Oxoid is pleased to announce that Miss Shazia Naz of the Marine Fisheries Department, part of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Karachi, Pakistan, has been awarded the title of Oxoid Young Microbiologist of the Year 2007/2008. Shazia wins £1,000 and the opportunity to attend the 2009 International Association of Food Protection Meeting to be held in Grapevine, Texas, USA.

Shazia is in charge of the Government laboratory at the fish harbour at the West Wharf, Karachi. The laboratory monitors fish processing and processing sites, as well as process water and ice at the landing areas.

In nominating Shazia for the Award, Captain R J Ishrat, Director General of the Marine Fisheries Department, cited her many achievements, including the work undertaken to secure ISO-17025 accreditation for the laboratory (the first accreditation in a laboratory of this kind in Pakistan).

This involved development of: standard operating procedures; quality and technical manuals; test validation methods; maintenance of certified reference materials; evaluation of staff competence;measurement of non conformances and corrective actions.

During the accreditation process Shazia was still responsible for the day-to-day running of the laboratory, supervision of staff and also undertook hands-on testing, herself. Her dedication was, therefore, highlighted during the many long days work required to complete the project.

Additionally, Shazia is a member of the HACCP monitoring and audit team at the Marine Fisheries Department and an internal auditor for both the microbiology and chemical laboratories. She is also the Youngest Technical Assesor ISO-17025 (Microbiology) of the Pakistan National Accreditation Council - which the Awards´ judges cited as a huge achievement.

The judges agreed that Shazia was an outstanding, highly motivated individual, with one judge commenting “Shazia has everything you would want in a young microbiologist”.

Rebecca Moorhouse, Laboratory Technician at Young´s Seafood Ltd, Grimsby, UK was awarded the second prize of £500. The judges said that Rebecca had shown continuous development as a technician, and that she was undertaking the role to a very high standard. Her entry demonstrated she was a team player, a good communicator and an ambassador for her laboratory.

The judges also made additional, Highly Commended Awards to Miss Habib Beenish, Microbiologist at Dawn Bread, Karachi, Pakistan; to Mr Arsalan Saeed Zai, microbiologist and GMP coordinator at Cadbury Pakistan Ltd: and to Mrs Ominda Florence Awino Ouma, laboratory analyst at Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya.

“Our panel of judges were particularly delighted with the standard of entries into the Oxoid Young Microbiologist of the Year Award, this year. The number of Highly Commended Awards made is testament to the high standard set by our entrants” commented Cheryl Mooney, chairman of the judging panel. “These young microbiologists have all shown enviable levels of dedication, enthusiasm and skill that enable their laboratories to excel. We are delighted to make these Awards.”

For more information about the Oxoid Awards, please visit the Oxoid website, contact Fiona Macrae, Awards Manager (contact details at the top of this page), or talk to your local representative of Oxoid products.