Work performed up until the end of November 2017 (i.e. in the first year of the project)
Scientific Project
The scientific project began as had been proposed in the ‘Implementation’ section of the proposal:
• WP1 - A detailed literature review on the application of Raman and SORS to the biopharma sector was carried out (see outputs below).
• WP2 - A Raman system (a Avalon Instruments Ramanstation which had been made available for the project) was fitted with an external probe and so adapted to collect data in bench-top experiments (see detail in the Tech. Report).
• WP3 - KB was trained by Boyan Li to use Umetrics’ and ‘SIMCA’ software packages
• WP4 - KB used the Raman probe and spatial offsets along the focal axis (i.e. nearer-to and further-from the focal point) to probe model systems made of plastic and various small-molecule model systems (containing alumina/silica stationary phases, various mobile phases and acetaminophen/aspirin/caffeine solutions as samples) and built a robot probe arm to automate the collection of spectra. As things stand, it is proving difficult to resolve interesting information from the collected data and it is suspected that there are issues with the optics of the system (specifically we are looking at the way the signal is imaged on the detector).
• WP5 - Initial measurements were performed on protein columns, specifically on column packed with Sephadex® (cross-linked dextran gel used for gel filtration sephadex) and dilute solutions of Adenine.
• In addition to the main scientific project, KB undertook some general Raman spectroscopy measurements on samples of small molecules supplied by researchers in the SSPC, investigated and characterised the behaviour of another (Kaiser) Raman instrument, and contributed to various scientific investigations/projects in the group.
Scientific Outputs
• Co-wrote with AR “Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: a short review” and had it published in Applied Spectroscopy. This detailed review will enhance the career of KB by making him more visible in the field.
o Raman Spectroscopy in Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing: a short review. K. Buckley and A.G. Ryder. Applied Spectroscopy, 71(6), 1085-1116, (2017). Focal point article (peer reviewed). An open access version is available on NUIG’s publication server, ARAN.
• Co-author on another publication (in preparation), with the PI and an NBL research student (S. Murphy) which details the use of vibrational spectroscopy for the quantitative analysis of cell culture media hydration.
Exposure to Science in Industry
The supervisor at the host laboratory has a strong record of working with industry on large-scale projects applying spectroscopic methods to bioanalysis issues. In his first year at NBL, KB:
• Worked with the Science Foundation of Ireland’s ‘Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC,
https://www.sspc.ie/)(opens in new window)’ to address research challenges in the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. attended multiple technical meetings, etc.).
• Completed ‘Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt’ and ‘Good manufacturing practice’ training.
• Attended (in University College Cork in Oct. 2016) the pan-European Conference on QbD and PAT Sciences and the two-day ‘Process Development and Scale-Up in the Pharmaceutical Industry’ (at NUIG in Apr. 2016) master class which was delivered by industrial practitioners (topics covered included introductions to Process Scale-up of Drug Syntheses, Tech. Transfer, Analytical Science, Chem. Engineering, QA, Solid State Manufacturing & Crystallisation, and Safety/Environmental Management).
Teaching
The fellowship programme has been designed to provide KB with opportunities to develop academic teaching skills:
• Lecturing: After giving a test lecture to School of Chemistry academic staff, KB lectured the University’s second year students (CH205, Analytical & Environmental Chemistry).
• Undergraduate Laboratory Training: KB supervised a team of lab demonstrators who were running the CH205 laboratory practicals.
• Student Supervision/PhD Training: KB corrected PhD project proposals, and drafts of PhD Theses.
• KB also instigated and organised a weekly ‘Journal Club’ for the Nanoscale Biophotonics Laboratory and supervised undergraduate dissertation/laboratory projects.
Other Notable Outcomes
KB has been carrying-out all the tasks that would be expected of scientist being trained to move into a leadership role:
• Managed safety for the Nanoscale Biophotonics Laboratory (created online safety checklists, carried out safety inspections, etc.).
• Recruitment – Was a member of the recruitment panel that hired a postdoctoral researcher, underwent ‘unconscious bias’ training, collated/culled CVs, took part in interviews, and helped select the successful candidate.
• Introduced to new techniques, trained in Umetrics’ and ‘SIMCA’ software packages and performed High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses.
• Science Outreach - trained with other SSPC workers in the use of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Spectroscopy in a Suitcase kit (for public engagement workshops/roadshows at schools).
The skills developed at NBL will be important for KB as he commences his new career in industrial R&D. His new role, as a Staff Research Engineer at Stryker Corporation’s Innovation Centre in Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, will see him designing the next generation of ‘smart’ surgical instruments and will utillise his knowledge of optics, analytical chemistry and spectroscopy.
