Donegal gets set as Randox Teoranta announce fifth year of WAAR sponsorship
With fierce displays of stamina, strength and speed, WAAR or the Wild Atlantic Adventure Race is one of the most challenging adventure races in Ireland, and this year returns to the Donegal coast with headline sponsor Randox Teoranta in tow for the fifth year.
Launched in the Fitness Room at CLG Naomh Muire, last night on Wednesday 20th February 2019, this year’s WAAR promises to deliver a thrilling adrenalin rush for participant and spectator alike. Both expert and novice will take to the demanding 55.5km course or 39km sprint on Saturday 11th May 2019.
The full route features a 10km run, 42.5km cycle, 2km hike and 1km kayak, starting and finishing at C.L.G. Naomh Muire in Mullaghderg. This year, for the first time, the race will also be included in the National Adventure Race Series, allowing competitors to gain points towards becoming the all-Ireland Adventure Race champion 2019.
The WAAR event was launched by Adam Speer of Speer Performance in Letterkenny. Known as one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in Ireland, Adam was responsible for the Donegal GAA senior team’s rags-to-riches tale during their dominant 2010-2015 period.
Speaking at the event, WAAR organiser and spokesperson Brian O’Donnell commented:
“It is fantastic to launch the 2019 Wild Atlantic Adventure Race, an event which not only tests the limits of the human body but also brings the whole community together. This is a great family event and we are sure that it will pull the crowds again in Donegal. The event is designed to allow individuals of any ability to enter and be part of what is fast becoming one of the biggest annual sporting events in the North West.”
Innovative global diagnostics firm Randox Teoranta attended the launch as headline sponsor and pledged to continue their strive for faster patient diagnoses through revolutionary technology as it supports this prestigious local event once again from its Dungloe base.
Dr. Ciaran Richardson, Head of Research & Development at Randox Teoranta, said:
“We are delighted to once again partner with the Wild Atlantic Adventure Race here in Donegal. The ethos of the race – of physical and mental health, of camaraderie and of community – is one we share at Randox Teoranta.
“Our state-of-the-art facility at Randox Teoranta in Dungloe has spearheaded world-changing health research in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders and stroke, and we hope to continue this vital work long in to the future.
“Like Randox Teoranta, WAAR has become an integral part of the landscape in Donegal with over 200 locals volunteering to help with the race last year, never mind the 600 who took part. We are delighted to bring the thrilling Wild Atlantic Adventure Race once again to Donegal in 2019.”
Also in attendance was Eilis Docherty from Donegal Airport who commented:
“We were delighted to continue our support of this very successful event and look forward to having hundreds of competitors run on the runway as they did last year. What other adventure race in the world can competitors run on the live runway of the most scenic landing in the world, in the coolest place on the planet to live? It really is a special event.”
The famous WAAR After Party will again be held at Entertainment Headquarters, Caislean Óir Hotel in Annagry and the committee are delighted to announce that Phil Cawley from Today FM will be joining once again as MC and DJ on the night.
Anyone interested in taking part in the WAAR can visit the website at www.waar.ie. The event is open to anyone who is 16 or over on the 11th May 2019. If you would like to help out on the day of the event and be part of it all then please send your name and contact number to info@waar.ie.
For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact RandoxPR@randox.com.
Randox Teoranta set to host Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Career Open Day on Christmas Eve
Do you have a flair for science? Are you an electronic, mechanical or software engineering expert? Or, perhaps, you are a mastermind of manufacturing know-how. There are world-leading careers on offer for world-leading candidates at Randox Teoranta in Dungloe this December.
That’s the message that global diagnostics firm Randox Teoranta wants to send to students, graduates and experienced professionals alike as it opens its doors to the public once again on Monday 24th December 2018.
Held from 9am to 12noon, the morning is an opportunity for those interested in science, engineering, software development and manufacturing roles in Donegal to have a tour of the state-of-the-art facility and chat with Randox Teoranta staff members about the careers on offer.
Randox Teoranta is particularly passionate about attracting back those who have left Ireland to find careers further afield due to lack of opportunities in their particular vocations. Dream careers in science, engineering and manufacturing are available on the doorstep in Dungloe.
