Have you undertaken, or do you plan to undertake any further training as part of your job?
I have partaken in a number of training programmes since taking on my current job including Performance Management, Conflict resolution, Lead Auditing, Internal auditing among others.
I am currently studying a Masters in Pharmaceutical Technology in Trinity College Dublin.
What subjects did you take in school and how have these influenced your career path?
I chose to study all three science subjects in school. Like every student I guess, I was unsure whether this was a good decision or not but felt it better to study what I enjoyed.
I wanted to study science in college but was unsure of where I wanted to end up working within the field of science. This was an important choice for my career as a broad knowledge of science is hugely beneficial when dealing with day-to-day issues in a pharmaceutical company.
My choice to study microbiology also gave me a broad scientific background which also helps in my current job. I believe these were good choices in hindsight. I'm not sure I would have done anything differently as the three sciences were an important basis for my college education, my FAS training and ultimately my current studies in Trinity College.
What is your education to date?
Secondary school (important subjects) - Maths (honours), the three science subjects.
College (UCC) - Microbiology
FAS - Quality Assurance. This lasted six months providing a good education in quality assurance and the broader contributions/implications of quality. It also provided valuable placement experience in a pharmaceutical company. This is sometimes (and all too often) difficult for new graduates to obtain.
Current studies - Masters in Pharmaceutical Technology, Trinity College Dublin
What aspects of your education have proven most important for your job?
The FAS training course in Quality Assurance was of particular importance to my current job. Modules such as the 'cost of quality' which examined how much a company must invest into a product in order to guarantee its quality. The course had a high Statistics content which proves valuable from time to time.
