Mary Flood, is a fourth year PhD student at University College Dublin and National Institute for Bioprocessing Research & Training (NIBRT), supervised by Associate Professor Steven Ferguson, Associate Professor Joanna McGouran and Professor Elizabeth Topp. Her research aims to develop reversible chemical modifications targeting the chemical and thermal stability of mRNA therapeutics.
Carrying out my PhD as part of the SSPC and Centre for Doctoral Training in Transformative Pharmaceutical Technologies, I have always had a keen interest in the design and manufacturing of life-changing medicines. During the third year of my PhD, I was excited to apply for a placement opportunity with SSPC to gain exposure and valuable experience working within Ireland’s leading pharmaceutical sector. I had the pleasure of participating in multiple interviews and was offered a 3-month placement with Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Little Island, Cork.
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s site in Little Island, Cork is a crucial facility for the manufacturing of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for global supply chain. Major products exported from the site are subsequently formulated and used to treat a broad range of pathologies such as viral infections, gastrointestinal disorders and psychiatric conditions.
During my time at J&J IM, I worked within the Manufacturing Science & Technology (MSAT) department, reporting to Trevor Byrne, Michelle Ryan and Elena Chiurchiu. Working as part of the MSAT group offered unparalleled insights into various areas of process chemistry and engineering, and highlighted the importance of a diverse, cross-disciplinary team of expertise. I was fortunate to contribute towards multiple projects and provide ad hoc process support for investigations that presented themselves on site. Two of the main projects I completed with J&J IM involved building a mass transfer model for a new multi-step process to be introduced on site, and the optimisation of process parameters during centrifugation steps for any potential impact on product quality and yield. Throughout my placement I also gained valuable laboratory experience in microscopic imaging and MID-IR technologies for real-time reaction monitoring and dissolution studies. These opportunities were highly rewarding in expanding my current skillset whilst learning new techniques outside of my PhD. On a broader scale, I was able to communicate my work with additional J&J sites across Ireland, which was a great insight into how various roles work together within an organisation.
On a personal level, my industrial placement has reaffirmed my interest in pursuing a career that brings a positive impact to patient health following my PhD. Likewise, for a multitude of reasons, I would highly recommend a placement opportunity to all PhD researchers. It is an excellent opportunity to explore new horizons, meet new people, gain alternative perspectives, and learn where to take the next steps in your career.
A sincere thank you to SSPC and everyone in the MSAT team at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine for this invaluable opportunity, I have greatly enjoyed the experience and look forward to applying my newly gained knowledge and skills towards the final stages of my PhD.
