Lucy Browning
2026 Saltire Scholar
Research and Operations Intern, Project Insulin
Neuroscience with Psychology, University of Aberdeen
My name’s Lucy, and I have just finished my undergraduate degree at the University of Aberdeen, where I studied Neuroscience with Psychology. I applied to the Saltire Scholar Programme after hearing about it from friends, and the programme's prospects and opportunities made it a no-brainer. Although the multiple rounds and the programme's prestige made the process slightly nerve-wracking, one piece of advice I was given during my degree has always stuck with me: the worst anyone can say is no, so you might as well try!
With that in mind, I applied and was lucky enough to progress into the candidate pool. As I was only able to undertake a virtual internship due to graduation and existing plans, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Above all, I was hoping to gain insight into the industry and the world beyond academia, and I certainly got that (and much more).
My role was as a Research and Operations Intern at Project Insulin, a non-profit organisation based in Boston, Massachusetts, which aims to produce its own biosimilar insulin glargine and sell it to patients at cost. I was involved in a remarkably wide range of projects, working closely with both Executive Director Eric Moyal and Chief Scientific Officer Dr Allison Ortigosa.
With Eric, much of my work focused on communications, outreach, copy editing and researching potential collaborations for future expansion. Eric's role involved an enormous variety of meetings and responsibilities; I was fortunate enough to join many of these and participate in conversations with experts and leaders across a range of fields, from PR to logistics to scientific research and manufacturing. One of the most exciting aspects of working with him was being trusted to take responsibility for my own projects and, at one point, leading a project with my own intern. Together, we worked on distribution and statistical research, exploring questions directly relevant to Project Insulin’s operations. This allowed me to experience both leadership and market research in a scientific context.
I also worked closely with Allison, which was particularly exciting given my scientific background. One of the most rewarding parts of the internship was seeing my scientific research move beyond the purely academic and begin to influence and contribute to real-world decision-making. I researched various aspects of insulin glargine development, including strain and sequence considerations, with my work helping inform decisions about which approaches Project Insulin should take forward with their CDMO partner. Despite being a virtual intern, a planned site visit to its CDMO partner meant I was lucky enough to be asked to join and meet the team in person. This was a unique experience for me; meeting Eric and Allison in person was extremely rewarding, and getting to tour and join meetings with their global CDMO was an experience I will value for a very long time.
As a student from a purely scientific academic background, this internship has given me a completely new perspective on how scientific knowledge can be applied within industry and a developing organisation. Overall, the exposure I gained was something I deeply valued. It gave me insight into areas of an organisation that I would not otherwise have encountered for many years in my own career, and showed me just how many different skills and perspectives are needed to turn such an inspiring idea into something tangible.
Personally, although I had previous experience with public speaking and virtual internships, the constant exposure to new tasks and the fast-paced nature of the role pushed me outside my comfort zone. It gave me the confidence to independently create substantial pieces of work, communicate my ideas clearly and speak with people who had considerably more experience than I did. Perhaps most importantly, the internship gave me greater confidence in my own ability to take on unfamiliar science and novel challenges and to learn as I go. I realised that I don’t need to know everything before starting something new; I can figure things out, ask questions when I need to, and still produce work to a high standard. That is something that I will take with me far beyond this internship.
To any prospective students thinking about applying, I would 100% recommend it. Even if you aren’t sure where it might take you, having the opportunity to explore potential careers and gain insight into different industries is something you’ll never regret. Coming from a relatively niche degree, I was initially concerned that there might not be many opportunities suited to me. I reviewed many previous internships in areas such as marketing, accounting and law and wanted to understand where someone like me would fit in. However, I would strongly encourage any science-based students not to let this put them off; apply even if the opportunity feels outside of your comfort zone. You never know where it may lead.
My Saltire Scholar experience has given me far more than professional experience. It’s given me confidence, connections and friends within my field who I hope will continue to be part of my future for years to come. My internship showed me career possibilities beyond the traditional academic route I had originally envisioned, giving me a much broader understanding of what a career in science can look like. The support I’ve received from both organisations has made this experience feel like the beginning of something rather than the end. I’m incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met and the opportunity to remain connected with both the Saltire Scholar community and Project Insulin.
