Early Career Essay Prize winner announced
THE winner of the 2022 IPEM/Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers Early Career Essay Prize has been announced.
Dr Gamalendira Shivapatham won the prize for his essay entitled ‘Significant impacts on healthcare through Biomedical Engineering in the next five to 15 years’.
Gamalendira graduated from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, with BSc in Radiography. He spent two years working for humanitarian aid projects in Sri Lanka before moving to London to complete a MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Brunel University London.
He then worked as a biomedical engineer in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. He is an HCPC registered radiographer and recently completed his PhD in Medical Engineering at Queen Mary University of London. During his PhD he developed an ultrasound-based imaging technique to explore human Achilles tendon health and disease.
Honoured and humbled
Gamalendira is currently taking part in the NHS England Scientist Training Programme at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where he is specialising in Medical Device Risk Management and Governance. He is also reading for a part-time MSc in Clinical Science at Kings College London.
On hearing he had won the award Gamalendira said: ‘It was awesome to receive the award, I feel honoured and humbled.’
Dr Robert Farley, IPEM’s President, said: ‘Many congratulations to Gamalendira on his winning essay and I wish him luck as he progresses through the Scientist Training Programme.’
The award was launched in 2020 and is open to members of both organisations who are in the early stages of their career (typically within 10-15 years of graduation or of commencing their relevant employment).
Livery company
The Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers is one of the modern livery companies of the City of London and a charity which promotes the craft of scientific instrument making and the exchange of ideas and information by members and guests through meetings, visits, lectures and social events.
It provides opportunities for members to encourage and support younger members and engage with schools at careers’ fairs and support STEM days. The Livery encourages young people to participate in scientific instrumentation through grants, prizes, scholarships and apprenticeships. The Livery has relationships with several universities as well as the Armed Forces and the Arkwright Scholarship Scheme.