Dr Miles Stopher

Associate Professor, Fellow and Director of Studies in Engineering, Homerton College
Director of Admissions, Department of Engineering, Cambridge
Bye-Fellow in Engineering, Fitzwilliam College

Dr Miles Stopher is an Associate Professor in Engineering and the Director of Admissions in the Department of Engineering. He is a Bye-Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, having previously served as Senior Tutor. He has supervised and directed studies in Engineering for over 10 years, across a number of colleges at the University, including his alma mater, Jesus College. Miles teaches Part IA and Part IB Mechanical engineering, Structural engineering, electrical engineering and materials science to engineering undergraduates at Cambridge. He lectures Nuclear Materials for Part III materials scientists, An Introduction to Materials Science for Engineers, and Nuclear Materials for Engineers on the MPhil in Nuclear Energy. He has also lectured on nuclear safety, thermohydraulics and global energy policy. His research covers a broad range of topics but focuses primarily on nuclear reactor design, with particular interest in the design of nanostructured materials for applications in extreme environments. Prior to his arrival at Cambridge, he worked on the design of the Royal Navy’s Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.

■ Course Content

Engineering has many branches, but the oldest and broadest is mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineers look at the design, analysis, and manufacturing of mechanical systems and machines that keep our world moving forward. Electrical engineering was born in the 18th century, known then as "the youngest of the sciences". This intensive course offers a valuable insight into what it is like to study mechanical or electrical engineering at university, covering the most prominent specialisms within the fields. Students will study the foundational concepts on which such specialisms are built and apply them to real-world problems, acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to gain a head start in studying engineering at university.

*List of prerequisite knowledge:
The emphasis during the course will be on the physical understanding of the principles involved. Only elementary mathematical methods will be used. The key is the engineering and not the mathematics behind it. As such, I only ask students have an appetite for learning and an inquisitiveness for engineering. Nonetheless, I’ve provided a few fun questions below that hopefully you enjoy tackling and can challenge your friends with.

*Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Anke Ardern-Arentsen

Research Associate, Institute of Astronomy
Bye Fellow at Fitzwilliam College in the University of Cambridge

Anke Ardern-Arentsen is a researcher at the Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, where she works on large astronomical datasets to enable studies of millions of stars and galaxies. Her research focuses on using ancient stars to reveal the history of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. At the University of Cambridge, she has taught supervisions for third-year Astronomy students, co-led an astronomy module for the Data Intensive Science MPhil and supervised research projects.

Dr Itai Massad

Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry
Research Fellow at Fitzwilliam College

Itai Massad is a researcher in the Department of Chemistry, where his research in the field of supramolecular chemistry explores the design and preparation of supramolecular cages – well-defined three-dimensional assemblies that can trap small molecules within their structures. Itai has extensive experience in teaching organic chemistry from introductory to graduate level.

■ Course Content

In this programme, you will get to explore two fields within the physical natural sciences, chemistry and physics. The course will focus on two specific topics within these fields, according to the expertise of the course instructors. In the organic chemistry module, we will learn to understand and predict the structure of organic (and inorganic) molecules and explore modern analytical techniques for determining molecular structure. In the physics/astronomy module, we will revise and study the relevance of various physics topics for the fascinating field of astronomy, explore the history of the Universe, learn about galaxies, stars and exoplanets, and cover different techniques for studying the Universe. The modules will be a mixture of lectures and practical elements.

* List of prerequisite knowledge:
Some knowledge of basic physics and chemistry would be useful, as well as a familiarity with using (simple) equations.
No computer programming experience is necessary for the astronomy practical.
* Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1.Using Newton’s second law, determine the force required to accelerate an average adult human being at 2 m/s2.
2.What are the three-dimensional shapes of H2O and CO2? Why do they differ?

Recommended reading list (optional):
Any book on physics and chemistry for high school.

* Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Robert Abayasekara

Lecturer in Human Reproduction and Director of Pre-Clinical studies for Medicine
Admissions Tutor in Sciences
Fellow at Fitzwilliam College in the University of Cambridge

Robert Abayasekara is a highly experienced medical and veterinary educator who has taught Physiology at the Universities of Oxford, London (Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, King’s College London (KCL), Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Cambridge. He has been the Director of Studies for Pre-clinical Medicine at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge since 2004. At Fitzwilliam, Robert conducts small group teaching sessions (supervisions) in homeostasis, human reproduction and veterinary reproductive biology for students reading medicine, veterinary medicine and biological natural sciences. Robert’s primary research interest is the biology of the mammalian corpus luteum.

