UCC student awarded prize for her organic chemistry results

A UCC student has been recognised for outstanding achievement and awarded the Thermo Fisher Scientific Prize in Organic Chemistry for 2024.

Fourth year Chemistry student Tara McInerney was presented with the award at the School of Chemistry Undergraduate Awards ceremony, which took place on the UCC campus.

Open to all UCC students who completed third year in chemistry throughout the 2022/23 academic year, the prize is awarded annually to the student who passes with the highest combined mark in the Organic Chemistry modules.

For her achievement, Tara received a €1,000 cash prize along with a commemorative plaque.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Cork campus is an active pharmaceutical ingredient development and manufacturing site and is part of its pharma services business.

Norma Kelly, senior process chemistry manager at Thermo Fisher’s Cork site said: “It’s an honour to present Tara with the Thermo Fisher Scientific Prize in Organic Chemistry.

“2024 is our second year presenting this award, and we are thrilled to do so as encouraging the next generation of chemists is a core value for Thermo Fisher Scientific.”

She added that UCC’s School of Chemistry produces top tier graduates, many of whom have been recruited over the years to join their team.

Professor Anita Maguire, Head of School of Chemistry at UCC, said: “We are truly appreciative of the support from Thermo Fisher Scientific for our students, through work placements, their Organic Chemistry Prize and various other interactions.

“On behalf of the School of Chemistry, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the recipient of this award, Tara McInerney.

“Tara, we are incredibly proud to count you among our student body here at UCC. Your success is an inspiration to your peers and to future chemists. We look forward to your continued success in your academic and professional pursuits.”