TESTIMONIAL #1
During my trip to the AAPS conference in San Antonio, I had the opportunity to explore several places within the city. I visited the Henry B. González Convention Center, where the conference was held, as well as some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the San Antonio River Walk, The Alamo, and the Historic Market Square.
These locations offered a unique mix of culture, history, and local atmosphere, enhancing my overall travel experience. This trip had a significant impact on my personal growth. Travelling to the United States—somewhere I had never imagined visiting—allowed me to expand my worldview and step outside my comfort zone. Immersing myself in a different cultural and social environment helped me develop independence, confidence, and a broader perspective on both life and research. Meeting researchers, students, and professionals from all over the world also opened my mind to new ways of thinking and approaching scientific challenges.
The scholarship played a crucial role in making this experience possible. It supported the cost of my trip by covering a substantial portion of my flight expenses from Dublin to San Antonio and helped alleviate other travel-related costs. Without this financial assistance, participating in the conference would have been much more difficult. The scholarship ensured that I could focus on the academic value of the experience rather than the financial burden. Attending the AAPS conference was academically transformative. I had the opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field of drug delivery, attend both oral presentations and poster sessions, and discuss my research interests with established scientists. These interactions exposed me to different scientific perspectives and innovative methodologies, providing valuable insights that I can now apply to my own research.
Furthermore, speaking with professionals from various pharmaceutical companies helped me better understand how academic research can be translated into industrial applications, offering a clearer view of the potential real-world impact of my work. The scholarship not only supported my academic development but also enriched my overall experience as a student. By attending the conference, I felt more integrated into the global scientific community and more motivated to pursue my research goals.
The opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and see the tangible outcomes of research in an industrial context strengthened my passion for pharmaceutical sciences and encouraged me to envision new professional pathways. On a personal level, this journey broadened my horizons, gave me the chance to discover new cultures and cities, and fostered a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm that I will carry with me throughout my academic career.
TESTIMONIAL #2
This prize enabled me to travel to Liverpool to attend and present my work at the ASAB (Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour) conference on the 23rd to 25th of April. This trip was particularly valuable to me as the conference's theme was closely aligned with my research interest. During my time in Liverpool, I had the chance to explore the city and also John Moores University, where the conference was held.
The first day of the conference consisted of a workshop from Silverback Films, a scientific film production team. They shared their experience of scientific filmmaking and its associated challenges. This session showed me how much effort is needed behind the scenes to create a good scientific film. In the second half of the workshop, I got the opportunity to immerse myself in the film-making process by creating a short 1-minute film with my groupmates.
For the second and third day, I learnt a lot from a wide range of talks, on topics such as animal behaviour tracking methods, animal personality studies and novel methods for animal welfare assessment. These talks inspired me to consider potential research topics that I could pursue in the future. The poster session was also fascinating and allowed me to network with my fellow peers.
The travel scholarship covered part of my flight and accommodation fees. It allowed me to represent Queen’s University Belfast by presenting my research at a national conference. I was honoured to be awarded the best standard talk of the conference. It was rewarding for me to get recognition from the experts on the panel. This conference helped me develop my public speaking skills and boost my confidence as a non-native English speaker. Overall, the scholarship made this trip possible and gave me a wonderful experience in Liverpool. It allowed me to further my knowledge of animal behaviour science, keep up to date with the latest research and network with key researchers in the field. I was also able to showcase my work in front of field experts and peers and receive invaluable feedback and insights from them. Additionally, winning the best presentation encouraged me to continue working hard and strive for high-quality research.
TESTIMONIAL #3
With the generous support of the scholarship, I traveled to the United States to attend the AAPS 2025 PharmSci 360conference. My travel itinerary included; San Antonio, Texas, USA — the host city of the conference, where I participated in scientific sessions, poster discussions, industry exhibitions, and networking events.
Attending PharmSci 360 was one of the most transformative academic experiences I have ever had. It contributed to my personal and professional growth in several meaningful ways. It broadened my worldview, immersing myself in a global community of scientists, regulatory leaders, and industry innovators helped me truly appreciate the diversity and scale of pharmaceutical science.
I gained firsthand exposure to:
- Cutting-edge drug delivery technologies
- Industrial perspectives on formulation and development challenges
- FDA viewpoints on regulatory science and quality frameworks
- Cross-institutional and interdisciplinary research collaboration
These interactions expanded my scientific awareness and strengthened my motivation to pursue advanced research training, such as a PhD. The scholarship played a crucial role in making my attendance possible. It helped me cover essential expenses associated with this major international conference. The knowledge and insights I gained helped me better interpret my experimental data, refine my research strategies, and identify new directions for future investigation. The scholarship significantly enhanced my learning experience, both academically and personally.
Attending AAPS 2025 PharmSci 360 profoundly enriched my academic training, research perspective, and personal growth. The scholarship enabled me to engage with an international scientific community, expand my professional network, and acquire new knowledge that will guide my future studies and career aspirations.
I am sincerely grateful for this support, and I am committed to applying the skills, insight, and inspiration gained from this opportunity to my ongoing research and future contributions to the pharmaceutical sciences.
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