Dr Hamish Symington

MA, PhD, FHEA

Hamish has had a varied career: he came to Cambridge to read Physics, but switched to biology and graduated with a First in Biochemistry. He then trained as a graphic designer, working for the University Press and as a freelancer, and ran a small but successful software business. In 2017, he returned to academia to start a PhD in plant sciences, specifically looking at improving the pollination of crops. (You can watch a short video explaining this research.) Following that, in 2022, he was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship at Queens’, continuing work on pollinator-relevant floral traits.

During his PhD and postdoc, he combined his love of science and communication to develop a deep interest in undergraduate teaching and learning. He has taught on field trips, lectured and supervised undergraduates, and is a regular speaker at the Cambridge Festival and other events. As Head of Academic Skills at Downing, Hamish arranges and delivers group sessions, supervision-style workshops and one-to-one support, helping students get the most out of their learning while at Cambridge. He is interested in developing the academic community at Downing across the Fellowship, MCR and JCR, helping create a thriving intellectual life within the College.

When not at work, he keeps bees (which is what got him back into science), makes mead with their honey, enjoys spending time with his family, and occasionally sings with choirs in Cambridge. He also sets cryptic crosswords for The Guardian and other outlets under the pseudonym ’Soup’.