Dr. Ciaran Richardson, Head of Research & Development at Randox Teoranta, commented;
“At Randox Teoranta, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of healthcare and diagnostic capabilities, allowing us to offer world-class career opportunities in the heart of Donegal.
“Our scientists are working on a range of research projects which will lead to quicker diagnoses of conditions such as stroke, gastrointestinal disorders and chronic kidney disease. In 2016, our scientists even developed a pioneering new test to determine a patient’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
“There are also opportunities for software developers, electronic & embedded systems engineers, validation and mechanical engineers as our technology continues to advance to accommode our scientific breakthroughs.
“Our manufacturing department also boasts a number of competitive roles which are essential to Randox Teoranta’s continuation as a world leader in healthcare diagnostics and associated technology.
“There are fantastic career opportunities here in one of the most beautiful parts of the world – and the quality of life is second-to-none.”
There are a wide variety of career opportunities available at Randox Teoranta. From placement opportunities for college and university students to graduate roles in a variety of fields, young scientists and engineers have the opportunity to get their ‘big break’ on the career ladder with a globally-recognised company.
There are also opportunities for experienced and driven individuals looking for a smart career move. Randox Teoranta offer competitive salaries, career progression, personal development and the opportunity to work in a cutting-edge company paving the way in ground-breaking global health diagnostics.
Healthcare shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. Neither should your career.
Randox Teoranta’s Open Morning will take place on Monday 24th December 2018 from 9:00 until 12:00 at Randox Teoranta, Meenmore, Dungloe, Co. Donegal.
Students, graduates and experienced professionals are welcome to visit along with their family and friends. Potential candidates are welcome to bring their CV on the day or email it to recruitment@randoxteoranta.com.
Booking is not required, however, more information, including directions, can be found by searching Randox at www.eventbrite.ie.
More information about the open day can also be found by contacting +353 7495 22600 or emailing RandoxPR@randox.com.
Scottish Trade Delegation visits Randox Teoranta in Donegal
A Scottish trade delegation, led by the country’s Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation Ivan McKee, visited several companies in the Gaeltacht area of Donegal this week, including Randox Teoranta in Dungloe, Donegal.
Randox Laboratories Ltd was established in County Antrim in 1982 to address the need for accurate and readily available diagnostic tests to improve patient diagnoses, and Randox Teoranta in Donegal was subsequently opened in 2008.
A dedicated R&D and manufacturing biohub, Randox Teoranta researches, develops and manufactures a range of unique tests on the Randox Biochip.
Exporting over 95% of its products worldwide, Randox has a global vision and staff at Randox Teoranta have the opportunity to interact with like-minded innovators across the world, including the University of Nottingham, the Royal Derby Hospital, Pacific Biomarkers in Seattle, USA, The British Psychological Society and the Medical University of Vienna, to name but a few.
On Friday 19th October the trade delegation to visit Randox Teoranta, hosted by Údarás na Gaeltachta, announced a new trade partnership agreement between Scotland and the Donegal Gaeltacht.
The trade mission was set up to prove that challenges for businesses in Scotland and Donegal can be overcome by working together.
For Scottish companies setting up in somewhere in the Gaeltacht and for companies from the Gaeltacht interested in establishing themselves in Scotland, they can access the market to test its feasibility, with the support of Údaras na Gaeltachta and Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
For more information on the Scottish Trade Delegation to Randox Teoranta please contact the Randox PR team on 028 9442 2413 or by emailing randoxpr@randox.com
Randox-sponsored WAAR a roaring success as over 600 take part
The Wild Atlantic Adventure Race (WAAR) boasted another successful competition on Saturday 12th May 2018 as over 600 competitors braved the challenging but exhilarating course.
The event, sponsored by Randox Teoranta for a fourth year and hosted by Naomh Mura GAA club, gave competitors a choice of two courses that included cycling, running and kayaking.
As promised, this year’s Wild Atlantic Adventure Race delivered an incredible display of stamina, strength and perseverance as outdoor pursuit enthusiasts once again completed the demanding 55.5km course or 39km sprint.
