Selected as Gates Cambridge Scholar out of 6,000 applicants

Bergþór Traustason, BS student in engineering physics from the University of Iceland, has been selected as Gates Cambridge Scholar and will begin his studies in biotechnology this autumn. Ninety-two of the most academically exceptional and socially committed people from across the globe were selected from a pool of almost 6,000 applicants for the Scholarships.

The Gates Cambridge Trust is one of the most prestigious grants programmes for international students at Cambridge. The trust is based on a contribution from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000 with a view to sponsoring the studies of exceptional international students at Cambridge University.

Bergþór Truastason will complete his studies in engineering physics from the University of Iceland's School of Engineering and Natural Sciences this spring and intends to get his master's degree at Cambridge University. He says his main interests lie in the development of a broad range of new technologies that employ living organisms, especially microalgae, to make diverse products in an efficient and environmental-friendly way. Bergþór worked on a project funded by the Student Innovation Fund with two fellow students in 2016, which was nominated for the President's Student Innovation award in 2017. 

He furthermore, went to California Institute of Technology - Caltech in Pasadena, California last summer as he received a scholarship for a 10 week summer project there. https://english.hi.is/news/ui_students_receive_sholarships_to_study_at_c...

Why did Bergþór apply for studies at Cambridge University, one of the most prestigious in the world? 

"Studying at Cambridge University provides a unique opportunity to work with world leading research scholars in my field of interest. There are numerous research teams within chemical engineering and biotechnology doing incredibly interesting and diverse research. The decisive factor was, however, that there is a new programme in biotechnology designed especially for students with a background in physics, engineering or computer science. The programme not only emphasizes a solid foundation in biotechnology but also interdisciplinary research and collaboration with various biotechnology companies."

The competition for the scholarships is fierce with 5,798 applicants for 92 new Scholars. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship aims to identify and select applicants who are academically outstanding and are likely to be transformative leaders across all fields of endeavour. Bergþór Traustason is the first Icelander to receive a grant from the trust since 2007. 

Asked whether he believes the University of Iceland had prepared him well for graduate studies abroad Bergþór said: "I think that the programmes at the University of Iceland are pretty good and I have also had numerous opportunities to work on diverse research projects and give group maths tutorials; which is an invaluable experience for me."