A Keele University researcher has won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inspirational Member Award in recognition of her work as a volunteer.  

Dr Aisling Ní Cheallaigh, a Senior Experimental Officer in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, won the prize for dedication to the RSC Carbohydrate Interest Group through revitalising the committee and leading successful international early career webinars.   

Dr Ní Cheallaigh said: “I am humbled by the award and wanted to thank those who nominated me and the carbohydrate community as a whole for engaging, participating and creating the vibrant, welcoming network that we have today.”  

Dr Ní Cheallaigh works within the Keele Centre for Glycoscience Research and Training, investigating a range of glycoscience research programmes such as exploring new Covid-19 treatments, new carbohydrate-based biomaterials and improving how short molecules of DNA and RNA are synthesised.   

Professor Mike Watkinson, Head of the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences said: “I am absolutely delighted that Aisling has received this award, reflecting the enormous esteem with which she is held within the carbohydrate chemistry community that she so ably and generously supports.” 

Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, added: “Our volunteers are at the heart of the Royal Society of Chemistry, supporting the chemical sciences community, encouraging others to engage with chemistry, and using their knowledge and experience to further the work that we do. The commitment, passion and expertise of all our volunteers never ceases to move and inspire me. I extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”