The full Wild Atlantic Adventure Race features a 10km run, 42.5km cycle, 2km hike and 1km kayak, starting and finishing at CLG Naomh Muire, Mullaghderg, Co. Donegal. Set along one of the most beautiful natural coastlines in the world, the west coast of Ireland was once again proud to play host to one of the most challenging yet enjoyable races in Ireland, featuring both novice and elite individuals, as well as several relay teams.
Congratulations to Marty Lynch who won the mens’ solo race with a time of 2hrs 22mins 33seconds and to Sonia Knox who won the womens’ solo race in a time of 2hrs 51mins and 11 seconds.
Dr. Ciaran Richardson, Head of Research & Development at Randox Teoranta in Dungloe, said:
“We are delighted to, once again, partner with WAAR. The event is a real test of physical wellbeing and here at Randox, we take our on-going work to promote positive physical and mental health very seriously. In the last few years, our labs in Dungloe have led the way in world-leading diagnostic research in a wide range of areas including Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders and stroke.
The Wild Atlantic Adventure Race was a great success and we congratulate all the enthusiastic competitors who took part.”
The full list of WAAR 2018 results can be viewed here.
For more information on Randox Teoranta, please contact the Randox PR team at RandoxPR@randox.com or phone (+44) 28 9442 2413.
Careers at Randox Teoranta
THE DONEGAL DIAGNOSTICS TEAM AT THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE.
TÁ FOIREANN DHIAGNÓISEACH DHÚN NA NGALL LÁRNACH I GCÚRAM SLÁINTE.
Randox has been a world leader in diagnostics for 40 years, undertaking research, development, manufacture and global distribution of innovative tests for health conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and stroke.
In early 2020, based on almost four decades of experience in diagnostic R&D, the company quickly developed tests to accurately identify COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic Randox built, equipped and staffed 80,000sq ft of PCR testing facilities, and 50,000sq ft of supporting logistic and engineering space, and now has amongst the very largest laboratories in Europe.
Randox Teoranta in Dungloe has played an active role in the company’s COVID testing programme. The staff’s contributions across science, software, engineering and manufacturing have led to the completion of almost 25 million gold-standard PCR tests, saving lives and enabling society and the economy to function in the face of a global pandemic.
SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TALENTED TEAM AT THIS NEXT-GENERATION LIFE SCIENCES HUB?
![Profile 1 - Daniel](https://www.randox.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Profile-1-Daniel-150x150.png)
The Randox Engineering Department designed several innovations to improve the speed and efficiency of COVID-19 testing, including state-of-the-art robotics equipped for sample receipt and batching. As an Engineer it means a lot to have access to the latest technologies that allow us to deploy the best possible solution to a problem. My team at Randox Teoranta specifically developed specialised equipment for the extraction of viral material from patient samples, an improvement in processes which contributed to our labs reaching an unrivalled capacity of 100,000 tests per day. As we move towards a post-pandemic future Randox will be harnessing our COVID laboratory infrastructure for new testing capabilities and I’m eager to begin work on the engineering requirements for Randox’s next generation of diagnostic innovations.
![Profile 2 - Andrew](https://www.randox.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Profile-2-Andrew-150x150.png)
Software played a vital role in the creation of an end-to-end testing process for COVID-19. We were responsible for developing the required software for a number of specialist Randox machines for COVID-19 testing, and also had to produce bespoke systems that would scan and track samples from arrival right through to results reporting. All our projects are done collaboratively with software developers, engineers and testers across different Randox sites, and so it has been a great pleasure to work with a multi-disciplinary team of different backgrounds, interests and ages – whether it be placement students, graduates or longer-standing members of staff. We are all very excited for what’s to come in our field and the upcoming ventures that will allow patients to access a comprehensive report of all their personal health stats.
![Profile 3 - Brendan](https://www.randox.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Profile-3-Brendan-150x150.png)
Manufacturing across all departments increased significantly during the pandemic. We ramped up the production of the Randox Biochip, on which tests are performed, and of our bespoke analysers, which house the Biochip technology. These tests and machines have been shipped to hospitals and laboratories across the world by the Randox Teoranta Logistics team. Over 5% of the world’s population, which is more than 370 million people, receive diagnosis using Randox products and I have loved the opportunity to work for a company which makes such a global impact. With more emphasis on and appreciation of the role testing plays in healthcare services, there is a focus across the manufacturing department to satisfy the increased demand for diagnostic equipment, so 2022 and beyond is shaping up to be a very busy time for our team.
