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Maths student gets bursary from pharma

January 31st, 2019 5:06 PM

By Southern Star Team

Kathleen with her award.

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A young woman from Enniskeane has been selected as one of five female students to get support and mentoring in their Stem studies. 

A YOUNG woman from Enniskeane has been selected as one of five female students to get support and mentoring in their Stem studies. 

Kathleen McCormack studying Mathematical Sciences in UCC has been presented with a bursary by global healthcare company Johnson and Johnson (J&J) as part of its Wistem2D award programme in UCC.

The acronym Wistem2D refers to Women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, manufacturing and design, and is part of J&J’s commitment to developing and implementing high-impact strategies to support female students undertaking Stem2D degree courses at UCC and in universities around the world. This is the healthcare company’s first year partnering with the University. UCC is one of 13 universities worldwide to participate in the programme which is in its third year at the University of Limerick (UL).

The students were selected for the programme following a rigorous application process and one-to-one interviews. They will shortly be assigned a J&J female role model who will support and mentor them as well as affording them the opportunity to visit J&J sites across the country and develop their Stem networks in the industry.

The Wistem2D programme is unique in terms of offering young women studying Stem2D courses the opportunity to engage with women working in those careers. First-hand experience of site tours, mentoring, project and career workshops enable students to visualise exactly what it is like to have a career in Stem. 

Liz Dooley, director of operations at Janssen the pharmaceutical company of J&J, said: ‘The mentoring element of the programme is designed to combat potential isolation among female students and to provide support for them as they continue their third level studies. We are committed to supporting women in Stem.’

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