After a 50-year career in the life sciences, Subhash Chaudhary could have stepped back and enjoyed a well-earned retirement.
Instead, the Darlington granddad remains as passionate as ever about advancing the field – not only through his own work, but by empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers.
A former governor at the Education Training Collective (Etc.), Subhash has long championed education and opportunity. Now, he is taking that commitment even further with the creation of The Chaudhary Scholarship – a new initiative designed to support life science students, particularly those from diverse [and underrepresented] socioeconomic backgrounds.
“The idea was born from a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to receive in my own life,” said Subhash.
“These experiences opened doors I never imagined possible and shaped the person I am today. I believe in the power of giving back and paying it forward.”
Through donations made by individuals who share the same passion to help support future talent in the industry, the scholarship is, at present, open to applications from those studying biology, human biology and applied science at Bede Sixth Form College.
Having served five decades of his career at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies and its predecessor companies, ICI, Zeneca, Avecia and MSD, in Billingham, it made sense to initially focus the scholarship’s impact on those studying in the town.
He said: “This scholarship is my way of ensuring young people from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can dream big and have the support they need to turn those dreams and ambitions into reality.
“I deeply believe that education, along with health, is one of the most transformative gifts we can give to young people. It can open doors and improve their prospects in life.”
Newly launched, the scholarship is already making an impact. To date, it has been able to help six students access essential equipment such as laptops, tablets and for some to attend educational trips.
The ambition is to initially support 30 to 50 young people over the next three to five years with the hope of seeing many of them pursuing higher education and going on to build meaningful careers.
“Long-term, I want this scholarship to be a catalyst for change – one that not only helps individuals but also inspires others to support causes like this and contribute to a brighter and equal future for all,” said Subhash.
“The scholarship’s roots are firmly planted in the North-east, a region full of potential and a growing number of life science employers. I hope that they can benefit from the talent pipeline being created at Bede and provide career opportunities to attract and retain such talent.”
There are several ways in which businesses and individuals can get involved with the scholarship such as providing internships, work experience and career opportunities for scholarship recipients and students of the life sciences. Donations are also welcome from individuals and businesses and can be made to the scholarship to help it reach more young people.
