The students who were drawn from the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science (SEFS), the Analytical and Biological Research Centre, Tyndall National Institute and the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre demonstrated how the tools employed by Pfizer can be applied to their own research.
The programme was run conjunction with Professor Anita Maguire and the College of SEFS. The module was delivered by Dr Jay Chopra and Dr Hilary Sisk from Pfizer, who congratulated the winner Ms Sharon McSweeney and all the students on their excellent presentations.
Dr Liam Tully, Director Pfizer Global Process Development Centre in Cork commented that: “Creativity and Innovation is very important for Pfizer and so we have focused on developing a range of techniques that encourage and facilitate innovative thinking. It was evident from the presentations given by students that the techniques they learned had wide application and were the catalyst to unlock natural innovative talent.”
Professor Anita Maguire acknowledged the valuable relationship between Pfizer and the University and said that it was clear that the PhD students gained very valuable skills through this module. “In particular the students in their first year of their research were clearly using the tools to engage directly in relation to decisions regarding the direction of their research, much earlier than might generally be seen, in addition to enabling them to plan their research, while the students nearing completion used the tools to expand their research with new creative approaches.”
Professor Patrick Fitzpatrick, Head of the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science noted that strong relationships with locally based international industries was essential to the transfer of expertise and the development of novel mechanisms for stimulating and promoting creativity in our graduates. “Initiatives like these are of immediate benefit to the students and the University but also to the associated Industries where many of our Postgraduates are employed”, he said.
Picture L-R: Robert Ahern, Dr Hilary Sisk, Pfizer Inc, Dr Jay Chopra, UCC, Kieran Keohane and Sharon McSweeney.
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