2016 Eli Lilly Awards for Biochemistry and Biotechnology

3 Mar 2017

The UCC Biochemistry and Biotechnology Society hosted the annual Eli Lilly undergraduate and postgraduate awards for academic excellence on Thursday, 2 March 2017.

The students who achieved the highest grades in the MSc Biotechnology programme and in the undergraduate Biochemistry programme were recognised for their achievements. Dr Deirdre Buckley, TS/MS Team Leader at Eli Lilly presented the awards to the recipients.

Julie O’Mahony was presented with the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in Biotechnology. Julie attended Colaiste na Toirbhirte secondary school in Bandon, Co. Cork and graduated with an honours degree in Chemistry of Pharmaceutical Compounds (CPC) in 2015. As part of the CPC programme Julie completed a research project under the supervision of Dr Sinéad Kerins, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and won the Eli Lilly final year project poster presentation for this work. Julie then completed the Masters in Biotechnology, which included placement at Merck Sharp & Dohme, Co. Cork. Julie is now an employee of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dublin.

Carolyn Murray received the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in third year Biochemistry. Carolyn was a top student at Christ King secondary school in Turners Cross and has continued to excel at UCC, where she was awarded the title of College Scholar each year. Carolyn was also awarded a Quercus College Scholarship, based on her exceptional Summer 2016 examination results.

Orla Brosnan received the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in second year Biochemistry. Orla is a top student from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland, Co. Kerry and has continued to excel at UCC, where she was awarded the title of College Scholar in 2016. Orla was elected as the academic class representative for third year Biochemistry this academic year and she also secured an undergraduate SEFS Summer Research Bursary to work on a project entitled “In situ tracking of CO₂ bubble dynamics in fermenting Kefir – the ‘Champagne of dairy’” under the supervision of Dr Shane Crowley and Dr Christiane Schmidmeier.

Professor Tommie McCarthy, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC; Julie O’Mahony, recipient of the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in Biotechnology; and Dr Deirdre Buckley (BSc Biochemistry, UCC, PhD Biochemistry, UCC), TS/MS Team Leader, Eli Lilly SA - Irish Branch, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Professor Tommie McCarthy, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC; Carolyn Murray, recipient of the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in third year Biochemistry; and Dr Deirdre Buckley (BSc Biochemistry, UCC, PhD Biochemistry, UCC), TS/MS Team Leader, Eli Lilly SA - Irish Branch, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Professor Tommie McCarthy, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC; Orla Brosnan, recipient of the Eli Lilly Award for Academic Excellence in second year Biochemistry; and Dr Deirdre Buckley (BSc Biochemistry, UCC, PhD Biochemistry, UCC), TS/MS Team Leader, Eli Lilly SA - Irish Branch, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

Professor Tommie McCarthy, Director of the Masters Programme in Biotechnology praised the students for their outstanding performance and complimented Eli Lilly for both the sponsorship of the awards, recognising student excellence and their support of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at UCC.

Following the awards presentation, Ms Sarah McCarthy, QC Analyst at Eli Lilly, BSc in Biochemistry and MSc in Biotechnology UCC graduate and Dr Deirdre Buckley BSc and PhD Biochemistry UCC graduate, gave a presentation entitled “Perspectives from UCC alumni working in Manufacturing Technical Services and Quality Control at Eli Lilly”.

Professor Tommie McCarthy, School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, UCC; Dr Deirdre Buckley (BSc Biochemistry, UCC, PhD Biochemistry, UCC), TS/MS Team Leader, Eli Lilly SA - Irish Branch, Kinsale, Co. Cork; and Sarah McCarthy (BSc Biochemistry, UCC, MSc Biotechnology, UCC), Quality Control Analyst, Eli Lilly SA - Irish Branch, Kinsale, Co. Cork.

The Biochemistry and Biotechnology Society would like to thank Ms Sarah McCarthy and Dr Deirdre Buckley for their very informative seminar, outlining the wide range of opportunities that are available in the Biotechnology sector and for providing the audience with an insight into what it is like to work in Eil Lilly. They would also like to wish the award recipients every success in their future studies and careers.

Members of the UCC Biochemistry and Biotechnology Society who helped to organise the Eli Lilly Awards night and Career Seminar in UCC on 2nd March 2017 last. From left: Naomi Hanrahan, Fourth Year Biochemistry; Elaine O’Brien, MSc Biotechnology; Daniel Nyhan, Fourth Year Biochemistry; Sarah O’Donnell, Fourth Year Biochemistry; Neasa Murphy, MSc Biotechnology; Cathy Griffin, MSc Biotechnology;  Kevin Foley, Third Year Biochemistry; and Caoimhe Daly, Fourth Year Biochemistry.