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A student who developed play-therapy material for bereaved youngsters and a mathematician who received one of Britain’s highest intellectual honours are among the winners of St John’s Larmor Awards 2025.

The awards began in the 1940s and are named after Sir Joseph Larmor, a 20th-century physicist and mathematician who was a student and later a Fellow at St John’s College. 

Each year at least four undergraduates ‘adjudged to be the most worthy for intellectual qualifications and for moral conduct and practical activities’ are chosen to receive the prizes.   

Six men and women who graduated this year – and one winner from 2024 – were honoured for their outstanding academic work and contributions to College life and beyond at a 2025 Larmor Awards ceremony in the Master’s Lodge on Friday 28 November. 

Nominated by their Tutors and Directors of Studies at St John’s this year’s prize-winners are: Julia Coyle, Imaan Kashim, Emily Ma, Timur Pryadilin, Alexander Robson and Aarav Shah.

Josephine Cowley won a 2024 Larmor Award but was overseas when the ceremony was held so joined some of this year’s cohort for the prize presentation.

“Julia’s achievements across scholarship, leadership, and performance are truly outstanding”

Award-winning writer and performer Julia Coyle is described as ‘academically brilliant and creatively accomplished’ by Dr Morag Morrison-Helme, Director of Studies in Education, and Tutor Dr Gabriella Santangelo.

Julia, who graduated this year and is now studying for an MPhil in Education at St John’s, has made a real-world impact through her work. As an undergraduate she created play therapy material for young people experiencing bereavement or relatives in palliative care and now works with hospice volunteers to implement it.

She attained a first every year of her BA (Hons) in Education and was awarded St John’s College McAulay Scholarship for her first and second-year results, and the Wright Prize.

“Her supervisors consistently praised her intellectual rigour, creativity and capacity to engage deeply with complex concepts,” said the Fellows.

Julia was Co-President of The Dobson Society, the College education society, has won several awards for her writing, and her ‘exceptional’ theatrical achievements are nationally recognised.

“Her original play Managed Approach is a verbatim theatre piece using the real voices of women from Leeds’s legalised red-light district, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025,” said Dr Morrison-Helme and Dr Santangelo. “Julia’s achievements across scholarship, leadership, and performance are truly outstanding.”

“Imaan made a full and distinguished contribution to the performing life of the College”

Talented violinist Imaan Kashim graduated from Cambridge’s rigorous undergraduate Music Tripos this summer with a starred first and was the top-ranked finalist in her cohort. She is now a postgraduate at St John’s, having taken up the College’s inaugural Louis Singer and Adele Centanni MPhil Music Scholarship.

“The achievement caps what has been a stellar academic trajectory, which is set to continue,” said Mr Tim Watts and Professor John Rink, College Directors of Studies in Music, and Imaan’s Tutor Professor Sarah Hall.

As an undergraduate Imaan made ‘a full and distinguished’ contribution to the performing life of the College and the University, playing in numerous recitals and St John’s 2025 May Week Concert. She won the 2024 University of Cambridge Concerto Competition and performed at West Road Concert Hall.

Imaan has also been a Student Ambassador during open days and is a strong advocate for inclusivity and diversity in developing opportunities for music-making in Cambridge and nationally.

She performs widely beyond the collegiate University, including with the Chineke! Orchestra – which champions diversity in classical music – and has won several prestigious music competitions.

“Emily's consistently excellent performance reflects both diligence and intellectual depth”

Veterinary Medicine student Emily Ma has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement. She achieved Firsts in every year of her Tripos, ranking in the top two per cent of her cohort in her third year.

Her original research in biological and biomedical sciences included a dissertation on the conservation of the kakapo and North Island brown kiwi, and a literature review on the surgical management of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome in dogs.

Emily has been recognised through various scholarships and College prizes and has been nominated for a Larmor Award by Dr David Williams, Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine, and her Tutor Professor Andy Woods.

“Her consistently excellent performance reflects both diligence and intellectual depth and she has built an impressive academic foundation for her future veterinary career,” wrote her nominators. “In supervisions, Emily has shown real engagement and curiosity, contributing to thoughtful questions and discussions, while her essays – always prompt, polished and insightful – consistently went beyond the scope of the course.”

Outside of her studies, Emily has competed for Cambridge in small-bore shooting, and rowed with St John’s Lady Margaret Boat Club while Social Secretary. She has also shown ‘impressive leadership’ as Publicity Officer of the University Veterinary Zoological Society, organising events in aid of conservation charities. As a student reader in Chapel, she spoke live on BBC Radio 3 and was recognised with the Wilson Prize.

“As a College ambassador, tutor from primary to A-level, and her volunteer work to conduct mock Cambridge interviews to state school ���ճԹ�, her commitment to outreach and supporting access initiatives is evident,” added the Fellows. “Alongside this, Emily has balanced a wide array of artistic and musical pursuits.”

