Pharmaceutical Industry https://grad.rutgers.edu/ en iJOBS Seminar: Novel approaches to therapeutic development in industry https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/ijobs-seminar-novel-approaches-therapeutic-development-industry <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--news.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>iJOBS Seminar: Novel approaches to therapeutic development in industry</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--news.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>By: Sonal Gahlawat</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>            Welcome to 2023! The beginning of a new calendar year is always special, and the tradition will continue. It’s been almost three years since the COVID-19 pandemic started, which upended lives worldwide at a breathtaking speed. COVID-19 has fundamentally changed our lives and our mindset towards scientists, healthcare practitioners, and let’s not forget vaccines. Hence, on January 10, Rutgers iJOBS invited Dr. James Cappola to learn more about vaccine development (including cancer) and new treatment options for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the US. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>            Dr. James Cappola holds a doctoral degree in Immunology and Microbiology from Rutgers University and a M.D. from Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, a joint program between Mexico and the US. Dr. Cappola previously served as the Medical Director and Safety Officer at the Harvard Clinical Research Institute. With 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical drug device industry, Dr. Cappola has spent his career in vaccine development. A few of his major highlights include launch support of the first recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine at </span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.merck.com/"><span><span><span>Merck &amp; Co.</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span> and Tipranavir for the treatment of AIDS while working at </span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/"><span><span><span>Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>. Currently, he is a biotechnology consultant for global clinical studies for a multitude of companies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>In the first part of his talk, Dr. Cappola discussed the current status of developing a universal vaccine for COVID-19. The push for a universal vaccine came from the “universal influenza vaccine” that was being designed when COVID-19 hit in early 2020. To develop a universal vaccine, one needs to target a “constant antigen,” meaning the virus will not let this antigen mutate or evolve with time. So, even as new strains evolve, the antigen isn’t changed, and the same vaccine will provide protection for all virus variants. In contrast, newer versions of COVID-19 vaccines or booster shots are being developed at a rapid pace because the “spike protein”, which was targeted as an antigen for vaccines, <em>did change</em> over time as the virus evolved. Thus, a universal vaccine can save enormous amounts of time, development costs, and resources, all of which will allow rapid response to evolving public health threats. With the first-in-human trial of the universal influenza vaccine already in progress, the design and development of a universal COVID-19 vaccine had also started at Duke University and Walter Reed Army Institute of Research with promising results. The development of these universal vaccines has the potential to protect the public from both seasonal flu and from a future pandemic outbreak.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><a><span><span><span><span>Shifting gears towards developing vaccines for treating cancer, Dr. Cappola mentioned several approved vaccines</span></span></span></span></a><span> </span><span><span><span><span>for cancer prevention and therapy. Just like gene therapies, viral vectors are being modified for anti-cancer vaccines, such as Imlygic viral therapy to treat melanoma. To further revolutionize the field of cancer vaccines, scientists at Indaptus Therapeutics are “harnessing innate and adaptive immune responses to cure diseases.” Let’s just take a breath and appreciate such scientific advancements <strong>that have the potential to dramatically alter the cancer treatment regime in the coming decades. </strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>In the second part of the talk, Dr. Cappola focused on PTSD. PTSD affects 6-9% of people exposed to trauma worldwide. Exposure to severe trauma at any age can result in “clinically significant distress and impairment of functioning, which causes significant impact on one’s daily life. High incidence of PTSD has been seen among war veterans, teens, and people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. The FDA currently authorizes only two drugs for the treatment of PTSD. While both the drugs take weeks to months to show any effects and offer minimal side-effects, these drugs show a high remission rate (of up to 30%). To reduce the issue of remission, companies have started considering new approaches (such as ketamine therapy) to treat PTSD. On a slightly different note, a study conducted by Harvard University concluded that graduate students are &gt;3X (three times) more likely to experience mental health disorders and depression compared to an average American (1). Several other studied have shown that graduate students suffer from PTSD-like symptoms (2,3,4). For many, </span></span></span></span><span class="cf01"><span><span>graduate school is filled with challenges including long work hours, constantly being ‘on,’ relatively low or non-existent wages, intense labor expectations, and other stressors or mental health issues. </span></span></span><span><span><span><span>So, if you are struggling right now, please utilize </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><a href="https://gsa.rutgers.edu/resources/health-and-wellness/">mental health resources</a> </span></span></span><span><span><span><span>available at Rutgers University.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the event was ending, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers did not want to miss this amazing opportunity to get career advice from an accomplished professional in the field. A quick overview of the Q&amp;A session is here.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Question:           Any advice to graduate students and postdocs who want to start their own company, focusing on vaccine development and translational research?