A 25 year-old student at IT Sligo has secured a coveted graduate placement with one of the world’s leading health care companies.
Elaine Dodd from Lough Arrow, Ballindoon, Co. Sligo, has successfully secured a place on Abbott Ireland’s prestigious Professional Development Programme (PDP), which was recently recognised as the best training and development programme for graduates in Ireland at the gradireland awards 2011.
The Forensic Analysis and Investigation graduate will spend the next two years working at Abbott facilities getting a wealth of experience.
Patrice Bohan, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, Abbott said, “Places on Abbott’s Professional Development Programme are highly coveted. Over 700 applications were received for 16 positions. We work closely with the leading universities and colleagues and these partnerships are critical to us identifying top talent.”
Elaine said she was delighted to get such an opportunity with one of the world’s best known healthcare companies.
“Abbott are global leaders in their market and have a large presence in Ireland with 14 sites – I am delighted to have this opportunity,” Elaine said. The work experience will cover areas including diabetes care, vascular care, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. “I wouldn’t get that kind of experience anywhere else,” stressed the student.
The Forensic Analysis and Investigation course provides training in scientific analysis and areas covered include forensic investigation and the legal system, forensic molecular biology and DNA technology, and crime scene management.
Elaine Dodd believes that the scope of the course boosted her chances of getting onto the Abbott PDP. “I absolutely loved the course – the equipment and facilities in the college are great,” she said. ”I know from speaking to other students on similar courses that they don’t get the same kind of quality practical experience or the same kind of access to instrumentation that we did. It gives you a great advantage.”
While crime scene management has a whiff of glamour off it, thanks to a plethora of television shows, Dr. Cadogan said that graduates are qualified for a wide range of jobs in the public and private sector where scientific analysis is a key tool. “Our graduates tend to find work anywhere there is testing whether it is analytical chemistry or analytical biology she explained. “The course does focus on the area where science meets the law so they have the added advantage of legal expertise and some will find themselves in courtroom situations presenting their findings.”
Many graduates of the IT Sligo course are employed in the health care sector but they are also well placed for analytical roles in state agencies such as local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency.
Image Caption: Elaine Dodd, IT Sligo graduate who has secured a coveted placement position with Abbott Ireland.