About / Committee
Here you can meet the MCR Committee and get to know a little about them and their responsibilities, along with their email addresses for contacting them. You can get in touch with all of us at once by emailing caths-mcr-committee@lists.cam.ac.uk.
You can view the minutes of all our committee meetings here.
View the MCR Constitution here.
Co-President <mcr.president@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi I'm Hamish, I'm one of your co-Presidents and PhD student in Chem. Eng.
Alongside Lucy, I will be representing the postgrad student body to the college, organising events, and helping the rest of the committee. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions to make your experience at Catz better please do get in touch!
Outside my studies and committee role, I'm part of the university fencing club, a thoroughly mediocre rower, and am aiming to reprise my role as the MCR's most enthusiastic (but not necessarily best) ceilidh dancer at this year's Burns Night.
Studying: PhD in Chemical Engineering
Preferred pronouns: He/Him
Co-President <mcr.president@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi! I'm a second year PhD student in the Plant Sciences department, where I am researching the ways we can use viruses to increase bean yield! Broad beans specifically - not baked.
As one of the MCR presidents please get in touch if you have any problems or suggestions to improve your postgrad experience. I'm particularly interested in how we get more of the MCR to college events.
Aside from beans and Catz I like coxing, cooking, gardening and my new cat (animal not college)!
Studying: PhD Plant Sciences (Virology)
Preferred pronouns: She/her
Secretary <mcr.secretary@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi! I'm Kit, one half of the symbiotic secretarial dream team. You can find me writing a PhD on King Arthur and desperately pretending that Merlin (2008–2012) counts as scholarly analysis.
As the secretary without a computer science degree, I am responsible for writing the weekly emails and advertising, so please do get in touch if there’s any event you’re hosting or participating in!
Studying: PhD ASNC
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Secretary <mcr.secretary@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi there! I'm Samuel, computer science PhD candidate and MCR secretary (formerly treasurer for 2022-2024). When I'm not working on programming projects, typing up meeting notes, and writing up my PhD on the side, you can find me at the cinema (Arts Picturehouse Screen 1 is the best in town!) and the occasional pub quiz.
Studying: PhD Computer Science
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Treasurer <mcr.treasurer@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi! I’m Miguel, a second-year PhD student in History of Art, researching queer digital video art. While history of art and finance don’t always go hand in hand, I’m very happy to be your MCR treasurer this year!
You’ll usually find me tucked away in one of Catz’s libraries reading about art, when I’m not keeping track of the MCR’s finances, that is… I’m passionate about all forms of art, love learning languages, and I’m a big tennis fan. I also enjoy a competitive table football match in the Catz bar!
Studying: PhD in History of Art
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Welfare Officer <mcr.welfare@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi everyone! My name is Yorgos and I am your LGBTQ+ officer. I'm a 2nd-year PhD student and my research focuses on how animated films can become more inclusive and progressive in their representations of gender and sexuality. Therefore, I am undeniably the most qualified person in the committee when it comes to having a debate about Shrek or singing a Disney duet.
Apart from these very important matters, I am also responsible for the welfare of the LGBTQIA+ community at Catz. I hope that through this role I will be a stable point of reference and support for the LGBTQIA+ members of our college. My aspiration is to create a close-knit community where everyone feels welcome, proud, safe and free to express their beautiful selves.
I am also hoping to create regular events, ranging from an LGBTQ+ history month formal to more casual socials. Please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions, issues that you'd like to raise, need support, or have any ideas about events you'd like to share.
Studying: PhD in Children's Literature
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Education Officer <mcr.education@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi! I'm Maciek, your Education Officer for this year. As well as organising the fascinating Postgraduates' and Fellows' Seminar series, I spend my time playing with fruit flies and microscopes, trying to find out how exactly the fly patterns and segments its body (and to convince others that it is really interesting)!
Come chat to me about attending or presenting at the Postgraduates' and Fellows' Seminar series, or any questions about how College and to some extent the University handles education – be that funding, courses, getting involved in teaching, or whatever else even tangentially related!
Outside of PhDing and Education Officeering I play various video games, board games, Dungeons and Dragons, and I cook and bake a lot.
Studying: PhD in Genetics
Preferred pronouns: He/They
Formal Hall Officer <mcr.formalhall@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hello, I'm Meraaj, one of the formal hall officers, but more importantly, the only architect at Catz :)
Feel free to reach out with any formal related questions!
Studying: MArch (Architecture)
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Formal Hall Officer <mcr.formalhall@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi I'm Sarah, I'm one of your co-formal hall officers and PhD student in Clinical Neuroscience out by Addenbrookes!
Alongside Meraaj, I will be helping finalise formals each week (these include some fun swaps with other colleges - so be on the lookout for my last minute emails!). If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions to make your experience with formals more exciting and less chaotic please feel free to reach out to me (or Meraaj...but I am better <3)!
Outside of my roles, I'm the Social Secretary of the St. Catharine's Boat Club (SCCBC) and Lower Boat Coach (if you are interested in getting into rowing this year or have questions regarding this - please don't hesitate to contact me!)
Studying: PhD in Clinical Neuroscience
Preferred pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Computer Officer <mcr.computing@caths.cam.ac.uk>
(Computer Officer 2024-25)
Studying: PhD in Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Preferred pronouns: he/him
Computing Officer <mcr.computing@caths.cam.ac.uk>
It's nice to meet you! I'm Jessica, the Computing Officer this year. My job? Keep this site up to date with all your Catz inquiries.
