Life Sciences student named a Global Winner at the 2026 Global Undergraduate Awards

The Global Undergraduate Awards is an annual competition in which thousands of undergraduate students worldwide apply for pan-disciplinary awards. Entrants submit to one of 25 categories and have their work anonymously assessed by a panel of international academics and industry leaders. The best 10% are shortlisted as highly commended and the top submission is deemed the Global Winner.  

Vitalii completed a 12-week undergraduate research project in Tomo Tanaka’s lab in the Faculty of Life Sciences, in late 2025, under the guidance of postdoctoral researcher Zuojun Yue. Vitalii studied how human chromosomes fold and are organised to use genetic information effectively within the cell nucleus. In his thesis, "Investigating chromatin loop dynamics using LiveFISH imaging," Vitalii used a new microscopy method and discovered that key factors dynamically regulate chromosome organisation; defects in these factors cause diseases. His research highlights the power of the new microscopy method to elucidate dynamic chromosome organisation and sheds new light on how this process could go wrong to cause cancers and congenital disorders. 

Upon receiving the award, Vitalii commented: “Receiving the Global Winner award is a great honour, and I am very grateful to everyone who made this project possible. I would particularly like to thank Prof. Tomo Tanaka for the opportunity to work in his lab and for his close supervision, scientific guidance and support throughout the project, Dr Zuojun Yue for his constant day-to-day guidance and encouragement, and everyone in the Tanaka lab for creating such a welcoming and inspiring research environment. My time in the lab was one of the most rewarding parts of my undergraduate degree and gave me the opportunity to explore questions about chromosome organisation using advanced imaging approaches. I am also very happy to have the opportunity to remain in the lab for my postgraduate studies, where I can explore a new area of chromosome biology and continue developing as a researcher.” 

On hearing of his achievement, his supervisor, Tomo Tanaka, commented, “Congratulations on the well-deserved award. We were pleased to see Vitalii develop his talent as a scientist during the project. His curiosity and hard work were key to his success. We look forward to his returning to the lab for his postgraduate projects.” 

Professor Marios Stavridis, Associate Vice-Principal for Education in the Faculty of Life Sciences, said, “We are immensely proud of Vitalii’s success in this prestigious global competition. Our students have previously been shortlisted and recognised as regional winners, but Vitalii is our first Global Winner. His achievement is a testament to his exceptional hard work and to the ambition and quality of the research projects our students undertake as part of their studies.”

Vitalii graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the university in June. He will continue developing his experience and skills in research as he has recently commenced a MSc by Research within the Faculty.