News / 16 Jan 2018

Johnson & Johnson launches new microbiology module at UCC

News & Opinions / News / 16 Jan 2018

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Biopharmaceutical and Medical Device Microbiology students with J&J personnel Regina Mulhall, J&J Module Sponsor, Senior Director, Quality, Janssen Sciences Ireland; David O’Sullivan, J&J Module Sponsor, Senior Manager Sterility Assurance, DePuy Synthes; Peter O’Mahony, J&J Module Coordinator, Manager QC Microbiology and In-Process Testing, Janssen Sciences Ireland; Tim O’Mahoney, Principal Scientist, Janssen Sciences Ireland; Kevin Coleman, Senior Operations Manager, Janssen Sciences Ireland; Ann Marie Mernin, Quality Systems Manager, Janssen Sciences Ireland; Conor Buckley, Operations Manager, Janssen Sciences Ireland; Sebastian Clerkin, Validation Engineer, DePuy Synthes; and Dr David Clarke, Director of the BSc in Biotechnology, APC Microbiome Institute, School of Microbiology, UCC School of Microbiology, UCC. Photo: Darragh Kane

Global healthcare company, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) today launched a new 12-lecture Biopharmaceutical and Medical Device Microbiology module in UCC as part of its collaboration with the university’s College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS).

Designed for fourth year BSc Biotechnology students and delivered by industry experts from J&J companies, Janssen Sciences Ireland and DePuy Synthes, the module, which includes two J&J site tours, aims to provide undergraduate students with greater industry knowledge and awareness through exposure to state-of-the-art, scientific work environments.

Kyran Johnson, General Manager, Janssen Supply Chain Ireland, said, “This collaboration between J&J and UCC is an excellent example of higher education and business working together to encourage and inspire young graduates entering the workforce.

“At J&J, we are committed to the empowerment and advancement of women in STEM and it is encouraging to see an almost 50-50 gender balance of ten male and nine female students opting to study this module.”

Professor Patrick O’Shea, President of UCC, said, “This is the first time a module of this kind – delivered exclusively by industry experts – has been developed in SEFS and we are delighted that students are being exposed to such a wonderful opportunity. The transition from academia to employment for graduates is a huge stepping stone on their career path and one we feel that will be facilitated with ease by this J&J initiative.”

The module is centred around four pillars – manufacturing and release, microbial compliance, the controlled environment, and the industrial microbiology laboratory. The J&J site tours will focus on the operational side of industrial microbiology and will give students the opportunity to meet with recent graduates who are now employed by J&J.

Students are assessed with a 1.5-hour exam at the end of the 12-week lecture period and a bursary will be awarded to the top student at the end of the module.

Sponsored by Dr Regina Mulhall, Janssen Sciences Ireland and Dr David O’Sullivan, DePuy Synthes, the course was jointly developed by Dr Cian Hill, Johnson and Johnson Sterility Assurance GOLD Associate and Dr David Clarke, School of Microbiology and Director of BSc in Biotechnology, UCC.