Shaleem completed his PhD in 2017 from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. He enjoyed college rowing and university basketball. He is currently researching on the purification of vaccines and viruses in London. You will most likely find him at events with a glass of wine or beer in hand.
What motivated you to join the committee and what has been your most rewarding experience since joining?
After graduating with a PhD from Downing College in April 2017 I joined the society in order to stay in touch with the Cambridge community. I subsequently joined the committee in December 2017 after interactions with David Peace (Chairman 2010-2019) at a networking event (hosted by Clifford Chance) and then at the annual Christmas Party at the Oxford and Cambridge Club. My main reason for joining the committee was to encourage engagement between the thousands of alumni that live in London and the University of Cambridge; so they don’t lose touch of that academic connection due to their busy lives. My most rewarding experience is becoming friends with some of the members and see them grow in terms of their career aspirations, personal lives and become great ambassadors for the University of Cambridge.
Can you share a memorable moment from your time at Cambridge that has had a lasting impact on you?
There are many memorable moments to share, I will try to choose my favourite. My favourite May Ball was the First and Third Trinity Boat Club May Ball for the occasion of its 150th Anniversary (June 2016). It was the most memorable because I was with a good group of friends, I think the band Sigma was playing and the fireworks along the river Cam were picturesque. Punting along the river during the early hours was almost like a fairy tale. I don’t think many other universities offer such experiences.
What do you enjoy most about your committee role?
I enjoy meeting people from various backgrounds, cultures and academic backgrounds. Coming from a scientific background the society has helped me open to the different fields that exist like the arts, humanities and music. Doing a PhD, the sole focus is to solve a scientific or engineering problem disregarding any other fields. In the society, I have met artists, architects, financiers, anthropologists, lawyers, musicians, etc. It has helped me learn from them a lot and give back also the knowledge that has been available to me.
How do you feel CamSocLon benefits its members?
I think the best part of CamSocLon is the location itself, being London there are so many activities and options available to you. The society offers to be connected to like minds and being able to connect with them at exclusive events and interesting venues. The network of Cambridge alumni is in the thousands therefore to be able to connect via this society makes it very easy. I have seen people make good friends via this channel, go on holidays and do many different activities together after an event. During your degree, you sometimes miss the opportunity to network University wide therefore this is a perfect place to enter the University bubble rather than the college or department bubble.
What advice would you give to new alumni about staying connected with the Cambridge community?
In terms of the Cambridge brand itself, it carries a lot of weight. Being the top university in the world rankings year in and year out it is something all of the alumni that graduated should be proud of. Therefore, it is essential to stay connected and use this society as one of the avenues to network. As life gets busier and busier, it is essential to maintain your Cambridge Network and excel in your community, work and personal life. Lastly, CamSocLon gives a good sense of belonging after you graduate and it’s the biggest alumni society of the University’s in the world.