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: There’s always room for more. Be creative. Find colleagues who will work with you. Apply for seed funding or federal grant. “Baby steps lead to big steps.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Question:        If an M.D. candidate wants to work in industry, should they complete their residency?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: Yes. Finish the residency while you are young. There’s no stopping you after your residency so, if you can do it, try it! </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Question:         Where can I learn more about patent law?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: Look at the press releases of any biotech firms. Ask for the patent filing and approach the patent agent. Network and do informational interviews! Use LinkedIn extensively. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Question:         Do you have recommendations to pursue Medical and Regulatory Affairs?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: Explore </span></span></span></span><a href="///C:/Users/natal/Downloads/2023-01-10_iJOBS%20Seminar%20on%20therapeutic%20development%20in%20industry.docx"><span><span><span>Regulatory Affairs Professional Society</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span> and apply for this membership. They offer courses, training programs, and certifications.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Question:          What certifications are essential in drug discovery and development? </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: GCP Certification (which is </span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.fda.gov/science-research/good-clinical-practice-educational-materials/good-clinical-practice-training"><span><span><span>offered by the FDA</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>). Contact the local Data and Safety Monitoring Board to learn more about different certifications. When hired, companies will always train you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>While this might not be a typical iJOBS event, Dr. Cappola’s talk made me aware of the new unconventional ideas and approaches being adopted to cure cancer or PTSD. It made me reappreciate why, like so many other graduate students, I decided to pursue a doctoral degree: in the hope of helping humankind in my own small ways. In Dr. Cappola’s words, use your Ph.D. degree “as a powerful steppingstone” to advance your professional career whether it means trying new things or applying for your dream jobs.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>References:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span><a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-emotional-toll-of-graduate-school/"><span><span><span>https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-emotional-toll-of-graduate-school/</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/07/09/how-trauma-affects-grad-students-their-career-search-opinion"><span><span><span>https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/07/09/how-trauma-affects-grad-students-their-career-search-opinion</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><a href="https://www.chronicle.com/article/graduate-school-should-be-challenging-not-traumatic/"><span><span><span>https://www.chronicle.com/article/graduate-school-should-be-challenging-not-traumatic/</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/11/anxiety-depression-mental-health-graduate-school/576769/"><span><span><span>https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2018/11/anxiety-depression-mental-health-graduate-school/576769/</span></span></span></a></span></span></span></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>            </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><em><span><span><span><span>This article was edited by Senior Editor Natalie Losada and Senior Editor Shawn Rumrill.</span></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--news.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/412" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srr131</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--news.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Mon, 02/20/2023 - 16:45</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-tags--news.html.twig * field--node--field-tags.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Topic Areas</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/211" hreflang="en">Featured</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/251" hreflang="en">Biomedical Sciences</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/282" hreflang="en">career development</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/254" hreflang="en">iJOBS Event Summary</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/340" hreflang="en">Vaccine</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/317" hreflang="en">STEM careers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/320" hreflang="en">Pharmaceutical Industry</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-academic-cluster--news.html.twig * field--node--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-academic-cluster field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Academic Cluster</div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/226" hreflang="en">Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-authored-on-year--news.html.twig * field--node--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--computed-integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-authored-on-year field--type-computed-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Authored On Year</div> <div class="field--item">2023</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:45:18 +0000 srr131 2606 at https://grad.rutgers.edu iJOBS Career Panel: Project Management https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/ijobs-career-panel-project-management <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--news.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>iJOBS Career Panel: Project Management</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--news.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>By: Sonal Gahlawat</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Let’s start by debunking the myth project management is not a skill you can learn as a PhD student. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a project is “a planned piece of work that is designed to find information about something, to produce something new, or to improve something.” Keeping the definition in mind, PhD students manage multiple projects daily: thesis research, side projects for our advisors or collaborators, training or mentoring undergraduates in lab, and teaching undergraduate classes, all while trying to balance a social life to avoid burnout. So, if you are someone who wants to get into project management (PM) after your PhD, you have already started building your PM skills, and are ready to confidently market yourself as a professional project manager in industry!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>On October 19, 2022, graduate students and postdoctoral associates attended a career panel on PM hosted by Rutgers iJOBS. The career panel allowed all attendees to explore PM as a career path after academia. It’s time to meet our panelists and learn what motivated them to become project managers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>The keynote speaker was Rebecca Baerga, a Director in Global Project and Alliance Management (GPAM) at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.merck.com/"><strong><span><span><span>Merck &amp; Co.</span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span><span> and she has a doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Rutgers University and UMDNJ Graduate School of Biomedical Biosciences. Rebecca has extensive PM experience in different areas and is a certified Project Management Professional (</span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp"><span><span><span>PMP®</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>). After graduation, Rebecca was awarded the NJ Commission for Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowship, which allowed her to work in a cancer biotech startup, Niiki Pharma. At Niiki Pharma, Rebecca served as the Project Manager and later Director of Preclinical Operations. In her role, she successfully managed a preclinical program with two IND applications to the US FDA. Later, Rebecca worked at Education Testing Service in the education sector, where she oversaw the company’s research pipeline and played a critical role in launching three innovative products. After working as a professional project manager, Rebecca wanted to return to the pharmaceutical industry, where she could combine her scientific knowledge with PM. After struggling for a while and having applied to countless jobs, <strong>Rebecca learned about the importance of PMP® certification</strong> and how the company wanted to make sure you knew PM principles. The PMP® certification gave Rebecca an edge over other candidates and helped her get back into the pharma industry with a job at Merck. She is currently a drug development expert, integrating information to create new strategies in the drug pipeline and  mentoring/training incoming project managers. What an inspiring and ambitious journey!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>            </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>After giving a fantastic mini review on the drug development process from discovery to FDA approval and to the market, Rebecca informed the attendees about the importance of project scope. <strong>Project scope captures different activities that need to be completed at the granular level for a project goal to be achieved</strong>. As a project manager, it is imperative to ask critical questions to the right people to deliver a successful project. Using an example case study, Rebecca demonstrated the ever-changing duties of a project manager: changing project scope when needed, motivating team members, sharing updates with stakeholders, convincing leadership why a change (or no change) in scope is essential, persuading investors to contribute more money, making fast decisions to pivot to a new strategy, and more. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="Cartoon of trees and different tree swings" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c2c9547-1666-42e6-a584-e7326e0cd01f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Picture2.jpg" class="align-center" /></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Figure 1: Critical role of communication in project management as depicted above by the “Tree Swing” story <span><span>(</span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/cappellmeister/5921913"><span><span><span>https://www.flickr.com/photos/cappellmeister/5921913</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>Our next speaker was Claudia Campbell, who is an independent consultant and Chairperson at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.pminj.org/nj_lifesci-lci.mr"><strong><span><span><span>PMINJ’s Life Sciences</span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></strong><span><span><span><span> her own company that was launched in 2019. Claudia also has a master’s degree in Microbiology from Rutgers University and UMDNJ Graduate School of Biomedical Biosciences. With over 30 years of experience in the medical device and <em>in vitro</em> diagnostics industry and a certified PMP®, Claudia helps startup companies translate their research into a successful product development and supports small medical device companies with their post-market studies. Claudia calls herself an “accidental project manager” because she started managing projects early in her career in whichever field she was working, including technical and marketing. So, while she holds many functional titles in different companies, Claudia always utilized her PM skills to fulfill her job responsibilities. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>David Dalessandro, our third speaker, is a Senior Director of Project Management at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://sherlock.bio/"><strong><span><span><span>Sherlock Biosciences</span></span></span></strong></a><strong> </strong><span><span><span><span>with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s in Engineering Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Like the previous two speakers, David is also a certified PMP® and holds a Certification in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University. As a leader, innovator, and project manager of new product development, David has over 35 years of experience in implantable medical devices, <em>in vitro</em>diagnostics, and consumer products. Previously, David worked at Johnson &amp; Johnson, launching &gt; 20 medical devices in cardiovascular, surgical, orthopedic, diagnostics, and consumer markets. At Sherlock Biosciences, a biotech startup, David manages cross-functional teams to develop affordable at-home diagnostic tests for detecting DNA and RNA for diseases and infections. According to David, there has always been a “blurred line between a functional leader and a formal project manager,” and he has always led teams, whether formally or informally. Wanting to delve into the diagnostics industry, David applied for a PM leadership job and was hired, without a formal PM education. And you know why? Because the bottom line is companies want to see whether you have successfully managed and launched products, no matter if you are a trained project manager with a professional certification.