Philip, who is a MSci Chemistry student within the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen's, currently undertaking a year-long industrial placement with Almac Group, received his award and a £1,500 bursary towards his tuition fees from Dr Stephen Barr, Managing Director and President of Almac Sciences & Almac Discovery, on 7th September 2021.

Dr Barr announced the winner at the Queen’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering virtual Graduation awards ceremony on 28^th July. In his video address, Dr Barr referred to the truly monumental period where, due to the pandemic, the profile given to science and scientists has never been higher, offering graduate chemists and chemical engineers the opportunity and potential to use their skills, knowledge and talent to make a real difference in the world.

Dr Barr also commented:

“I am pleased to present the Almac McKervey Award to Philip in memory of our esteemed colleague and friend Tony whose commendable leadership and kind manner inspired many of us during his long service with Almac. Philip has demonstrated exemplary performance and commitment throughout his degree to date and I hope, that in receiving this recognition today, he will progress to a long and rewarding career in chemistry. Many congratulations.”

Upon receiving the award, Philip said:

“I am thrilled to be the holder of this year’s Almac McKervey Award. The practical experience I will receive will be unparalleled. It will help strengthen my chemistry knowledge, expose me to new procedures and develop my practical laboratory skills. Professor Tony McKervey was an inspirational leader, and I am honoured to accept this exceptional award which is dedicated to him.”

Philip’s name was added to the perpetual commemorative wall plaque at the David Keir building at Queen’s - a replica of which is displayed at Almac’s global headquarter facility in Craigavon.

Speaking of Philip's award, Dr Panagiotis Manesiotis, Director of Education at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering said:

"I am delighted that Philip has received this prestigious award from our colleagues at Almac, which recognises his hard work and talent as a chemist. I have no doubt that this award is a sign of further achievements to come for Philip, and I'm looking forward to learning more about his experience during his industrial placement."

The Almac McKervey award, was established in 2018 as a commemoration to the life and work of one of Ireland’s most distinguished scientists, Professor Tony McKervey, who passed away in June 2017. Born in Ederney, Co Fermanagh in 1938, Tony earned a degree in Chemistry from Queen's in 1961. A former Professor of Organic Chemistry at both University College Cork and Queen’s University Belfast, Tony founded Almac’s Sciences Business Unit in 1992 and continued to support Almac as a member of the Sciences’ senior management team until his death at the age of 78.

Professor McKervey was an esteemed academic and an industry expert, having received the ASTRA Award of the Royal Dublin Society in 1986 and the Boyle-Higgins Gold Medal of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland in 1993. He also authored over 270 published research papers in world-renowned journals.

The ‘Almac McKervey Award’, which is open to students studying Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen’s, is presented each year to the top applicant, selected on both their academic achievement and performance at an interview with Almac’s chemistry experts.

 

More information about Almac Group can be found on their website.

 

Media

Media inquiries to Emma Gallagher at Queen’s University Communications Office - Telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 3087 Email: emma.gallagher@qub.ac.uk