What springs to mind when you think of chemistry? Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? Jerry Lewis? Eddie Murphy? Well, here's another name: Ann O'Connell. And she's nothing like the aforementioned.
O'Connell is currently working as a chemical analyst for Intel, the world's largest producer of domestic microchips, at its plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare. She has been at Intel for five-and-a-half years where she has already made some moves upward.
From Limerick, O'Connell went to the College of Art, Commerce and Technology (now Limerick Institute of Technology), where she spent two years studying for a certificate in applied chemistry and one year for a chemical instrumentation diploma.
On leaving college she went to work for Limerick Corporation and the University of Limerick, where she spent a year-and-a-half working as a chemical analyst. From there she moved on to Intel, where she knew she would prosper.
"The interview was quite personality oriented," she says. "If you show ability to fit into the company, to get on with your colleagues and also to show potential for further training, then they're happy to have you on board."
O'Connell started off life at Intel as a materials analyst technician, a job that involved detecting and fixing faults in "wafers" (chips) and also the ongoing process of ensuring that the production-line machines are working correctly and efficiently.
True to its word, Intel sent her to California for eight months' training. Among the perks were an apartment and a car. They more recently sent her back for a further, shorter training period.
"Another important thing for me is that I advance within the company, and there are plenty of opportunities available," she says. "I am what is called `non-exempt', which means that I don't have a degree but that doesn't really make a difference because there are still lots of opportunities to further myself."
Her aim now is to get into health and safety at Intel. Indeed, after she expressed an interest in this, the company was prepared to pay for her to study part-time at UCD - where after two years she received a diploma in health, safety and welfare.
The only real disadvantage she finds is the time it takes for her to commute to work - from Mullingar, Co Westmeath. The distance, she explains, is not the real problem; the amount of traffic on the roads tends to make her journey about an hour each way.
So why choose to live so far away? "My husband works in Athlone and I like lots of open space - we have a horse and plan to get some more." Jenny Pitman, watch out.