Dr Laura Frost

Lead Veterinary Surgeon at Woodgreen, The Animal Charity
Bye-fellow in Veterinary Medicine at Fitzwilliam College
Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine at Wolfson/Lucy Cavendish Colleges

Laura Frost qualified as a vet from Cambridge vet school in 2009 and initially worked in general practice while studying for a surgical certificate. She now works as a surgeon at Woodgreen, a large rehoming charity dealing with dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and other small mammals. She lectures as part of the preclinical vet course teaching surgery to final year students and recent graduate vets. At Fitzwilliam College she conducts small group supervisions in veterinary anatomy & physiology, veterinary reproductive anatomy and comparative vertebrate anatomy. She has a keen interest in education, This course offers pre-university students an insight into comparative biology with a particular emphasis on medical and veterinary sciences. You will have the opportunity to improve your understanding of important topics in physiology and anatomy in various species including the human. The course will include small group teaching from experts, as well as sessions to guide key writing and presenting skills, and the opportunity to present your own project work, especially in surgical learning in early career vets. In her spare time, she rehabilitates wild hedgehogs ready for release back into the wild.

■ Course Content

This course offers pre-university students an insight into comparative biology with a particular emphasis on medical and veterinary sciences. You will have the opportunity to improve your understanding of important topics in physiology and anatomy in various species including the human. The course will include small group teaching from experts, as well as sessions to guide key writing and presenting skills, and the opportunity to present your own project work.

*List of prerequisite knowledge:
At minimum familiarity with GCSE-level biology.
*Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1. What type of signals does the body use to control the endless array of functions that it needs to carry out in order to maintain life.
2. Can you describe in general terms the anatomical route that blood takes from the left ventricle, around the circulation and back to the left ventricle? What causes it to flow, and what determines the direction it takes?
3. What substances does a cell need to survive? How can these substances be classified? Are there any required substances which do not enter the cell?
*Recommended reading list (optional):
Have a look at some of the physiology videos on www.hippomedics.com, Prof Matthew Mason’s teaching channel.
Those on cardiovascular physiology and endocrinology will be most useful.
Medicine and Biological Natural Sciences

*Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Mo Tanweer

Academic Associate at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge

Mo Tanweer studied Economics at Cambridge University and, after a career in investment banking, was Head of Economics & Politics at Eton College. He is now an Academic Associate at Pembroke College (University of Cambridge) where his particular areas of focus are The Politics of the International Economy, and Banking & Finance, as well as teaching a course on AI: Friend or Foe? He assists with teaching Macroeconomics and International Business on the MBA, Executive MBA, and Global EMBA at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge, as well as contributing to Executive Education courses on global megatrends and their implications. He is also a Teaching Associate for Macroeconomics for the MPhil and Management Studies Tripos. He also lectures Macroeconomics in Business on the MBA programme at the Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University). Beyond academia, he provides consultancy advice to both small and large corporates on how rapidly shifting economic trends and external shocks such as AI may impact their business models. His past research has focussed on the rise of China and its challenges, whilst his current area of research is global technology shocks and how they affect geopolitical relationships and the wider global economy, from labour markets to policy making.

■ Course Content

The Economic Environment of Business module covers the economic foundations needed to understand firms’ decision making. One of the prerequisites of doing well in business is to understand the environment in which you operate. In this context, there are many forces that act on business. Some may be slow and predictable. Others are sudden and very often unexpected. At the same time, while these forces play out, governments are also likely to react with a variety of policy changes. By the end of the module students will understand how decision making in businesses is affected by three core drivers: internal firm factors, external industry factors, and global macro factors. To begin with this module will explore the importance of economics and how it relates to our everyday lives. From there, students will develop familiarity with microeconomic models to better understand concepts such as costs, demand, profit, competition, pricing, and market entry strategy and to acquire the more subtle ability to apply them to real and simulated situations with a focus on learning how to think strategically. The module will discuss the environment of business from both a micro market perspective whilst complementing it with understanding how firms deal with the complexities of the international economy. Through a mixture of building economic frameworks as well as applied empirical analysis, we will explore how these complexities can be analysed. The individual market and the broader national economy are the environments of business. Hence the dual challenge for people in business is not only to position themselves to either take advantage of favourable economic conditions or take defensive action from negative economic shocks but also to anticipate the likely policy responses of rivals and of governments. This module will offer the tools to offer informed insights on these drivers.