![Sarah](https://www.randox.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sarah-150x150.png)
When COVID-19 emerged as a global threat every department in Randox stood up to support the global testing effort.
My team at Randox Teoranta were involved in the research and development for COVID antibody tests that can determine if an individual has an effective immune response to the virus following vaccination or infection. These antibody tests, as well as other COVID-19 testing services, have been made available in our Randox Travel Centres in Dublin, Leopardstown, Sligo, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Letterkenny, providing a reliable service that has allowed people to safely travel for personal, family and business reasons. It is rewarding to know that the hard work we have put in has had such a massive impact on people’s lives during the pandemic, and that wider society now has an improved understanding of the importance of diagnostics and what we do here.
After COVID, we aim to convert the familiarity with testing across society into the improvement of people’s overall health; using what we have learnt during the pandemic to welcome a new era of truly preventative healthcare that improves patient outcomes and also reduces the burden on our vital clinical services. We have just introduced new home testing kits for vitamin deficiencies, hormone health and heart disease that will empower individuals to find out what’s going on inside their own body and truly take control of their health. It’s a very exciting time to be part of the dynamic world of healthcare diagnostics.
As understanding of the importance of diagnostics grows, so too do the career opportunities in the diagnostics industry, and nowhere more so than Randox Teoranta.
Dungloe to host Randox Health Grand National Celebration Event
In celebration of this year’s Randox Health Grand National, the sponsors of the world’s greatest race are hosting a Family Fun Day in Dungloe, Donegal on Saturday 14th April.
Held at Randox Teoranta, the world-leading life sciences, engineering and manufacturing facility, the event will mark how far the company has come as it takes to the world stage for the Randox Health Grand National, and recognise the support the company has received from the local community since its establishment in Dungloe in 2008.
Randox Managing Director, Dr Peter FitzGerald, commented;
“Our aim to offer world-leading science, engineering, software and manufacturing careers in west Donegal, so that people working in these fields no longer have to move away from home to find work, has been incredibly well-received. We’re therefore delighted that we will be able to join together in Dungloe on Randox Health Grand National Day to celebrate how far we have come.
“With performances from Laura Aisling Academy of Irish Dance and Fitness, and traditional music played by the Rosses Community School, it is sure to be a wonderful event celebrating all aspects of our Irish heritage – including of course traditional music and dance but also the thriving equestrian scene and the many Irish horses who will be running in the Randox Health Grand National!”
Taking place between 1pm and 6pm on Grand National Day, the event is free for all the family, with plenty of entertainment, including a bouncy castle, live music and dance, and a rodeo bull, as well as food, drink, craft stalls and a large screen for the public to watch the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree in Liverpool.
Guests to the Family Fun Day will be joined by radio personality Seán Bán Breathnach, who will be presenting RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s sports programme Spórt an tSathairn live from the event.
Seán Bán Breathnach, RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, commented;
“I’m really looking forward to the live programme. It will be a great day out for the community thanks to Randox Health, and there’s sure to be a brilliant atmosphere so I’d encourage people to come along. I can still remember listening to my first ever Grand National, back in 1958, on our new family wireless radio. That year, for the first time in many years, it was won by an Irish horse Mr. What, and who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky again this year!”
Following the reveal of the new Randox Health Grand National trophy on Thursday 12th April, the event will also host an art competition, for which school students in the area have been asked to submit their own trophy designs for the world’s greatest race. Winners will be announced on the day.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Randox PR on 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
Randox Teoranta announce fourth year of WAAR sponsorship
Randox are proud to announce that Randox Teoranta, for the fourth year running, is the main sponsor for WAAR 2018, an event which places mental wellbeing at its core. Launched at the weekend, on Friday 23rd February 2018, this year’s Wild Atlantic Adventure Race promises to deliver an incredible display of stamina, strength and perseverance as outdoor pursuit enthusiasts once again brave the elements to complete the demanding 55.5km course or 39km sprint.
