How a Limerick research centre is advancing the world of health
Team BD! Colleagues at Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland (BD RCI)Â attending a Hackathon event.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the doors of a medical research and development centre? What kind of technologies are they working on and how do they impact our lives and health? Introducing one of our most innovative and diverse research centres in Ireland — BD Research Centre Ireland.
BD Research Centre Ireland (BD RCI) is the latest R&D development for BD and has been operating in Ireland for over 60 years. Established in 2017 and located in Castletroy - Limerick, BD RCI is recognised as a global Centre of Excellence, developing a range of innovation and technologies to elevate bioscience discovery & diagnostics, clinical diagnosis of disease to advance the safe delivery of care for patients and the healthcare professionals that care for them.
BD (Becton Dickinson) founded in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh Dickinson, started with a vision to improve outcomes for patients. Now over 125 years on, BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. Over the years, BD has grown its global presence in virtually every country and partners with organisations across the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues.
 Culture at is at the heart of everything at BD RCI. It is at the core of people talent and part of the attraction for over 360 employees who have joined the organisation from over 45 countries across the globe to help innovate medical research, bioscience, engineering, and software development.
BD RCI recognises the growing demand for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills in Ireland, and have created a program to bridge the relationship between education and industry. This program, the BD STEM Stars competition, aims to inspire and encourage secondary school students in the areas of STEM; people who pioneer and create in these areas are capable of incredible advances in the world of health.
BD RCI is also proud to support students in Universities through the Scholarships and Bursaries programme and has recently onboarded 12 students across Universities in the Mid-West of Ireland. Last year’s program saw four students receive bursaries for Women in STEM and six students receive scholarships for their dedication and outstanding academic achievements.
Sharing his experiences is Anshul Shandillya, Staff Engineer, Systems Engineering: "Although it was tough for me to move to a new country and settle here, my entire journey was made more comfortable by the hospitality of the wonderful people of this beautiful country especially here at BD RCI.”Â
Also sharing thoughts about working at the BD Research Centre Ireland is Research & Development Engineering Manager, Prathamesh Dhanpalwar - “I’ve been in Ireland for nine years now, originally from Hyderabad in India. Ireland is home to many of the world’s best-known tech companies and at BD RCI I know that I am helping to make a difference not just in supporting healthcare professionals, but with the patient too, which is very powerful.”
Innovation is a key part of the culture at BD RCI BD. Employees are encouraged to think creatively and collaboratively, to solve real-world problems with cutting-edge technologies.Â
At BD RCI there are opportunities to come together and connect to share knowledge and learn about each other’s work.Â
These include:
Internal expos where employees showcase some of the in-flight groundbreaking projects.
Internal events where employees form cross-functional teams to find solutions to new ideas or challenges, using AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and other advanced technologies.
Experiencing the RCI culture first-hand is Jennifer Carey, a Senior Systems Verification & Validation Scientist.Â
Jennifer says: “I love working here because of the unique culture and the many opportunities to learn and grow. I have been involved in some exciting Hackathons that have helped me develop new skills and work with many colleagues from different backgrounds who have been inspiring and supported me in my work. BD RCI is more than just a workplace; it is a community.”Â
 Leading the Research Centre is Senior Director, Sean Wall. Sean has a strong vision for the future at BD RCI. He says: “The heartbeat of BD RCI is its fantastic culture, where every individual’s diverse background and skillset is embraced, promoting inclusivity and the delivery of innovative healthcare solutions. We are passionate about developing our people to help us shape the future of health.”Â
BD RCI offers a range of training opportunities for employees to better advocate for themselves and to find a healthy balance between work duties and other aspects of their lives and is looking for talented and passionate people to join its team of experts in various fields, such as software development, engineering, biosciences, quality, regulatory, medical, and clinical affairs, as well as human resources and finance.
Visit BD online at www.bd.com/careers to find out more, or scan the QR code below.Â
