Star student wins inaugural research award
Wednesday 23 February 2011
Dr Chesmal Siriwandhana is recipient of the first-ever Robin Murray Award for Best MSc Project. This prestigious award is open to students enrolled in the MSc in Psychiatric Research whose final year research project stands out as an ‘original, rigorous study that also offers an important contribution to psychiatric research.’
Muriel Walshe, Deputy Course Leader from the MSc in Psychiatric Research, said: ‘The standard of all the dissertations submitted for this award was very high but the review panel were unanimous in choosing Dr Siriwandhana’s dissertation as the best project, although Professor Sir Robin Murray had the final say. We are all very proud of Dr Siriwandhana and hope this award inspires him and future recipients on to rewarding research careers.’
Dr Siriwandhana, said: ‘It was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life as I had the chance to learn from global leaders in mental health. They were inspirational for me in many ways in developing my career as a researcher and an academic.’
Dr Siriwandhana is currently conducting research among internally displaced people in Sri Lanka as part of his Wellcome Trust Fellowship. He said: ‘It was a real honour to be selected for this award’. With the support of his supervisors, Dr Siriwandhana hopes to publish this research in a scientific journal.