for the European Commission soon as a policy officer for DG Research and Innovation, but in the future, I would like to go back to hands-on research, possibly in the private sector.
It might sound silly, but new challenges both inspire and motivate me. Knowing that there are new problems to solve is what gets me out of bed every morning. I think this is what brought me closer to science and research. During my PhD, I had the chance to appreciate how important it is to bring different expertise to the table to solve problems in a smart and effective way. Being a plant scientist and a biotechnologist, “when I grow up”, I would like to contribute to shaping better agricultural practice, where technology meets the needs of local farmers and respects the environment.
During my time in Cambridge, I was part of the Cambridge University Dancesport Team. There have been many highlights during the 4 years I spent on the team, but the two greatest moments were winning the 8th national title in 2018-2019, the year of my captaincy and winning the Best Ballroom Couple trophy during the first Varsity Match I danced in 2018.
I started this sport when I was a child, when my parents (who are also dancers in their spare time) took me to a dance competition: all that glitter did its magic on a little girl. I started competing in Italy when I was 16 but I had to stop when I started my bachelor degree as it would have been too financially demanding. During those years, I missed dancing so much and I was over the moon when I started my PhD in Cambridge and discovered there was a dancesport team.
It goes without saying that training 5 days a week allows you to stay fit. Dancing is a great sport because it is not just cardio: it requires coordination, being aware of and listening to your dance partner (I haven’t mentioned it before but dancesport is a couple’s sport) and creating a team with your partner and the other members of the team. For me dancing is a break from anything else that is happening in my life at that time, it is something that allows me to concentrate on the present moment and enjoy it. It was fundamental for me to get through tough moments during my PhD and my personal life.
To all the students I mentored and supervised, I always say to not give up their passions, especially sports. It is not a waste of time, as it allows you to have something else in your life other than your studies. It is a way to meet other people, make new friends, learn something new.
Cambridge offers a plethora of sports and it is great to take one up. The sports centre has conducted a study looking at the final grades of students playing sports and they couldn’t see a negative correlation, on the contrary, usually they are amongst the ones getting the highest grades. Sport teaches you to manage your time, prioritise tasks and many other soft skills which will always be handy in your future life and career. This on top of keeping you healthy!