Hello, my name is Jean and I’m from County Galway. I studied Biotechnology before spending some time working in scientific research. I then completed my Professional Masters in Education in NUI Galway to become a post-primary teacher.

I wanted to gain experience working in industry, as I believe it can be very beneficial for teachers. The STEM industry is a huge employer in Ireland, with many of the world’s leading med-tech, pharmaceutical, and IT companies operating here. This provides students with many interesting and diverse career opportunities. Spending time working in industry can give teachers a better understanding of what these careers involve and the different paths students can take to get there. Spending the summer here will allow me to experience first-hand the work they do in our locality and bring that knowledge back to the classroom in September.

I worked alongside a team of engineers, technicians, and supervisors in a cleanroom environment to support the production of balloons for medical devices. From this, I developed my skills in problem-solving, data analysis, and teamwork. I got to take part in many interesting projects and activities, such as leading a team researching female participation in STEM, attending a problem-solving workshop, and going on tours of the various production lines to see how the devices are made and used. I will return to school with a newfound knowledge of and enthusiasm for engineering, and the various pathways towards a career in the Medtech industry. I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with my students and colleagues, as well as applying the skills I have developed this summer to my classes.

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices. We are proud to foster a global mindset across 100+ countries, including Ireland, since 1994, where we have over 6,000 employees across our 3 sites in Galway, Cork and Clonmel. Boston Scientific is dedicated to transforming lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. We have been a pioneer in the less-invasive medical device industry, developing a broad portfolio of innovative products, technologies and services, across a wide range of medical specialties.

As part of our onsite BSC STEM Employee Resource Group, we have a STEM Bursary for all internal EE’s children, completed 10 STEM presentations in schools across Connacht, supporting national Scifest competition, Galway Science & Technology and we want to have you, the next generation of teachers to continue to drive this forward.

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