The leading pharmaceutical manufacturer in the Baltics – JSC Olpha – at the end of May awarded scholarships for the 15th time, each worth 2,000 euros, to three future pharmacists, fourth-year students at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Pharmacy: Alīna Jaroslava Frolova, Kristofers Rudzītis, and Daniela Paula Prudņikova. The company will support these young professionals with 10 monthly scholarships of 200 euros each.
All three students presented outstanding academic achievements to the selection committee, qualifying them for the scholarship. In addition to their studies, all three recipients are already actively involved in scientific research. Alīna Jaroslava Frolova is a member of the RSU Research Group and collaborates closely with the Finished Dosage Forms Laboratory, where she works on developing new pharmaceutical binders and methods to limit drug abuse. Daniela Paula Prudņikova is involved in two RSU research projects: she is developing innovative drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles and hydrogels for wound care, and is analyzing active substance dissolution profiles to perform mathematical modeling and predict future outcomes. Kristofers Rudzītis began his pharmaceutical career with research at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. The scholarship recipients cite their early interest in chemistry, human physiology, and biotechnology as motivation for choosing pharmaceutical studies.
“At the end of May, the Latvian pharmaceutical industry presented a long-term development strategy, created in cooperation with companies, universities, and research institutes. This strategy envisions that the industry will quadruple its turnover from the current 400 million euros to 1.5 billion euros over the next ten years. To achieve this, we will need knowledgeable professionals in science, clinical research, and industrial production. I am confident that these three young individuals will contribute meaningfully to the growth story of Latvia’s pharmaceutical sector,” said Juris Bundulis, Chairman of the Board of JSC Olpha.
The scholarship award ceremony was attended by all three recipients, RSU Alumni Association Executive Director Paula Jumīte, Dean of the RSU Faculty of Pharmacy Dace Bandere, and representatives of JSC Olpha.
“When I found out which of our faculty's students received the Olpha scholarship, I thought – it couldn’t have been anyone else. These students have achieved the highest grades and proven themselves in the academic field. I want to thank JSC Olpha for another year together and for another excellent collaboration project,” said RSU Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Dace Bandere.
JSC Olpha has been awarding excellence scholarships to final-year students of the RSU Faculty of Pharmacy since 2011, and this year marks the 15th consecutive round of awards. The project is part of a broader collaboration between Olpha and RSU. In January 2024, both parties signed an agreement guaranteeing RSU students internship opportunities at the company, including access to research facilities.
