J&J WiSTEM2D scholarship for Fermoy student
Local Bio-Medical Science student, Caitlin Duffy, is among the recipients of this year’s WiSTEM2D awards.
A native of Fermoy town, Caitlin is in her second year of studies and as the eldest daughter, is the first in her family to venture into a STEM related career.
The award recognises outstanding female students in STEM2D disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Manufacturing and Design.
Speaking with this week, the former Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy, student said that she has ‘always loved’ Science.
“More than anything, I’ve always loved Science. It’s really cool to be a part of such an empowering thing for women. This award really brings women and their talent to the forefront. It’s a really nice initiative,” she said.
Caitlin was among a number of students in Cork who were awarded scholarships at a ceremony held at Janssen Sciences’ site in Ringaskiddy.
Each recipient received a student award, and can look forward to industry mentoring and leadership training, along with the opportunity to attend career workshops, visit Johnson & Johnson sites and participate in WiSTEM2D events designed to support them in pursuing future STEM careers.
MANY OPTIONS
Looking to the future, Caitlin said she had initially hoped to pursue a career in space science, having taken part in a NASA scholarship programme while in secondary school, but is still considering her options.
“Initially, I wanted to do space science and then I was thinking about laboratory science, but now after getting the Johnson & Johnson programme, I’m considering pharma. My head is all over the place at the minute, which is a good complaint to have,” Caitlin added.
The Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D programme fuels the development of the female STEM2D talent pipeline by awarding and sponsoring girls and women at critical points in their educational experience and their careers, in STEM disciplines.
The Undergraduate programme was first introduced at University of Limerick in 2016. Since then, it has expanded to include University College
Cork in 2018, University of Galway in 2021, and Munster Technological University in 2022, supporting more than 400 female students over the last 6 years.
DIVERSE WORKFORCE
Bill Walsh, Site Lead at Janssen Sciences Ireland, congratulated the UCC recipients of this year’s WiSTEM2D awards.
“They will now benefit from a range of opportunities through the programme, which will provide them with the tools, resources and opportunities they need to excel in their careers.
“Johnson & Johnson recognises the importance of helping to bridge the gap which still exists in terms of gender equality in leadership positions. High-impact programmes like WiSTEM2D allow us to work with academic institutions and contribute to the development of a diverse STEM workforce for the future,” he said.