Ali Group
Programme overview
We are excited to offer an opportunity for Year 12 students to gain hands-on experience within the Ali Research Group, part of our cutting-edge cancer research department. This work experience placement will provide insight into how scientists study breast cancer and understand its behaviour, giving students a real feel for what it’s like to work in cancer research.
What you will do
During the placement, students will have the chance to:
- Observe and participate in lab-based activities such as basic tissue imaging techniques and data analysis.
- Work alongside experienced professionals to learn how we analyse breast tumours to uncover why cancer relapses or spreads (metastasis).
- Engage in group activities or workshops to develop valuable skills like teamwork, critical thinking, and basic scientific analysis.
About the lab
The Ali Research Group specialises in understanding how breast tumours behave as complex ecosystems. Tumours contain many different types of cells interacting in intricate ways, which can impact how cancer grows, spreads, and responds to treatments.
We use advanced tools and techniques, including:
- Imaging mass cytometry – a technique that lets us study multiple cell types at once in a tissue sample.
- Sophisticated image analysis – using computer software to analyse the patterns and relationships between cells.
- Quantitative data analysis – turning complex biological information into clear and meaningful results.
This placement will introduce students to these tools, and provide insight into how scientists combine lab experiments with computer analysis to answer important questions about cancer.
What to expect
This placement is designed to be an immersive and interactive experience, giving you a taste of the exciting world of cancer research. You’ll work alongside friendly, experienced researchers and see how scientists tackle real-world problems in breast cancer.
Students should come prepared to:
- Ask questions and engage actively in group activities.
- Develop their confidence in interpreting data and understanding scientific processes.
- Gain a better understanding of what a career in science, and specifically cancer research, might look like.
We look forward to welcoming enthusiastic students who are eager to explore the world of scientific research and contribute to our team’s important work!
Additional information
- Dress Code: Lab coat and safety equipment will be provided; wear comfortable closed-toe shoes.
- Supervision: Students will be supervised by Postdoc Shimrit Mayer.
We look forward to welcoming students and providing them with a valuable experience!
Risk assessment
| List of task | High risk | Medium risk | Low risk | Control measures |
| Observing immunofluorescence staining and imaging | x | |||
| Observing image mass cytometry staining and acquisition | x | |||
| Explanation of data analysis in the office | x |