The full Wild Atlantic Adventure Race (WAAR) features a 10km run, 42.5km cycle, 2km hike and 1km kayak, starting and finishing at CLG Naomh Muire, The Banks, Mullaghderg, Co. Donegal on Saturday 12th May 2018. Set along one of the most beautiful natural coastlines in the world, the west coast will once again play host to one of the most challenging yet enjoyable races, featuring both novice and elite individuals, as well as several relay teams.
This year, fundraising efforts will be donated to CLG Naomh Muire. Launching the event was best-selling author and TV personality Majella O’Donnell who overcame breast cancer in 2013.
Hailing from Co. Tipperary and married to Irish country music legend Daniel O’Donnell, Majella became iconic in her own right when she shaved her head live on The Late Late Show in 2013, raising €600,000 for The Irish Cancer Society. Majella also documented her life story in her book ‘It’s All in the Head.’ The book’s moving tale quickly became a number one Irish best-seller and 2014 Irish Book Award-winner.
Majella’s own force of character and deep-seated determination makes her a worthy representative to launch WAAR 2018, an endurance race that will test the physical and mental stamina of participants to their limits.
Dr. Ciaran Richardson, Head of Research & Development at Randox Teoranta in Dungloe, said:
“We are delighted to, once again, partner with WAAR. The event is a real test of physical wellbeing and here at Randox, we take our on-going work to promote positive physical and mental health very seriously. In the last few years, our labs in Dungloe have led the way in world-leading diagnostic research in a wide range of areas including Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, cancer, gastrointestinal disorders and stroke.
The WAAR launch was a great success and we look forward to the exciting event in May. We encourage as many people as possible to get involved as it’s sure to be another thrilling event for both entrants and spectators alike.”
For further information please contact the Randox PR Team: phone 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
Randox Health Grand National Family Fun Day launched at The Cope
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta show Barrscéalta, together with Randox Health, would like to invite the public to join them for a special live show from The Cope in Dungloe at 11 am on Friday 16th February, to launch the upcoming Randox Health Grand National Family Fun Day.
To celebrate their sponsorship of the Grand National, Randox Health has offered Barrscéalta a superb prize of a trip for two to the event, to include flights and accommodation, and entry to the Randox Health Grand National. Listeners can enter the competition by text in the week running up to the show from Dungloe – tune in to RnaG for full details – and all those who turn up for the live programme can also enter on the day to be in with a chance to win. The winner will be drawn during the show.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Randox Managing Director, commented;
“We are delighted to offer this prize to one lucky listener, in recognition of the consistent support Randox Teoranta has received from the local community since our establishment in Donegal in 2008.”
“Our aim to offer world-leading science, engineering and software careers in west Donegal, so that people working in these fields no longer have to move away from home to find work, has been incredibly well-received. We’re therefore delighted that we’ll have representatives from Dungloe join us at the Randox Health Grand National as we celebrate together how far we have come.”
On Friday 16th February, there will also be lots of spot prizes for members of the audience, and plenty of tea, coffee and traybakes, supplied by The Cope. The brand new Randox Health Grand National trophy, which will be unveiled to the public for the first time on 13th February at the prestigious Weights Event in London, will be on display during the programme. The new trophy, designed and created by renowned Liverpool silversmith Shannon O’Neill, stands 45 cm high and is made of solid silver gilded with gold.
Speaking of the trophy, Dr FitzGerald said;
“There is no other race in the world like the Randox Health Grand National, and we want to ensure that the trophy reflects the status of the achievement.”
The Randox Health Grand National Family Day will take place in Randox Teoranta, Meenmore, on the 14th April from 1 pm – 6 pm. It’s a free event for all the family, with plenty of entertainment for kids, including a bouncy castle, as well as food and drink, live music and dance, craft stalls and a large screen for the public to watch the big races over at Aintree. RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta’s sports programme Spórt an tSathairn, presented by Seán Bán Breathnach, will be broadcasting live from the event on 14th April.
Áine Ní Churráin will present this special edition of Barrscéalta on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta live from The Cope on Friday 16th February. All are welcome to attend the event which will take place between 11 am and 12 pm. There is no need to book.
