Scientist Snapshot | Ali Alwy, Production Unit Facilitator (Plant Manager)

Ali Alwy joined Sterling’s Cork site in June 2014. In his role as Production Unit Facilitator, Ali is responsible for managing peptide production processes at the facility.

Can you tell me about your background?

I have a BSc in Chemistry with Nanotechnology from the Technological University Dublin. I then went on to study an MSc in Analytical Chemistry at Dublin City University.

After completing my masters, I joined Sterling’s Cork facility as part of the Technical Operations (TechOps) Graduate Programme. During this time, I trained as a Process Manager (Process Expert) at the site, graduating from the programme in 2016.

In 2024, I became a Senior Process Expert, which involved working on a variety of products from small molecules to peptides across the site, providing front-line technical and scientific process support to the production plant, which included ensuring safe, economically friendly and timely production in line with our customers’ requirements.

In 2025, I moved into the role of Production Unit Facilitator (Plant Manager) with responsibility for peptide production.

Can you tell us what your role as Production Unit Facilitator involves?

Where in my previous role as Senior Process Expert, I was responsible for a step in the process, I now manage all of the peptide processes at the Cork site. I am responsible for making sure that peptide production runs smoothly; on time, safely and to the right quality specifications.

I am involved in all stages of the process, so I work with many different departments on site. I partake in daily collaboration with different teams to get a campaign up and running. Specifically, I work closely with the process experts, manufacturing teams and quality assurance (QA) group.

Working with the process experts at the site, I support them with their steps in the process and ensure we are looking for ways to continuously improve processes with an aim to further support our customers’ projects. Having been a process expert myself, I’ve been in their shoes which I think is a huge advantage as a manager. I’ve worked in that exact role so I understand what needs to be done, why, and the challenges they may face along the way.

It has also given me the technical knowhow of the steps involved in the process, so I understand the questions that need to be asked, and it helps me to better guide the team and ensure everyone is focused and we are prioritising correctly.

I also work closely with customers as part of my role. I enjoy collaborating with the commercial team on new projects and getting involved in technical discussions with our customers. If the project involves peptides, I get called into the discussion due to my technical background. I enjoy this part of my role, it allows me to demonstrate Sterling’s expertise to our customers.

How does your role support our customers?

It is my responsibility to make sure our customers have confidence and trust in our ability to develop and manufacture a quality product, on time, with the correct safety procedures in place. So, I work with our skilled operators, who have decades of experience, and we have the equipment and capacities needed to meet our customers’ requirements.

I spend a lot of my time reviewing the whole process, looking for opportunities for continuous improvements to benefit our customers and their projects.  We are always looking for initiatives we could implement within the production process to see whether these could improve outcomes for our customers.

What do you think sets our Cork site apart?

The experience and capabilities we have with peptides. Peptides have been manufactured on site since 1996, which has resulted in a vast amount of knowledge, experience and skill in complex peptide synthesis using solid phase support. As a result of manufacturing this complex process for nearly three decades, our customers trust that we have the experience, knowledge and capabilities to support their project.

Our range of peptide manufacturing equipment is another reason that I think our customers find our offering compelling. We have the capability to make several short-chain peptides and build them up into one large peptide of up to 40 amino acids with several industrial scale HPLC peptide purification equipment. Ultimately, our people working on site possess such vast experience and knowledge in this area, which is key to making our customers’ projects successful.

What is your favourite thing about working at our Cork site?

The people who work here are very supportive of each other. The openness and transparency of my colleagues here at the Cork site truly portrays how each worker embraces the Sterling values.