University of Limerick student Laura O’Regan was the winner of this year’s Alltech Young Scientist Competition. The final-year science education student was announced as the winner last month and will now compete in the world finals in Kentucky, USA, this May.

Laura’s project, titled ‘‘Effect of Bone-derived Osteocalcin on the Early Calfhood Nutritional Control of Puberty in Bulls’’ won in the Europe/Africa region of the competition.

Laura explains the origins of her project. “Basically I got a summer bursary in UL, so by the time the competition came around I had gathered all my results from the research I had done during the summer which gave me an advantage over other students,” she told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Laura’s studies are part of a larger research project being done with researchers in Teagasc.

Focusing on research

She will now fly to Kentucky on 19 May for the weeklong Alltech “One” conference.

“The conference starts on 21 May. The schedule hasn’t been confirmed but, going on other years, I have to give a one-day presentation followed by the announcement of the winner on the final day. It’s all very exciting,” Laura explained.

Laura is hopeful that the win will open doors for her in her professional life in the future.

“I suppose if I win the competition I will be doing a PHD. I missed out on applying for a PHD when applications were being taken because at the time I was teaching and was really enjoying that. But now that I am back in the research side of thing in college, it has definitely encouraged me to pursue this career path.”

As well as a cash prize, the winner of the competition in May will receive a fully funded PHD and further post doctorate positions.

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