A YOUNG woman is still in “disbelief” after being awarded a University of Oxford scholarship to help her on her journey to secure her dream job as an embryologist.
Georgia Houghton, a 25-year-old administration support officer at Jersey’s Assisted Reproduction Unit, is set to study clinical embryology at the world-renowned university later this year.
Miss Houghton, who attended Hautlieu School and graduated from the University of Kent with a biology degree in 2021, has long been interested in fertility and reproductive health.
After a brief stint in financial HR, she joined the Reproductive Unit in November 2022, where she has since gained experience in patient care and reproductive science.
She said: “I’ve had a huge amount of patient contact and I’ve learned so much.
“I do not think I would ever have had this experience if I had been an administrator in the UK as their units are so much bigger and more departmentalised.”
However, Miss Houghton was aware that administration was not quite what she wanted to do.
“Although I have loved my role, it only cemented my wish to work on the clinical side,” the former Hautlieu student said.
Miss Houghton’s colleague Professor Enda McVeigh encouraged her to apply for the Oxford programme.
She said: “although I had thought about training to become an embryologist, I had not considered Oxford as I had thought it was outside my capability.
“Prof McVeigh encouraged me, pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me the confidence to apply.”
Prof McVeigh said: “Georgia’s acceptance and scholarship to Oxford is a testament to her exceptional talent, dedication, and perseverance.”
The scholarship covers Houghton’s tuition fees of £33,970 for the 12-month course, which begins in October.
After graduating, Miss Houghton hopes to pursue a career as an embryologist and potentially return to Jersey to assist local patients.
She said: “I’m still in disbelief. It’s amazing. I have experienced first-hand the emotional challenges that fertility treatment entails, and it would be a privilege to be able to fulfil my ambition to help people trying to conceive. If the opportunity arose, I would love to return to my home in Jersey and help local patients in whatever way I could.”
