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1851 Industrial Fellowship awarded to Karina Wojdat

17 September 2024

Karina Wojdat of Sygnature Discovery has been awarded an 1851 Industrial Fellowship to pursue a PhD working with School of Pharmacy Professors Gareth Williams and Simon Gaisford

Karina Wojdat working on her research

Karina Wojdat, a research scientist working in the formulation sciences team at Sygnature Discovery, has been awarded a prestigious 1851 Industrial Fellowship, one of only 12 successful applicants in 2024. Karina obtained her BSc from the Leicester School of Pharmacy at De Montfort University in 2021, including a placement year at Quotient Sciences. She then worked as a research assistant before joining Sygnature in 2023.

Industrial Fellowships are awarded to graduates with the potential to make an outstanding contribution to industry, and the funding will allow Karina to undertake a PhD based in industry while also receiving support and guidance from UCL academics. Karina will be working with an industrial supervisor, Dr David Pearson, Director of Form and Formulation at Sygnature, and with UCL School of Pharmacy Professors Gareth Williams and Simon Gaisford. Her project seeks to develop enhanced understanding of amorphous solid dispersions, a type of medicine increasingly important in the development pipeline. In addition to her research, Karina will benefit from the extensive training offered by UCL and by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and will be part of the vibrant researcher culture at all three organisations.

Karina said “I am looking forward to further developing my skills as a scientist and working on science I am truly passionate about. I am sure the collaboration will highlight many different areas of this project.”. Gareth said “We are delighted that Karina has been awarded this funding against stiff opposition. This marks the start of a new collaboration between UCL and Sygnature Discovery, and Simon and I are looking forward to working with Karina and David”. David added “I’m delighted to be on this path with Karina, helping the next generation of young scientists to reach their potential and have an impact on the quality of patient outcomes.”