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>Last but not least, Carlos Caicedo is a Director of R&amp;D/Technical Lead Surface Technologies (against SARS CoV2) at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://orthobond.com/"><strong><span><span><span>Orthobond Corporation</span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span><span> with a doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University and UMDNJ Graduate School of Biomedical Biosciences. Before joining Orthobond, Carlos worked at </span></span></span></span><a href="https://3dbiotek.com/"><span><span><span>3D Biotek, LLC</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>, where he worked on developing 3D biomaterial scaffolds for stem cell, tissue engineering, and drug discovery applications. Currently, Carlos supports the antimicrobial characterization of biomaterial surfaces by helping Orthobond with intellectual property (IP) and process optimization of their proprietary technology for applications in the medical device industry. As an engineer, Carlos interfaces with the business unit to support their proof-of-concept scientific opportunities. For Carlos, the transition from science to project management happened gradually. After showing his ability to gather information and expertise, the company’s leadership wanted Carlos to step up and lead the strategic component of the scientific program.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Of course, as graduate students, we always doubt whether we have the right skills to enter the world of PM. While three of the four panelists are PMP® certified, the question remains, “do you need a PMP® certification to get into the PM role? The answer depends on you. According to David, a PMP® certification gives you a set of tools and a rationale you can use in your job. Without a professional education, David was following the basics of PM. However,  the certification gave him a framework with formal structure that he continues to use for efficiently managing multiple projects. Moreover, as informed by Claudia, one can also join Project Management Institute in New Jersey (</span></span></span></span><a href="https://pminj.org/"><span><span><span>PMINJ</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span>) and get involved with the local and national chapters. PMINJ offers networking opportunities, training resources, and a mentor program if you want to explore the role of project manager.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>You have completed a crash course on various PM career paths and the project manager role. Awesome. Now, it’s time for a rapid-fire summary of the Q&amp;A session.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q: How do you improve your PM skills while still in graduate school?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: As a graduate student, you already have a ton of PM skills: managing your thesis project, working with collaborators, designing experiments with time-constraints and limited resources, writing manuscripts and grant proposals, mentoring other students, etc. Start highlighting your skills!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q: How do you land an entry-level position in PM?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A1: In your PhD you have already delved into PM. Rebecca recommends articulating what, why, and how you are doing your work, keeping the bigger picture in mind.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A2: Entry level positions for PM might have different titles but include the same responsibilities. These positions can be Project Coordinator or Project Analyst.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q: Additional skills that can be learned while in graduate school?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: Familiarity with PM software, knowledge of different phases of clinical trials, FDA regulations, the drug and medical device development process, and risk management. These are some ways that allow you to differentiate yourself from other candidates.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q: Difference between Project Manager, Program Manager, and Product Manager?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: Project Managers usually manage one project or team. Program Managers manage several projects and may have project managers report to them. Product Manager is usually a title for someone with a marketing role (in the life sciences field) and is responsible for the brand, indications, and marketing of the product.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Q: How is the work-life balance in PM?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>A: According to Rebecca, “there is no work-life balance, but work-life <em>integration</em>.” The project manager’s position is usually flexible, which allows you to build your own schedule. However, with the increased workload, especially nearing the end of a project or deadlines, you might struggle with finding time for your personal life. The key is “finding time for things you care about.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the event was wrapping up, the panelists were asked to share one challenging aspect of their role and how they handle it. For Carlos, it was time management. In a fast-paced industry, “one is always working against money, time, and resources.” As a project manager, you must guide people to spend money efficiently, understand roadmaps with risks and rewards, convey information to stakeholders, and, most importantly, listen to their concerns. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>The PM career panel gave me a massive amount of information and opened another world of career options for me. As we develop our PM skills in graduate school, they will become the foundation of our career, whether we become a formal project manager or a functional leader. <strong>To all my fellow graduate students</strong> who are thinking about working as project managers, I hope this career panel answered your questions and gave you the confidence to figure out your next steps for becoming a project manager.