Be inspired by our Research Heroes

Polly Swain, DREEAM

What were you nominated for and how did you find out?

I was nominated for the Early Career Researcher award because, despite, being a new starter in research delivery, I was passionate in supporting other members of the team. Such as, mentoring a student practitioner and teaching our research data clerk participant recruitment and lab skills.

I found out about my nomination when I received an email from R&I to invite me to the ceremony.

Tell us about your experience at the ceremony?

Well, I definitely didn’t expect to win and as someone who shies away from attention, it was a little uncomfortable at first. Then, I heard the cheers and encouragement from my team and it felt incredibly surreal. You don’t expect to be thanked for doing your job, but it was such a warm atmosphere speaking with the other award winners and celebrating with my colleagues. 

Has winning an award changed anything? (At work - your perspective, objectives, personal goals?)

Winning the award has definitely boosted my confidence and made me feel proud of my ability to apply my academic knowledge to clinical research delivery. After winning the award, it encouraged me to become a Registered Clinical Research Practitioner to give reassurance and comfort to patients, relatives and colleagues that I work to high competence and standards of practice.

Word of advice for future nominees/winners and staff?

My advice is to please nominate your colleagues - this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate hard work, dedication and passion for offering research opportunities to our patients.  

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, past and present, in my career so far.

 

 

Bernie Cook, Paediatric Oncology Research Team

What were you nominated for and how did you find out?

Our team were nominated for and awarded the Family Health Division – Team Award – Research Excellence

One member of our team was notified of the nomination via email the day before the awards, although I’m not sure that we knew exactly which award we had been nominated for. As there was limited time to make arrangements, only 2 members of the team were available to attend the award ceremony.

Tell us about your experience at the ceremony?

There was a really good atmosphere at the award ceremony, with opportunity to catch up with colleagues from other teams and also meet new people. There’s lots of names we hear but don’t necessarily meet people.

We were shocked to have won the award, and didn’t feel we were fully photo ready and had no acceptance speech prepared!!

We were also interviewed, and this highlighted to us how little known our team was, so we feel winning has raised awareness of our team within NUH research.

Has winning an award changed anything? (At work - your perspective, objectives, personal goals?)

I think the award had a positive effect on the team, in that we could see that our efforts were recognised more widely than just in our immediate area.

Anything else to add? Word of advice for future nominees/winners and staff?

Ask to check photos before they are published on the intranet!