“The fact a Nobel prize winner – Kostya Novoselov – is one of the co-authors is very impressive”

Graduate Timur Pryadilin was named Senior Wrangler in Part II of the Mathematics Tripos in 2024 – one of the most prestigious academic honours at Cambridge and a position described as 'the greatest intellectual achievement attainable in Britain'.

His exceptional results have been recognised through numerous College and University prizes including the Mayhew Prize for ranking first among applied mathematicians in the Master’s examinations, the Holgate-Pollard Prize for coming first in the final undergraduate examination, and multiple others.

He was nominated for a Larmor Award by Mathematics Directors of Studies Dr Matthias Dörrzapf and Professor Richard Samworth, and his Tutor Professor Ben Simons.

Timur produced a publication from his project following an exchange trip to Singapore at the end of his second year. “This in itself is not unusual, other ���ճԹ� have managed this also, but the fact the publication is in Nature(Nanotechnology) and a Nobel prize winner – Kostya Novoselov – is one of the co-authors is very impressive,” said the Fellows.

Alongside being exceptional academically, Timur has contributed greatly to the Cambridge maths community. Within the Faculty of Mathematics, he was a student representative on the Board and Curriculum Committee and played an active role in College life through the Adam’s Society for mathematicians – first as a puzzle-hunter devising maths challenges for members and later as President.

Timur, who was not able to attend the prize ceremony, also captained the intellectual quiz competition, ‘What? Where? When?’ and was a Cambridge University Astronomical Society member.

“Alex's role as Herbert Howells Organ Scholar has seen him perform, tour and record music with the world-renowned Choir of St John’s”

Talented organist Alexander Robson graduated from his Music (BA) degree with a starred First and was ranked third in his cohort of finalists. His brilliant academic track record is all the more impressive when set beside his role as the College’s Herbert Howells Organ Scholar, which has seen him perform, tour and record music with the world-renowned Choir of St John’s.

Alex recently performed on the premiere recording of Martin Baker’s Ecce ego Ioannes, a work for solo organ written specially for the Choir’s 2025 release Lament & Liberation. One reviewer calling his playing ‘a stunning account of the piece’.

Nominating him for a Larmor Award, the Directors of Studies in Music Mr Tim Watts and Professor John Rink, and Alex’s Tutor Professor Sarah Hall, wrote: “His musical activities have also extended to numerous recitals in Cambridge as a collaborative pianist, and his sensitivity and finesse have made him very popular with other college and University singers and instrumentalists.”

Alex, who was also unable to attend the award presentation, has now taken up at one of London’s top cultural venues, Sinfonia Smith Square, alongside an organ scholarship at Westminster Cathedral and further study with the organ department at Birmingham Conservatoire.

“Alongside his academic accomplishments, Aarav has made contributions to student life, leadership and the wider University community”

Economics graduate Aarav Shah also has an exceptional academic record, ranking consistently among the top of his cohort. His achievements have been recognised with various awards and scholarships.

Aarav’s supervisors have described his work as articulate, rigorous and intellectually confident and his essays demonstrate clarity, critical depth and originality.

Professor Meredith Crowley, Director of Studies in Economics, and Librarian Tanya Kirk, Aarav’s Tutor, nominated him for a Larmor Award, stating: “Alongside his academic accomplishments, Aarav has made contributions to student life, leadership and the wider University community.

“As Captain of the St John’s-Newnham College Hockey Club, Aarav led one of the largest college sports clubs in Cambridge, encouraging inclusivity, expanding accessibility and fostering a positive culture.”

His impact on the club also extended into St John’s College Cricket Club where he ran weekly net training sessions for ���ճԹ� and worked with the committee to plan matches and socials.

Beyond sport, Aarav demonstrated leadership in student societies, serving as Treasurer of Cambridge University India Society and the Jain Society where he managed finances, helped deliver large-scale cultural and charitable events, and organised formals and speaker events.

Aarav also introduced accessibility initiatives and a new flagship event held in Cambridge and was co-founder of Cambridge Immersion Society, where he promoted healthy sports recovery habits and wellbeing practices.

“Josephine was nominated for her academic success and exceptional contribution to the College’s community-building endeavours”

Graduate engineer and viola player Josephine Cowley was nominated in 2024 by her Tutor Dr Georgina Evans for her academic success and ‘exceptional contribution to the College’s community-building endeavours’, especially in music.  

Josephine was President of St John’s College Music Society when she introduced new concerts, events and initiatives and led the way in establishing St John’s College Open Orchestra.

Each Larmor Award winner receives a piece of engraved silver, made by a contemporary British silversmith, and a financial prize.

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