Meet ESOP-fellow Emma Craig
Source: https://bsse.ethz.ch/news-and-events/d-bsse-news/2025/10/meet-esop-fellow-emma-craig.html Parent: https://bsse.ethz.ch/news-and-events/d-bsse-news.html?AUTHOR=Q2Fyb2xpbiBBcm5kdCBGb3BwYQ&path=L2NvbnRlbnQvc3BlY2lhbGludGVyZXN0L2Jzc2UvZGVwYXJ0bWVudC9lbi9uZXdzLWFuZC1ldmVudHMvamNyOmNvbnRlbnQvcGFyL25ld3NmZWVkXzQzMTg
Every year, over thousand candidates apply for ETH Zurich’s Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Programme (ESOP), between 50 and 60 applicants are awarded the prestigious grant depending on the availability of funds donated to ETH Foundation. Emma Craig, Chemical Engineer from South Africa studying Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at D-BSSE, is one of the 2025 excellent scholars. An interview.
(Hannes Heinzer Fotografie)
What does the ESOP scholarship mean to you?
The ESOP scholarship has made it possible for me to study at ETH Zurich, which is an opportunity that would not have been financially feasible otherwise, given the high living costs in Switzerland. It has empowered me to pursue advanced studies in a field that remains fairly underdeveloped in my home country, South Africa.
Beyond financial support, this scholarship represents the freedom to focus fully on my studies and research, allowing me to engage wholeheartedly with my academic journey. I am profoundly grateful for this opportunity. The ESOP scholarship represents both a privilege and a responsibility: to make the most of this experience and, eventually, to give back through impactful research and innovation.
“Choose a topic that genuinely interests you. Authentic curiosity and motivation are immediately recognizable and will strengthen your proposal.”
Emma Craig, 2025 ESOP-Fellow at D-BSSE
The selection process for this ESOP scholarship is very competitive. What is your advice to fellows who aim to apply in the future?
A central part of the ESOP application is your 500-word thesis preproposal, which serves as your primary opportunity to make an impression on the review panel. Use this opportunity to convey who you are as a student: your academic interests, research ambitions and potential as an emerging scholar.
Your CV doesn’t need to be overflowing with past research experience and a plethora of publications, as mine was not. What matters more is demonstrating in your preproposal the ability to identify a meaningful problem, think critically about it, and propose a practical research plan that could contribute towards a solution.
Your preproposal should demonstrate genuine engagement with your chosen field, a clear understanding of the research question, and a coherent, realistic plan for addressing it within the scope of a Master’s thesis. It should strike a balance between ambition and feasibility, showing both depth of thought and practical awareness.
Above all, choose a topic that genuinely interests you. Authentic curiosity and\ motivation are immediately recognizable and will strengthen your proposal. Aim for a submission that is thoughtful, well-structured, and sincerely reflective of your research identity and goals.
You do your Master’s in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at the D-BSSE. What did you know about D-BSSE before you came here, and what was your motivation tocome to ETH Zurich?
Before joining ETH Zurich, my understanding of the D-BSSE mainly came from the ETH website, where I explored its research groups and courses, though my knowledge was fairly surface-level.
With a background in Chemical Engineering and a specialization in Biology, I sought out a Master’s programme that balanced theory, practical work, and research. After reviewing many international options, ETH’s Computational Biology and Bioinformatics programme stood out for its close alignment with my academic interests and career goals in bioinformatics. Its combination of strong theoretical training, hands-on lab experience, and opportunities for industrial internships provides the right environment to build my expertise and apply computational methods to challenges in healthcare and sustainability.
What were your first impressions…?
My first in-depth exposure to the D-BSSE occurred on the first day of the semester during the orientation week in Basel. The building itself, with its striking glass architecture, immediately impressed me, but what stood out even more were the people working within it. My favourite part of the week was the mentor presentations, where professors shared insights about their research groups. Listening to them reinforced my confidence in choosing this programme and confirmed that D-BSSE is the ideal environment for pursuing my academic ambitions.
Which research will you pursue at D-BSSE?
My research interests are fairly broad yet grounded in my engineering background, with a particular curiosity around systems biology, reaction networks, and microbiome dynamics. As I’m still in the early stages of my Master’s, I’m intentionally keeping my options open and remain eager to explore areas I have yet to encounter.
The interdisciplinary nature of D-BSSE provides an ideal environment to uncover fresh perspectives while strengthening my grasp of how computational tools can decode biological complexity. Ultimately, my motivation is to translate this understanding into practical solutions for pressing challenges in healthcare, energy, and agriculture – where innovation in bioinformatics can have transformative impact.
Where do you want to be in 5 years’ time?
In five years, I aim to be pursuing a PhD in bioinformatics or a closely related field, building on the foundation gained through my Master’s studies. I’m open to gaining industry experience first, especially if it helps sharpen my technical skills and clarify the specific research questions I want to tackle in the long term. During my Master’s, I plan to explore different areas within computational biology, from systems biology to bioinformatics applications in healthcare and sustainability. My ultimate goal is to contribute to research that improves quality of life, particularly in either the healthcare, bioenergy, or sustainable agriculture spheres, and to build a career that connects scientific discovery with real-world impact.
What are your hobbies, what do you do in your free time?
Outside of my studies, I’m passionate about art. In 2021, I launched a small business selling digital versions of my designs for use as tattoos – a natural extension of my linework-focused style. This venture has been a consistent creative outlet that complements my academic work, helping me maintain balance and find inspiration. Building a social media presence around it has also connected me with a network of independent artists, making it a rewarding and collaborative experience.
\ Once again: Big congrats, Emma, and all the very best to you and your studies!
Find information on the ESOP fellowship, a external page project mandated to the ETH Foundation; meet external page this year's ESOP scholars.
Learn about the Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Master's programme.