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>            </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><em><span><span><span><span>This article was edited by Senior Editor Natalie Losada and Senior Editor Shawn Rumrill.</span></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--news.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/412" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">srr131</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--news.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Fri, 12/23/2022 - 16:47</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-tags--news.html.twig * field--node--field-tags.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Topic Areas</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/211" hreflang="en">Featured</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/251" hreflang="en">Biomedical Sciences</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/282" hreflang="en">career development</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/254" hreflang="en">iJOBS Event Summary</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/315" hreflang="en">job search</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/317" hreflang="en">STEM careers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/289" hreflang="en">project management</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/335" hreflang="en">PMP Certification</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/320" hreflang="en">Pharmaceutical Industry</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-academic-cluster--news.html.twig * field--node--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-academic-cluster field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Academic Cluster</div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/226" hreflang="en">Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-authored-on-year--news.html.twig * field--node--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--computed-integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-authored-on-year field--type-computed-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Authored On Year</div> <div class="field--item">2022</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Fri, 23 Dec 2022 16:47:03 +0000 srr131 2552 at https://grad.rutgers.edu iJOBS Site Visit: Bristol Myers Squibb https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/ijobs-site-visit-bristol-myers-squibb <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--news.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>iJOBS Site Visit: Bristol Myers Squibb</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--news.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span><span><span><em><span><span>by Soumyadipa Das</span></span></em></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>          As the world gains back its old rhythm and people start to meet beyond zoom, iJOBS joined in by organizing its first in-person site visit after the COVID-19 pandemic. A cohort of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from Rutgers University headed to the <a href="https://www.bms.com/">Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)</a> New Brunswick location on September 15<sup>th</sup>, 2022.  BMS-CLIMB (Cultivating Leadership and Innovation for Millennials and Beyond), a people and business resource group within BMS, organized this event. As the name indicates, CLIMB focuses on individual growth and fosters talent of young employees within BMS. The site visit was divided into three segments:</span></span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span><span>Talks from BMS employees, focusing on science and human resources.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Networking hour with BMS employees</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Lab visit</span></span></span></li> </ol> <p><span><span><span>          BMS is a Fortune 500 global pharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Bristol-Myers and Squibb were two separate pharmaceutical companies based in New York that merged in 1989 to become Bristol-Myers Squibb. Today, BMS is present all around the world with R&amp;D facilities in the US, Europe, UK, India, and Japan. With the mission “to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases,” the company focuses its research on oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular diseases, and fibrosis. Moreover, BMS works across different drug platforms, including small molecules, antibody-drug conjugates, RNA oligonucleotides, and cell and gene therapy.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>          After a short introduction, we proceeded with the two talks by <strong>Jonathan Romero</strong> and <strong>Danielle McGrath</strong>. Jonathan is a Senior Director – Head of Clinical Biologics Operations at BMS. Jonathan was a chemical engineering major and his PhD dissertation focused on using semi-permeable membranes for separation of chiral organic molecules; a stark contrast from his current role at BMS. This showed the group that one doesn’t always need to pursue their PhD work as a career. During his talk, Jonathan provided insight into the long process of drug discovery, development, production, and commercialization. He also focused on CAR T-cell therapy for cancer patients as one of the promising ventures for BMS. Danielle, a Senior Program Manager of Early career talent acquisition strategy and delivery, spoke next. She focused more on the budget, location, and growth opportunities at BMS. She mentioned no matter what your major is (yes, it doesn’t have to be science), <strong>BMS probably has some role suitable for you</strong>, as she is herself an economics graduate. Both the speakers purposefully mentioned of the impact of the <a href="https://www.bms.com/about-us/our-company/global-patient-week.html">Global Patient week program</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u>,</u></span> where patients visit the BMS campus and interact with the employees. The program inspired both of them to look back and appreciate their role in changing human lives for better. