Student Spotlight: Olayemi Bakare's Google DeepMind Scholarship

17 March 2025

 

What inspired you to apply for the DeepMind Scholarship, and why bioinformatics at QMUL? 

I applied for the DeepMind Scholarship because it offered an opportunity that enabled me to pursue an academic program with real-world impact. Around the world today, enormous amounts of data are available, including biological data, from which we can draw insight to understand biological processes in living organisms and disease mechanisms. I want to contribute to leveraging this data by combining knowledge of biology with computational techniques to solve complex biological problems. 

QMUL's Bioinformatics program was ideal for me because it is specifically designed for students with a Bioscience background, and I have a Bachelor's in Microbiology. The program has been around for several years and has a history of success. It offers training in programming, statistics, AI, and data science, which are all taught by highly reputable faculty members. I am particularly excited about the program's six-month research component, where I can apply what I have learned in the modules taught within a research group. 

Aside from all that, QMUL is a Russell Group University located in London. I have access to a diverse community, cultural experience, and societies, which allows me to explore my other interests outside of academics. 

 

Can you share how mentorship from DeepMind has influenced your academic journey? 

One of the best parts of being a DeepMind scholar is the mentorship program, especially for me as I transition into the interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics. My mentor understands the requirements of my program because he has a PhD in Computational Biology and works in research at Google DeepMind, which makes him the right person to provide advice on my studies and point out areas to improve. 

From the first meeting, my mentor showed a great deal of interest in being helpful and sharing his wealth of experience. He showed me his previous work and emphasized the exciting opportunities and possibilities in the areas where biology meets computing. He provided guidance for navigating my academics and also exposed me to the various career opportunities available in both academia and industry. In addition, he invited me to visit the Google DeepMind office, which was a fantastic experience because I got to meet new people and to be in an environment where people are doing great work that improves our everyday lives. 

I would say the mentorship has been inspiring, and I look forward to seeing how it will continue to encourage my growth. 

 

What impact do you hope your work in bioinformatics will have on the field?  

Bioinformatics is an exciting and rapidly evolving field, and I am passionate about contributing to its transformative potential. There are still regions around the world, like in Africa, where we have a wide gap in genomic data. As data generation and sharing improves in the coming years, I hope to make a meaningful difference by contributing to leveraging this data to provide insight that enables advances in patient diagnosis, personalized healthcare treatments or improving crop yield or resilience, especially with the world’s growing population and in the face of climate change.  

In other words, my long-term goal is to contribute to research and scientific literature that advances the field of bioinformatics and makes discoveries available to communities where they can make the most significant impact.

 

For students from underrepresented backgrounds, what advice would you give on pursuing a career in AI or bioinformatics? 

My advice for students from underrepresented backgrounds is to believe in possibilities, even when the challenges are overwhelming. To shift their focus from the limitations to the opportunities available, including searching for scholarships, grants, and tailored programs that support your journey. 

It is also essential to recognize that diverse perspectives are crucial in shaping fields like AI and bioinformatics. AI is transforming the world, and we need more people from diverse backgrounds to mitigate bias in AI tools and address global fairness issues. In Bioinformatics, there is a similar need to tackle region-specific challenges. For instance, while the African population is the most genetically diverse in the world, it remains underrepresented in genomic datasets. This gap creates potential biases in genome-wide association studies and could lead to bioinformatic tools that are ineffective for the African population.  

Finally, surround yourself with like-minded peers, mentors, and professionals who can inspire and guide you. Your background is your strength - it brings a unique perspective to solving complex problems. Keep pushing forward, think globally, and believe that success is attainable. 

  

The Google DeepMind Scholarship programme is now managed by The Martingale Foundation. To find out more, please click here.