*List of prerequisite knowledge:
No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
*Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
Why diamonds cost more than water, when water is necessary to survive?
Why do brown eggs cost more (and sell less) than white eggs?
Why do airlines charge much more for tickets purchased at the last minute, while West End theatres follow the opposite practice?
Is it always beneficial to act first and charge a price for your product when you are competing with other firms in a market?
*Optional Reading:
Levitt, S.D. and Dubner, S.J., 2005. Freakonomics: A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. London: Penguin Books.
Frank, R.H., 2007. The Economic Naturalist: Why economics explains almost everything. London: Virgin Books.
Harford, T., 2006. The Undercover Economist: Exposing why the rich are rich, the poor are poor—and why you can never buy a decent used car! London: Little, Brown.
*Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Stephen Sawiak

Fellow, Tutor, College Lecturer, Assistant Director of Studies in Mathematics for Natural Sciences , Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, MRI Physicist, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge

Dr Sawiak is an experienced lecturer, supervisor and assistant director of studies responsible for organising the mathematics supervisions for students taking physical Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Chemical Engineering courses in Fitzwilliam College. He has interviewed Natural Sciences candidates for over 15 years and supervised students in mathematics for 18 years. Day to day he conducts research in magnetic resonance imaging acquisition and analysis methods with applications to neuroscience.

■ Course Content

This exciting and challenging mathematics course gives a rapid tour from the fundamentals of calculus (differentiation and integration) up to first-year University level with advanced applications including power series expansion of functions, Fourier series and the extension of integration into multiple dimensions and non-Cartesian coordinate systems. The pace of this course will be fast and most suitable for those with already some familiarity with the basic concepts of calculus who are keen for a preview of University level mathematics made accessible to those of a bright high school level.

* List of prerequisite knowledge:
Basic algebra, trigonometry (functions sin, cos, tan; use of radians)
* Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1. What does the gradient of a function mean?
2. If x(a+b/2)=6, what is b in terms of a and x?
3. Sketch the graphs of sin x and cos x, in radians, from -π<x<π
* Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Serena Povia

College Teaching Associate at St John’s College, Supervisor at Magdalene and Jesus, Involved in Cambridge Admissions for the past 7 years in several colleges STEMSMART Supervisor

Mrs. Serena Povia specialises in teaching Mathematics and Physics at the University level. She has been a supervisor in physics and mathematics for the Natural Sciences course for about ten years. Current teaching commitment are the Physics and Mathematics courses for the first year and the second year. Sereba previously taught third year courses too.

■ Course Content

Programme 1: 13th-26th July, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)
Programme 2: 27th July - 9th August, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)

* List of prerequisite knowledge:
Derivatives (polynomials, trigonometric, exponentials, ln), product and chain rules for derivatives, integrals (polynomials, trigonometric, exponentials, ln), integrations by substitution, at least some knowledge of complex numbers.
* Note
This course will be very closely targeted at students between lower and upper sixth, those who have not seen and worked on the following pre-requisites will find the course very hard. Those who have already completed pre-university studies might find at least half of the course too easy. A question sheet will be pre-circulated to participants two weeks before the course to ensure that the prerequisites are met.
* Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Vasileios Kotsidis

College Assistant Professor at Gonville and Caius College

Vasileios Kotsidis uses tools from traditional and evolutionary game theory to analyse social interactions that (potentially) involve strategic motives. His research focuses on the scope and limitations of models based on methodological individualism in interpreting individual behaviour (human or otherwise) as it is manifested in social settings. It spans along three main directions: how individuals think, what they are motivated by, and what the researcher can infer. He obtained his PhD in Economics at the University of Nottingham. His doctorate explored some theoretical aspects of social (strategic) behaviour and investigated its empirical manifestations. He also enjoys practicing karate, studying on the philosophy of mathematics, and reading fantasy literature.

■ Course Content

Programme 1: 13th-26th July, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)
Programme 2: 27th July - 9th August, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)

This course explores some fundamental notions and results that are of special importance of economic
analysis. It begins by considering elements of set theory, analysis, optimisation calculus, and statistics. It then applies them to construct a series of progressively more elaborate logical statements which form the basis of formal choice under risk. The result is a robust and analytically tractable approach to reasoning about uncertainty.

* List of prerequisite knowledge:
1. Understanding of limiting reasoning
2. Elementary trigonometry
3. Intuitive understanding of sets
4. Venn diagrams
5. Intuitive understanding of probability
* Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1. What does it meant to state that some function, f, is continuous?
2. What does it mean to state that some function, f, is differentiable?
3. Consider two sets, A and B. Suppose that A is a subset of B. What are then the union and the intersection of A and B?
* Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Andrea Chlebikova

Senior Project Chemist at Isaac Physics, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, College Teaching Associate at Sidney Sussex College, Special Supervisor at Newnham College, Course lecturer, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge

Andrea Chlebikova became involved in undergraduate teaching at Cambridge in 2015 and has been supervising first-year chemistry to students of Natural Sciences as well as more specialised physical chemistry courses ever since. She is also involved with undergraduate admissions in multiple colleges. Andrea is in charge of designing and teaching the chemistry content on the STEM SMART programme run by the University of Cambridge, preparing students from disadvantaged backgrounds for studying STEM subjects at university.

