CIT student awarded inaugural Janssen scholarship
The first Janssen/CIT Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Degree Scholarship has been awarded to Tadgh McCarthy, a student of Cork Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology degree course. The bursary, which will be awarded annually, is open to all first year students of CIT’s Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Degree course. It comprises of financial support for the duration of the course and an opportunity for work placement at Janssen Sciences Ireland UC’s Ringaskiddy campus.
Speaking at the presentation, Kyran Johnson, General Manager, Janssen Supply Chain Ireland, said, “At Janssen, we believe it is our duty to encourage young graduates so they can reach their educational potential and become an asset to the workforce. The calibre of entrants illustrates the academic drive, ambition and talent from these students. We have a wonderful relationship with CIT and as a major employer in Cork, it is important we support young men and women with the transition from third-level education to employment in STEM careers.”
Dr Brendan O’Connell, Head of Department of Biological Sciences, CIT, said, “I would like to thank Janssen Sciences Ireland for extending the scholarship to include the Bsc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology course. The scholarship presents an outstanding opportunity for our students and is a really positive development for the programme, which continues to strengthen in terms of the recruitment of students and the employability of its graduates. I also wish to congratulate all the students who were shortlisted, with particular congrats to Tadgh McCarthy who was awarded the scholarship. I have no doubt that they will all be excellent ambassadors for the programme.”
In their application, students were asked to show an understanding of the role of a biotech graduate in the design and operation of a pharmaceutical/ biopharmaceutical plant. The successful applicant, Tadgh McCarthy, and runners-up Siobhan Clough, Joana Moynihan, Aoife Gibbins, Clement Sim and Caoimhe O’Mahony, were all assessed by a selection committee with representation from both CIT and Janssen Sciences Ireland UC.