Catch me swimming, playing tennis, and occasionally coxing for the St. Catharine's Boat Club and the Women's Peregrine Rowing Club. When it's too cold for those activities, I crochet and embroider while watching TV.
Studying: PhD in Pathology
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
Social Secretary <mcr.social@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi everyone! I’m Jan, a first-year PhD student in History focusing on Irish and British History, and your Social Secretary alongside Thomas and Åsta.
Together, we hope to make your time at Catz unforgettable by organising regular events that cater to every taste - from wine and cheese tastings, to live music in the bar, to relaxed walks exploring other colleges.
It’s important to us that we offer events everyone can enjoy, so please feel free to reach out if you have any ideas you’d like to see included in the social events calendar :).
In my free time, you’ll most likely find me in the library, at the boathouse, or in my kitchen trying out new recipes.
I’m looking forward to seeing you at our next event!
Studying: PhD in Irish and British History
Preferred pronouns: he/his
Quartermaster <mcr.quartermaster@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi everyone, I'm Tanja, the Quartermaster (formerly known as Food and Drink Officer). In my spare time I'm a PhD student in Clinical Neurosciences, using biophysical modelling on MRI scans of patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
As Quartermaster I'm mainly responsible for the MCR coffee machine (together with our Cofficers) and the food in hall. I'd like everyone to enjoy the food, so there will be regular surveys where you can inform me about your dietary requirements and tastes so that everyone can be catered to. Apart from the surveys, always feel free to message or come see me if you have issues, requests or ideas! Catering is quite flexible and happy to accommodate our wishes, as you may have seen reflected in the increased appearance of fridge cake on the menu. Currently we are working on themed food for certain days and an easier system to stay informed about the daily menus.
Studying: PhD Clinical Neurosciences
Preferred pronouns: she/her
BME Officer <mcr.bme@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hi! I'm Athena, and I'll be one of the co-BME Officers this year (and will also be helping with some social planning on the side as well because I love any excuse for a hangout!)
I'm originally from sunny Jamaica, so between playing scientist in the lab with my stem cells and serving on the MCR, you can find me playing tourist as I romanticise 'crossing the pond'!
Also! Look out for the Cambridge Dance Society show in Lent term, where you may catch a glimpse of me jiving, jamming, and shimmying across the stage!
Studying: Stem Cell Biology
Preferred pronouns: She/her
LGBTQ+ Officer <mcr.lgbtq@caths.cam.ac.uk>
My name is Méabh and I'll be your LGBTQ+ Officer this year!
I've just moved to Cambridge from Dublin, Ireland (hence the somewhat confusing Irish spelling in my name, its pronounced maeve, as in wave, - or dave!)
Reach out if you've any official LGBTQ+ college queries or if you'd just like a chat.
I can usually be found drinking cup after cup of tea in the MCR or squirreled away in the Sherlock library.
Studying: MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies
Preferred pronouns: She/Her or They/Them
Women's and Non-Binary Officer <mcr.womens.nb@caths.cam.ac.uk>
No bio provided.
Studying: No subject provided.
Green Officer <mcr.green@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hello, I'm Hana! I'm doing a PhD in Plant Sciences, basically exploring ways to protect plants from insects using viruses :)
I joined Catz in 2022, and I was MCR Social Secretary before! This year, as a Green Officer, I am excited to improve the “Greenness” of our college by:
1. Holding workshops including growing your own herbs, how to recycle properly,
2. Organising social events that bring art and nature together i.e., plant drawing, trips to nature reserves
3. Increasing the awareness of opportunities to access natural spaces i.e., Catz allotment
but I would LOVE to hear your ideas too! So please shoot me a message :)
Studying: MPhil in Plant Sciences
Preferred pronouns: She/her
Green Officer <mcr.green@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hello there!
My name is Paula Teeuwen. Currently, I am in the fourth year of my PhD in Chemistry, where I am focusing on metal organic cages. These are self-assembled materials in the shape of polyhedra. Alongside the PhD I teach undergraduates by demonstrating lab courses, supervising taught courses and supervising part III students / interns.
In my free time I like to hang out with friends, go to our awesome Catz MCR events and chill with the Dutch Society (of which I am also in the committee). Besides that, I love speed- and inline skating. Due to the absence of any long-track ice-rinks in the UK I have switched to shorttrack speed-skating recently.
I joined St Catharine's College three years ago and I have loved my time here ever since. After being the MCR secretary for the last two years, I will continue this year together with Hana as green hall officers. With green being my favourite colour and the botanic garden, the fenland area and Grantchester Meadows being some of my favourite spots in Cambridge, I hope to help our members appreciate nature and raise awareness of Catz' environmental sustainability initiatives.
Studying: PhD Chemistry
Preferred pronouns: She/Her
Accommodation Officer <mcr.accommodation@caths.cam.ac.uk>
Hello everybody,
my name is Alex and I am your Accommodation Offcier. I am studying the MPhil in World History for which I am focusing on the research interests of the German diplomat Hermann A. Schumacher who was stationed in Bogotá, New York, and Lima in the 1870s and 80s. Apart from that, I spend most of my time in Shakeshaft, hall, and extracting free americano from Sir Bean McKellen.
In my role as Accommodation Officer, I address accommodation issues to College and take part in the rent negotiation process. So if you have any concerns or inquiries in this regard, don't hesitate to get in touch with me!
Studying: MPhil in World History
Preferred pronouns: He/him