Dr Peter Bolgar

Bye-Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, Director of Studies and College Lecturer at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Lecturer (Teaching) at University College London

Peter Bolgar is a teaching Bye-Fellow in organic and bio-organic chemistry at Fitzwilliam College. He completed his undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge, followed by a PhD in supramolecular chemistry at the same place. Peter now specialises in teaching chemistry at the university level, lecturing a range of courses from the first, second and third year of the undergraduate curriculum. He is involved with undergraduate admissions at Magdalene College. Peter is a member of the UK Chemistry Olympiad Committee, and he mentors students for the International Chemistry Olympiad both nationally and internationally

■ Course Content

Programme 1: 13th-26th July, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)
Programme 2: 27th July - 9th August, 2025 (40-hour course, 2 office hours)

This course lets participants explore advanced topics in physical and organic chemistry, each of which are fundamental to your studies of a chemistry degree. The course is built on concepts that you will be familiar with from school curriculum. We will quickly extend your knowledge in the fields of atomic and molecular orbital theory, thermodynamics, kinetics and organic reactivity to give you a significant head start in your university education. You will be able to practice your experimental skills as well through a practical class in physical chemistry. We are looking forward exploring the highlights of first year undergraduatelevel Chemistry curriculum with you!

* List of prerequisite knowledge:
Confidence with algebraic manipulation of expressions, including logarithms
A knowledge of differentiation will be helpful but is not necessary
Familiarity with chemistry of secondary-school level (e.g. representations of molecules and chemical bonding, recognise terminology such as “enthalpy”, some experience handling glassware)
* Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1. Calculate the volume of 0.1 molar sulfuric acid necessary to neutralise 25.6 grams of calcium hydroxide.
2. Rearrange
3. Draw a structural formula for propanoic acid and but-1-enol.
* Fitzwilliam College reserves the right to changes to the course content or the course instructor.

Dr Rachel Thorley

Fellow in Engineering, Churchill College

Rachel read Engineering at Newnham College before completing a PhD in Geoengineering for Carbon Sequestration at the University of Sheffield. She is a Fellow in Engineering at Churchill College, where she supervises undergraduate engineers in Mechanics, as well as teaching Structures, Design, and Engineering Communication. Rachel has supervised a range of industrial placements focused on developing control systems for environmental monitoring, off-grid eco homes, and low-cost wind turbines for sustainable energy. Prior to joining Churchill, she lectured in Engineering at the University of Sheffield, specializing in the practical aspects of both Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Her research interests lie in innovation and sustainability,translating interdisciplinary concepts into real-world solutions. She is also an active member of a local makerspace, bringing expertise in rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing.

■ Course Content

Robotics is rapidly transforming industries—from healthcare and manufacturing to transportation and entertainment—making now the perfect time to build the knowledge and hands-on experience this field demands. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the electrical, mechanical, and control aspects of robotics, focusing on the design and prototyping of robotic systems. You will learn how to integrate electronics, mechanical structures, and control algorithms, exploring what is involved in the construction and use of robots from a multidisciplinary perspective. Through a blend of lectures, hands-on lab sessions, and group design projects, you will discover how to select and assemble hardware components, program control systems, and refine prototypes based on performance testing. By the end of the module, you will be able to design, build, and troubleshoot simple robotic devices, laying a solid foundation for further engineering study and real-world applications. In addition, the module incorporates an essential thread on communication skills. You will gain experience in clearly and accurately presenting ideas in written, verbal, and graphical forms, ensuring you can engage effectively with diverse audiences—an invaluable skill in both academic and professional engineering environments.

• * List of prerequisite knowledge:
The emphasis during the course will be on the physical understanding of the principles involved. Only elementary mathematical methods will be used. The key is the engineering and not the mathematics behind it. As such, I expect students to have a basic awareness of circuits and their components, alongside a basic understanding of mechanics (see below).
• *Test your knowledge of the prerequisites! Can you answer the questions below?
1. Name the components (A, B, C, D and E) in the circuit below:
2. A train travels from town A to town B ,as shown in the scale diagram below.
a) The distance the train travels between A and B is not the same as the displacement of the train. What is the difference between distance and displacement?
b) Use the figure below to determine the displacement of the train in travelling from A to B.
c)There are places on the journey where the train accelerates without changing speed. Explain how this can happen.