For further information please contact the Randox PR Team: phone 028 9442 2413 or email randoxpr@randox.com
We Are Randox | John Fitzgerald wins Ulster University awards for Master’s degree project with Randox
Here at Randox, we’re proud of the talented and innovative teams we have at all our sites. One of our talented engineers at Randox Teoranta recently won a prize for his final year university project in collaboration with Randox. John Fitzgerald, an Electronic Design Engineer, was presented with two awards from Ulster University on Thursday 7th December 2017 – the Civica Prize for excellence in his final project and the Institute of Engineering Technology Prize for achieving the highest grades in his class.
We caught up with John to hear all about it;
A very well done on your awards, John! Tell us about your final project for which you won the Civica Prize.
Firstly it is important to note that my final year project was conducted in conjunction with Randox Teoranta. Without the support, resources and encouragement from the exceptional Research & Development Engineering team here in Dungloe, my project would not have been such a success.
My final year project centred on the design of an industry-standard compact dry bath incubator, designed for the heating and cooling of small volume samples. With a simple and compact design, broad and precise temperature range, the intended use of the product was for bench-top laboratory incubations. The design also incorporated innovative, yet modest, capacitive touch pad controls and a digital display to provide confident temperature selection and accuracy.
This design project required design capabilities in three core engineering disciplines, electronic, embedded and mechanical engineering.
Were you surprised to learn you’d won an award for the project?
Yes, definitely! I was surprised when I received an email at the end of November, informing me that I was to receive the award. I can recall the quality of projects that were on show so this was a complete surprise to me.
I invested a great effort in this project and I’m proud of the personal and academic goals I’ve attained, however, the works achieved would not have been possible without the generous investment of advice from various different sources. I wish to take this opportunity to express my genuine appreciation and thanks to them all.
Thank you to Randox – the industrial knowledge and resources they provided for this wrk added significantly to the quality and relevance of my project to the real world. A special word of thanks, too, should also be afforded to my final year supervisor in Ulster University for the consistent academic support he delivered throughout the course of this MEng final year project.
Did you always want to be an engineer?
To be perfectly honest, the answer to this question is no. I was very uncertain for a long time what career I wanted to pursue as a secondary school student. I was never really exposed to the engineering profession and the wide variety of career paths it can lead to so engineering wasn’t something I immediately thought of when I was thinking of careers I would enjoy.
My father has a lot to answer for though – he was a tool-maker by trade and he instilled a significant interest in engineering and basic electronics in me, and is probably one of the primary reasons I felt a career in electronic engineering was the correct path for me. I decided to apply for my university placement year at Randox Teoranta in the Electronic Engineering team.
After just a few months in to my placement at Randox Teoranta, I knew I had made the correct career choice. I was Randox Teoranta R&D Engineering’s first university placement student, and that I could live at home in Donegal for the year and still receive a first class industrial experience.
How did you find your placement year at Randox?
My placement experience at Randox Teoranta was first class. I was afforded every opportunity to develop and grow my engineering skills. As my competency grew, so did my responsibilities and the complexity of jobs afforded to me.
The team of engineers in Randox Teoranta are exceptional professionals and provided excellent guidance to me as a young student engineer. The work I was tasked with was challenging and relevant and a considerable amount of the work I contributed to, remains in some form in the final Misano analyser that is manufactured today in Dungloe.
I cannot stress enough how important my placement year at Randox Teoranta was for me upon returning for my final two years of university. It provided me with a clear career path and I discovered a passion for Printed Circuit Board Design that I would not have been exposed to, if it were not for this placement.
I was extremely grateful to be offered a graduate position during my placement year on completion of my degree. This security made my final two years at university much more comfortable and also allowed me to discuss with the company the potential to complete my final year project in conjunction with Randox Teoranta. The opportunity to continue my learning and professional development as part of such a progressive and diverse engineering environment was an easy decision to make. As an added bonus, I am able to live at home, in the most beautiful part of the country and engage in an extremely rewarding and challenging profession in my field of study all at the same time. I consider myself very fortunate.
Tell us what a typical day is like in your role as Electronic Engineer.
One of the reasons I enjoy being an Electronic Engineer with Randox Teoranta to such a high degree, is the same reason that makes this question quite difficult to answer.
