S&E from Campus to Career: Louise White - Associate Biotech Production Specialist at Regeneron

Limerick native Louise White graduated from the BSc in Industrial Biochemistry at University of Limerick in 2024.

Now working with Regeneron, a leading biotechnology company in the Pharmaceutical Industry based in Limerick. We caught up with Louise to ask about the course, her time at UL, and any advice she might have for Leaving Certificate students.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself, your background and why you chose UL?

I'm from Limerick and live only twenty minutes away from University of Limerick and had always heard from family and friends about how lucky I was to live so close to such an impressive university. I always had good memories associated with the campus, from taking part in summer camps and school tours and given that its located so near to me, it was always at the front of my mind when it came to choosing colleges. After attending the Open Day in UL when I was in sixth year, I had the opportunity to tour the campus and see the facilities first-hand and get a feel for the university. I knew I wanted to do a science-based course so seeing how modern and well-equipped the labs were and hearing about how UL has a mandatory 8-month placement in the industry you’ll be going into, really sealed the deal for me and put UL at the top of my list.

Why did you choose the BSc in Industrial Biochemistry? 

I always had an interest in science, and after choosing to do biology and chemistry for my Leaving Certificate, I started researching what courses were available. I was unsure what I wanted to focus on exactly, so the Biological and Chemical Sciences common entry course seemed like my best option since it gave me an additional year to figure out exactly what I was interested in. When I started the course, I was convinced that I would choose the BSc Pharmaceutical and Industrial Chemistry course, however after studying the Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry module in first semester, I knew that Industrial Biochemistry was more interesting to me. That, coupled with the career prospects with Industrial Biochemistry, made the decision easy!

What did you enjoy most about the course? 

My favourite part of the course was how varied the modules were. There was a great mix of the core topics of Biology, Chemistry, Maths and more industry-focused modules in Quality Management, Safety & Industry and Bioinformatics. Most notably, I enjoyed the modules in Bioprocess Engineering and Genetic Engineering. I found these modules to be the most interesting and they really gave me an idea of the type of route you could follow after college. The labs that we completed in these modules were very hands-on and were different to anything else I had worked with before, so it was a great opportunity to build new skills. The Industrial Biochemistry module that we had in final semester of fourth year was also fascinating, as we were tasked with determining the ideal media composition, and manufacturing process for a real drug. This gave us an opportunity to put everything we had learnt over the four years into practice.

What did you enjoy about UL and what is student life like here? 

One of the best things about UL, is how much effort they put in to try and ensure that people enjoy their college experience as much as possible. The vast number of different clubs and societies, in addition to the events being organised by UL Student Life in Stables and the courtyard, means that there really is something for everyone and is a great way for people to make new friends and connect with others.

Where did you complete your Cooperative Education Experience? 

I completed my placement in the Manufacturing department in Regeneron, in Raheen County Limerick. 

How did UL support you throughout your studies? 

I found UL to be supportive throughout my studies. They facilitated my co-op placement in Regeneron, which led to me developing an interest in the field of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

 Can you update us on your career, does it still hold relevance to what you would have studied in UL?

I am now working as an Associate Biotech Production Specialist in Regeneron, where I completed my co-op placement. I’m working within the manufacturing department, and can really see now how applicable the modules I studied throughout my Bachelor’s degree are in industry. The Bioprocess Engineering modules provided me with an in-depth overview of the manufacturing process, whereas Quality Management and Industrial Biochemistry focused more on the importance of quality control and the role of regulatory authorities in the manufacturing process. Overall, I feel as if UL has prepared me well for working in industry.

What advice would you give to Leaving Certificate students considering the next step in their career journey?

If I was to give a piece of advice to sixth year students, I would suggest that they put time into thinking about the subjects that they enjoy in school and identify courses that focus on these subjects. In school, I enjoyed STEM subjects, such as biology, chemistry and maths, but wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to specifically study, so looked for common entry courses where you had the opportunity to decide after a few months/ a year. I would recommend these courses to anyone with an interest in a specific topic, but are unsure of what they specifically want to do. You don’t have to have it fully figured out in sixth year, all you can do is find a subject you like and could see yourself working in, and find a course based around that.