Department of Pharmacology Recognition Scheme
We have established an annual awards scheme to recognise and promote staff and postgraduate contributions to the Department! The awards are split into three sections:
- Teaching and Mentoring
- Culture, Diversity and Equality
- Public Engagement, Outreach and Scientific Communications
2024 Awards - Highly Commended and Winners
Teaching and Mentoring
Winner: Pam Rowling: "I would like to nominate Pam for her generous efforts in training and mentoring students this past year - this includes new (and not-so-new) PhD, MPhil student, and rotation students to undergraduate summer students. She is always on hand to provide not just technical advice but other types of support and has made the lab an exceptionally enjoyable place to work."
Winner: Elisa Lawrence: "Elsa, a third-year PhD student, has demonstrated exceptional teaching and mentoring capabilities, meeting and exceeding the criteria for excellence in these areas. Her contributions to the academic and personal growth of junior PhD students have been substantial and impactful.
Elsa’s dedication to mentoring extends beyond academic instruction. She is known for her open-door policy, making herself available to students who seek advice on research-related issues or personal challenges. Her empathetic and approachable nature has made her a trusted mentor among her peers. Elsa’s mentorship has helped many students navigate the often overwhelming demands of PhD research, providing them with the support and encouragement needed to persevere."
Culture, Diversity and Equality
Winner: Caroline Wyatt: "Caroline greatly contributes to departmental cultural and social activities. She is actively involved in and integral to the running of the postgrad and post doc committee and spear heads organising much of the committee events. This includes the popular Fridays at Fives organising food and beverages but also academic events including the regular chalkboard talks contributing to their smooth running. She puts a lot of effort into making sure staff and students are included in these events and is always thinking of new ways to get members of the department together during work time and also at more informal events. Caroline is positive and very approachable and is a great asset to the department for this. She is also involved in outreach events including helping out with sixth form students hosted at the department for Young Pharma's each year. "
EDI Culture and Outreach
Winner: Rowda Dahir: "I recently had the pleasure of helping out with the 2024 Aspiring Scientist Training Programme, and saw Rowda working hands-on with the five talented young people from across the UK who came to visit our labs and try out science, mostly for the first time. I was amazed when I spoke with Rowda and found out that she had first initiated the scheme because she felt it was important to provide more opportunities like this in the Department, and had quietly been working all year with the central scheme organiser towards getting it up and running in Pharmacology. Putting the ASTP together has taken immense organisation from Rowda, alongside her PhD work, and demonstrates her genuine passion for outreach and her determination to make a difference to students who would not have had access to these opportunities otherwise. Rowda has undoubtedly changed the lives of this group of young people, giving them the encouragement they needed to consider a career in science. I’m so proud of the difference this scheme has made to the Department and to those who took part, and so proud of all of the work Rowda has put in. She is truly an inspiration to me!"
Public Engagement, Outreach and Scientific Communications
Winner: Laura Nassar: "Laura, an MPhil student known online as “LabRatLaura,” has made a significant impact in public engagement, outreach, and science communication through her accessible approach to explaining complex scientific concepts. With a strong commitment to bridging the gap between the research community and the general public, Laura has created an Instagram platform that has grown to 60,000 followers in just three months—a testament to her effectiveness and reach."
2023 Awards - Highly Commended and Winners
Teaching and Mentoring
Winner: Christine Roberts: “Christine has gone above and beyond in her support of undergraduate teaching this year…this is best reflected in the final year comments from the Part II students: “Christine has been an absolute highlight of this year – she has been kind, organized, attentive, helpful….and done a brilliant job looking after us.”
Highly Commended: Luke Pattison: “Luke goes above and beyond to help out being the linchpin around which animal research is conducted in the lab….Luke supervised the Mechanisms of Drug Action course for Selwyn College, and prior to that Corpus Christi College, for several years, and our Department is dependent upon providing good quality supervisors to colleges.
Culture, Diversity and Equality
Winner: Ollie King: “The accomplishments of the Postgrad and Postdoc Committee can be attributed in large part to Ollie's invaluable contributions. Ollie's commitment and dedication have been instrumental in ensuring the smooth organization and execution of the committee's social events.”
Highly Commended: Maria Misovcova, Michelle Meng
Public Engagement, Outreach and Scientific Communications
Winner: Emily Taylor: “Emily has made a significant contribution over many years on this exceptional important outreach event for the department. She has continued to foster excellent relationships with local school, makes a significant contribution to the organising and running the programme and receives excellent feedback from the students. Without Emily's contribution Young Pharma's simply would not run.”
2022 Awards - Highly Commended and Winners
Teaching and Mentoring
Winner: Sergio Tomey
“Sergio has gone above and beyond the duties of his role over the last couple of years as teaching delivery has changed rapidly due to the pandemic. His support to teaching staff in the department as they adapted to new technology and methods was exemplary.”
“Sergio never forgets his humour and is always nice to everyone, even to some very demanding students who forget their manners!”
Highly Commended: Abigal Pearce
“Abi stood out as one of the most helpful and engaged demonstrators in the practical classroom this year. She signed up for a great number of practicals throughout the year to help out where we had a lack of trained people due to the past few years of covid disruptions.”
Pam Rowling
“Pam is constantly supportive, always making time to share her wealth of knowledge with the students and post-docs. She has acted as a mentor and provided pastoral support and a kind ear to help many researchers through the difficult times during the stresses of their research and effects of the pandemic”
Culture, Diversity and Equality
Winner: Camilla Ascanelli
“Cami is a passionate advocate on Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity issues and has been pro-active both on the EDW committee and on the Postdoc and Student Committee. Her efforts and positive engagements within the Department have made a real difference to departmental culture.”
“Beyond her contributions to the wider department, Camilla has also been a wonderful colleague to work with in the lab. She has shown great care for the younger lab members, checking in periodically about our welfare and the progress of our work.”
Highly commended: Sara Pensa
“Sara is instrumental in promoting a positive culture in the lab and department at large. She is a member of the Fight Against Institutionalised Racism (FAIR) Network, she co-wrote and published the “Introduction to Decoloniality and Anti-Racism in Global Health: student toolkit” that aims ‘to create a constructive anti-racism dialogue, to provide the knowledge to dismantle structures and biases.”
Public Engagement, Outreach and Scientific Communications
Winner: Dervila Glynn
“Dervila's innovative approaches to sharing the wonders of neuroscience with young and old have been received with amazement. Highlights include woollen neurons, smart phone microscopy and lively panel debates where her throwable microphone cube opened it up for the whole audience to enjoy.” “Dervila's dedication to events, working long hours and negotiating incredible deals, comes from a passion to share science rather than career self-interest.”
Highly Commended: Daniel Paolo Juan
“Daniel has almost single-handily revamped the E&D Department website. He has produced a fabulous and accessible site for us to keep the Department (and wider audience) up to date with our active E&D activities.”
External Awards
Congratulations to PhD student Cynthia Okoye!
PhD student Cynthia Okoye was recently awarded both the Bill Gates Sr. Prize and the Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Award!
The Bill Gates Sr. Prize:
This award intends to recognize Gates Cambridge Scholars via a nomination from their fellow Scholars. Cynthia was nominated for her outstanding research and leadership in promoting Africans in STEM.
Please read more on her award in this blog post here.
The Vice-Chancellor's Social Impact Awards:
Cynthia was awarded this award for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to improving society and the wider world.They reflect the commitment of Cambridge to student civic action and the importance of acknowledging the work of outstanding individuals.