Niamh O'Connell, a Stage 2 UCD Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering student, one of two recipients of the Sanofi Future Female Leaders Scholarship 2019.

_{(From Left to Right: Patricia Kieran, Associate Professor and Senior Fellow in Teaching & Academic Development, UCD School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering; Niamh O’Connell, Sanofi Future Female Leaders Scholarship recipient)}

Two high-achieving students from University College Dublin (UCD) have been awarded Sanofi Future Female Leader Scholarships by the global biopharmaceutical company who employ almost 800 people at their campus in Waterford.

Ruth Moore, a 2nd year BSc (Hons) in Physics student and Niamh O’Connell, a 2nd year student on the Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering) were presented with their awards today at the facility in Waterford.

Introduced on a pilot basis in 2018, the scholarships are promoted by Sanofi to encourage greater female participation in professional disciplines where women are traditionally under-represented. As recipients of Sanofi Future Female Leader Scholarships, both students will receive an annual scholarship allowance of €3,000 each; mentoring from a senior leader at Sanofi Waterford; a paid summer placement and – where their course provides for it – a paid internship. They will also be eligible for fast-track applications to the company’s graduate programme.

Kerry native Niamh O’Connell is a Bord na Gaeilge UCD Scholar, a Naughton Foundation Scholar and the Competition & Skills Officer of the UCD Surf Club. During the summer, she will complete a four-week placement in Tanzania where she will be teaching basic computer skills to teachers and secondary school students.

Presenting the scholarships, Ruth Beadle, Site Head, Sanofi Waterford, said: “We had more than 100 applicants for the two scholarships from second and third year students at UCC, UCD and WIT this year so Ruth and Niamh have come through a very competitive process and proven themselves among the best of the best.