We’re proud to celebrate Westminster graduate André Gordon, who has been awarded the Undergraduate Pharmacology Prize 2024 by the British Pharmacological Society (BPS). André graduated with First Class Honours in Pharmacology and Physiology BSc in 2024, earning this recognition for his passion, exceptional performance, and contributions to the field.

During his time at Westminster, André made the most of every opportunity. He served as a Course Representative and worked as a student ambassador at Open Days, helping to inspire others to pursue their studies in pharmacology. As a member of the BPS, he also demonstrated his strong commitment to the discipline. The BPS Undergraduate Pharmacology Prize recognises the achievements of top undergraduates and supports the development of early-career pharmacologists across the UK and Ireland.

In the blog that follows, André shares more about his journey, the opportunities he embraced, and what winning this prestigious award means for his future.

Back in September 2019, I was stacking shelves at Lidl and honestly couldn’t imagine myself at university. But here I am, still pinching myself after winning the British Pharmacological Society’s Undergraduate Prize! It’s been quite a journey, and I want to share how it happened.

I’ve always been a bit of a science nerd (sorry Mum!) – I used to sneak peeks at my mum’s medical books when I was younger, fascinated by all the diagrams and explanations about how the body works. But I never thought I could actually turn this interest into a career until I attended Westminster’s virtual open day. That’s where I met Dr. Amara, who completely changed my perspective on pharmacology. The way she explained complex stuff like pharmacokinetics actually made sense to me – I was hooked!

The facilities at Westminster are amazing – especially the library (which became my second home!). But what really made the difference were my lecturers. Dr Maria Ashioti, Dr Stephen Getting, Dr Christopher Biggs, and Dr Kevin Cunningham – they didn’t just teach us, they believed in each and every one of us. When I struggled with tough concepts, they always made time to help me.

The highlight of my degree had to be my dissertation – a systematic review looking at two drugs (minocycline and memantine) and their effects in stroke treatment. Sounds fancy, right? Trust me, I had plenty of moments staring at my computer screen wondering what I’d got myself into! But piecing together all the research and actually discovering something new was incredible.

One of the best experiences was my six-week placement in Malta. I got to work in different labs, doing everything from examining tissues to studying cancer at a molecular level. It was intense but amazing – definitely not your average summer abroad! Each day brought something new, whether it was learning a new technique or (occasionally) making mistakes and learning from them.

I also became a Student Ambassador, which basically meant sharing my experiences with prospective students. It was weird at first, remembering how nervous I’d been at open days, but now I was the one giving advice!

To anyone thinking about studying pharmacology at Westminster – go for it! But here’s my honest advice: don’t just do the minimum. Get involved in everything you can. Talk to your lecturers (they’re actually really nice!), join societies, do the extra workshops. Sometimes it feels overwhelming, but it’s worth it.

Winning the British Pharmacological Society’s prize still feels surreal. From Lidl to this – it’s been quite a ride! I’m now looking at jobs in biotech and pharmaceutical research. Wherever I end up, I know Westminster gave me the confidence to aim higher than I ever thought possible.

Looking back, choosing Westminster wasn’t just about getting a degree – it completely changed how I saw myself and what I could achieve. Not bad for someone who started out stacking shelves, right?

About Westminster

As one of the most diverse universities in the UK, we are a global university with London energy, with more than 19,000 students from 169 countries. To find out more about our Biological and Biomedical Sciences courses, visit our website.