This year's scholars

This year we have eleven outstanding scholars studying and serving in and around Oxford and Bath Universities.

Joseph Chu

Joseph is currently a DPhil candidate in law, focusing on the participation of developing countries in the creation of transnational commercial law. He holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford, a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Arabic and Political Science from New York University Abu Dhabi, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Adelaide, and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law. Joseph’s interests include fencing, piano, and finding connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. Having lived, studied, and worked all over the world, Joseph is a firm believer in the powerful impact that individual relationships, conversations, and decisions can have in ways beyond our imagination. 

Elizabeth Clayton

Elizabeth first came to Oxford as an undergraduate to study theology, then decided to keep studying theology and is now on her way to a DPhil in New Testament. Her research focuses on food and eating in earliest Christianity, and how embodied practices illuminate Christian origins. This nicely complements her love for cooking and throwing elaborate dinner parties. She is an active and enthusiastic member of Oxford Community Church, and worships at Keble Chapel on festivals. She loves Christian Wiman’s poetry, making and drinking coffee, and running in Whytham Woods.

Andrew Cowan

Andrew moved to Oxford with his family in 2017 to begin graduate study while preparing for ordained ministry, and is currently mid-way through a doctorate in New Testament. His academic study is sustained by a passion for faithful gospel ministry in the local church, following a decade spent working amongst students in London and witnessing God’s powerfully transformative grace at work in their lives as well as his own. Andrew is married to Heather and they have three small children together. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing acoustic guitar, home-roasting coffee, and traditional book-binding (and being a cliché).

Duncan McKellar

Duncan first came to Oxford in 2013 to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics as an undergraduate at St Anne’s College.  He then spent five years working as an Economics Consultant for PwC, spread around a two-year Ministry Apprenticeship working for an evangelical Anglican church in London. Now back in Oxford, Duncan is mid-way through an MPhil in Philosophical Theology, and, when not in the library, enjoys running, joining in with his church community, and discussing the deep things of life in one of Oxford’s many traditional pubs. 

Sophie Gallagher

Sophie is studying for an MA in Theology and Religion at St. John’s College, Durham University. Hoping to further develop her undergraduate research in music theology, she is passionate about music and worship practices in the local church, and how these serve to enhance personal belief. When not studying, you will find Sophie exploring new coffee shops, cooking and hosting dinners with friends, and sometimes even braving the cold north-eastern temperatures to swim in the sea!

Helen Hambling

Helen moved to Oxford in 2018 to work with undergraduate students at St Ebbe’s church. After 5 years of working with Oxford students, she’s excited to become one! She’s joining Wycliffe Hall to study a BA in Theology and Religion as a CofE ordinand. When not studying, you’ll either find her training for her latest triathlon challenge, knitting, or enjoying a good cup of coffee!

Stephen Lidbetter

Stephen first came to Oxford in 2018 to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics as an undergraduate at Worcester College, and then spent a further two years working for St Ebbe’s Church, primarily supporting their ministry to undergraduates. Having picked the best college first time round, Stephen is now excited to be returning to Worcester to begin an MPhil in Economics. When not trying to complete an economics problem sheet, Stephen enjoys reading books, visiting good old-fashioned pubs, and anything to do with football.

Matthew Roe

Matthew first ventured down from Yorkshire to Oxford in 2021, studying History for his undergraduate degree. During this time, he served as the Internal Vice-President of OICCU, and took the lead in forming the History Faculty Group for Christian historians. As part of his degree, he wrote his thesis on OICCU in the 1960s and 1970s, using the CU as a lens through which to understand social and religious change during the period. He is now studying a Masters in History at Regent’s Park College, researching the involvement of Particular Baptists in the British campaign to abolish the slave trade. He enjoys reading books on theology and history, fuelled by cups of Yorkshire Tea. 

Josh May

Josh has just finished his BA in Theology and Religion at Keble and, ever loyal to the red-brick lasagne college, is continuing on to do an MPhil in New Testament Studies. In 2019, having been born and raised in West London, Josh decided to spend 6 months in Tanzania with Youth With A Mission until his time out there was unceremoniously interrupted by Covid. When not in the Bodleian, Josh enjoys pedalling around Oxfordshire, drinking coffee, getting involved in various church activities, and even wild swimming!

Sebastian Pearson

Sebastian is in the process of wrapping up his DPhil in Engineering science on push scooters! The research aims to understand the forces applied to scooters when riders land stunts on them. Seb takes a great interest in philosophy (especially philosophy of religion); he is a co-founder and former president of the Oxford Socratic Society, which he is still actively involved with.

Samantha O’Sullivan

Sam is a DPhil candidate in Theoretical Physics at Magdalen College. Her research uses algorithmic information theory to understand the evolution of biological systems. In 2022 Sam earned her bachelor’s degree in Physics and African American Studies at Harvard University, along with a Rhodes Scholarship to hop across the pond! Sam is an active member of St. Aldates’s Church, where she helps host the Alpha course. Sam is passionate about encouraging synchronous Christian faith and rigorous science. She also teaches undergraduate physics through SCIO (Scholarship & Christianity In Oxford) and at Lincoln College. In her free time, Sam enjoys long prayer walks in South Park with her miniature goldendoodle dog, Nala! 

Sandy Slovikosky

Sandy is a second-year DPhil student in Biology at the University of Oxford, and is passionate about large carnivore ecology and conservation. Her current research focuses on the impacts of wire snare poaching on African lion behavior, health, and reproduction within Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda. Sandy was born in Munich as a dual German-American citizen, yet raised in Tucson, Arizona, and thus grew up around a lot of wildlife and with an appreciation for cultures and languages. She is passionate about working internationally and collaborating with local communities to conserve biodiversity. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, learning new languages, and serving within St. Aldate’s church.

Alberto Solano Zatarain

Before moving to Oxford in 2020, Alberto and his family lived in Mexico where they served as missionaries. He is a DPhil student in New Testament at Keble College and works part-time at Oxford Presbyterian Church. He is passionate about serving both the church and the academia from the position of a pastor-theologian. Alberto is married to Kathy and they have three small children. When not working, you will probably find him having a cup of coffee and talking about anything related to Latin America, especially history, politics, and art.

Nicole Watkins

Nicole is an English PGCE student at Brasenose college. After reading English literature and philosophy as an undergraduate in Durham, she moved to Oxford to pursue teacher training. Nicole’s academic studies are fuelled by a passion for kids ministry and sport, including football and long distance running. When not in the classroom, Nicole enjoys wandering around coffee shops and going on long walks through Christchurch meadows. 

Ning Xu

Ning first came to Oxford as a Master’s student pursuing theology in 2022, before undertaking a PhD in Science and Religion. Her research interest is driven by the question of knowing God both historically and relationally, and focuses on the intersection of second-person relatedness and social cognition. In her spare time, Ning enjoys participating in student ministry, hiking in nature and cycling around Oxford.