It is hard to categorise a typical day in my role as an Electronic Engineer in Randox Teoranta. I spend my time on a wide variety of duties or tasks depending on the design needs of the engineering team. I could be spending my time designing circuit schematics for new PCB designs, I could be producing the printed circuit board layout of designed circuit schematics, I could be testing new sensors, electronic parts or manufactured PCB’s to verify their performance, I could be engaging in verification and validation work for a new analyser, I could be engaging in the formation of critical design reports, the list can go on and on.
As the cliché goes, “every day is different”, something which is definitely applicable in this scenario.
What advice would you give to young people considering visiting the Randox Teoranta open day on Fri 22nd December?
I would encourage any young person with a remote interest in a career in Science or Engineering to attend the open day on Fri 22nd December. I believe they will be surprised as to the wide variety of professions and opportunities available at their doorstep.
A conversation with an experienced professional could ignite a spark which could provide clarity as to what they would like to pursue in further education, and in turn professionally. This is an opportunity I wish I was afforded as a young person growing up in rural Donegal, and I consider it an opportunity not to be missed for young people with a genuine interest in these exciting professional fields.
From all the staff at Randox, congratulations to John on this fantastic achievement. We look forward to seeing the pioneering engineering work you will continue to be part of in the future.
The Randox Teoranta Open Morning is on Friday 22nd December 2017 from 10am – 2pm at Randox Teoranta, Meenmore, Dungloe, Co. Donegal.
To find out more tel: +353 7495 22600 or email: randoxpr@randox.com
Pictured with John Fitzgerald (centre) is Dr. Robert McMurray, course director for MEng Engineering at Ulster University (left), and Angela Canavan, Managing Director of Civica who was present to award the Civica prize (right).
Your dream career awaits at Randox Teoranta
This festive season, Dungloe-based Randox Teoranta has a message for ambitious students and graduates – that achieving your career dream is possible, and it might not be as far away as you think.
The global healthcare diagnostics firm today launched its annual recruitment drive by asking life scientists, engineers and software developers to reflect on the career dreams they had as children, and to consider the world-class careers on offer in rural Donegal. In previous years, these areas of industry have suffered most from mass emigration of the university graduates who have had to look elsewhere for jobs in their respective fields.
Randox Teoranta wants to let students, graduates and experienced professionals across the island of Ireland, and those further afield who have moved abroad to find work, know that they can find the career they’ve always dreamed of close to home.
Ciaran Richardson, Head of R&D at Randox Teoranta, commented;
“At Randox Teoranta we have scientists working on a range of research projects, including the development of innovative health technologies capable of diagnosing stroke, gastrointestinal disorders and chronic kidney disease. This is following ground breaking developments in 2016 where scientists in Randox Teoranta were involved in the launch of a pioneering new test used to determine a patient’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
“In addition to those interested in human health we also have scientists who when they were younger wished to pursue a career in the animal research and veterinary science world. These scientists within our veterinary department are involved in the development of novel multiplex tests used to monitor disease spread and improve animal welfare.
“We have software developers who are working with revolutionary technologies – augmented and mixed reality headsets for example – that in their youth they could only have dreamed of”.
“And we have engineers who, as children, loved to take apart their electronic toys and piece them back together. They’re now using their talent to engineer machines which detect disease and save lives. I can think of no better use for their skillset and I’m incredibly proud that our biotechnology hub right here in rural Donegal means that young people from far and wide can achieve their career dreams.”
If you’re at school and currently thinking about university choices, a school leaver, student, graduate, or experienced professional, come along to Randox Teoranta’s Open Day on Friday 22nd December 2017. Parents of students are also welcome to visit the state-of-the-art site in Dungloe, Donegal, where visitors will be treated to an opportunity to view the facility and meet members of the Randox team.
Come and view our hub of pioneering research and development, where cutting-edge science, technology and IT takes place. If you, or someone you know, is interested in a career in life sciences, engineering, software development or software testing, come along to Randox Teoranta on Friday 22nd December.
Don’t just dream it. Make it happen at Randox Teoranta.
The Randox Teoranta Open Morning is on Friday 22nd December 2017 from 10am – 2pm at Randox Teoranta, Meenmore, Dungloe, Co. Donegal.
To find out more tel: +353 7495 22600 or email: randoxpr@randox.com
No booking is required.