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>          If you are curious to work at BMS, you might want to know about their mentorship programs that they offer. The programs are for people in different stages of their R&amp;D career; from fresh PhDs to PhDs with 3-5 years of experience. Do you need another reason to work here? BMS sponsors visas to attract global talent for PhD research positions. BMS also focuses on the individual development of its employees from marginal groups by creating different alliances: <a href="https://www.bms.com/about-us/global-diversity-and-inclusion/people-and-business-resource-groups.html">B-NOW (Network of Women), OLA (Organization for Latino Achievement), PAN (Pan Asian Network), BOLD (Black Organization for Leadership and Development)</a> to name a few. The global lead of these organizations is working for salaried positions and not as a volunteer, this manifests BMS’s commitment to diversity. BMS also offers temporary rotation programs where <strong>employees can work with other groups for several weeks</strong> to figure out the best match for themselves. At BMS, you will never feel ‘stuck’! So, if you are finally convinced, check out the <a href="https://careers.bms.com/internships">internships</a> and <a href="https://careers.bms.com/coop-programs">co-op</a> opportunities available at BMS.</span></span></span></p> <p> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'filter_caption' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/filter/templates/filter-caption.html.twig' --> <figure role="group" class="align-center"> <img alt="BMS site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9fa18300-e60b-4aed-a5d5-299fbf37ebd2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/29thSep2022_BMS_site_visit_image.png" /> <figcaption><em>Image of the New Brunswick BMS campus (photo from bms.com).</em></figcaption> </figure> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/filter/templates/filter-caption.html.twig' --> </p> <p><span><span><span>          After the talks, we proceeded to the BMS cafeteria where we got a chance to network with more BMS employees while enjoying some light snacks. The networking opportunity was maximized by adopted a speed-networking style. As we sat around the table, the BMS employees rotated tables in quick succession for brief one-on-one introductions. We got to meet with several Rutgers and iJOBS alum, who gave more information about the onboarding process at BMS, which can vary from a week to a month with usually 5-6 round of interviews. It seems that the research is more interdisciplinary and collaborative in a big pharma like BMS and communication skills play a key role along with technical skills to perform well in this fast-paced environment.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>          We also got the opportunity to explore the beautiful BMS campus and visit some of the labs. Sujana Shifon, a CLIMB member, guided the lab tour. Sujana works in the small molecules department while pursuing a master’s degree from Rutgers University. We got to visit the analytical lab and the automation lab; both of which were equipped with mass spectrometers, HPLC, GCMS, etc. As a chemist, I was very excited to witness the state-of-the-art technology in these labs that can make the day-to-day lab work much faster and more comfortable. Sujana also informed us about <em>the robot</em> at BMS, which can precisely weigh hundreds of samples together. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>          As we were heading back, we witnessed the other employees ending their workday as well. This is an excellent testament to the work-life balance BMS can provide. If you are planning to graduate soon or planning to move to industry from academia, then consider working for BMS and keep an eye at their <a href="https://careers.bms.com/">careers</a> page. At BMS, <strong>fostering talent is a top priority</strong>, which makes it a great place to start and build a career in industry as a scientist. If you are looking for a place with great work-life balance with ample opportunities for growth to either leadership role or transitioning to non-bench career, BMS should make to your top priority list!</span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><em>This article was edited by Junior Editor Sonal Gahlawat and Senior Editor Natalie Losada.</em></span></span></span></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--news.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/352" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">nml95</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--news.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Mon, 10/10/2022 - 16:01</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-tags--news.html.twig * field--node--field-tags.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Topic Areas</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/211" hreflang="en">Featured</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/251" hreflang="en">Biomedical Sciences</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/282" hreflang="en">career development</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/254" hreflang="en">iJOBS Event Summary</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/320" hreflang="en">Pharmaceutical Industry</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/317" hreflang="en">STEM careers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/268" hreflang="en">Industry Perspective</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/266" hreflang="en">Site Visit</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-academic-cluster--news.html.twig * field--node--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-academic-cluster field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Academic Cluster</div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/226" hreflang="en">Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-authored-on-year--news.html.twig * field--node--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--computed-integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-authored-on-year field--type-computed-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Authored On Year</div> <div class="field--item">2022</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Mon, 10 Oct 2022 16:01:36 +0000 nml95 2477 at https://grad.rutgers.edu iJOBS Career Panel - Bench Positions in Industry (Panel #2) https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/ijobs-career-panel-bench-positions-industry-panel-2 <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--title--news.html.twig x field--node--title.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--title.html.twig * field--string.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <span>iJOBS Career Panel - Bench Positions in Industry (Panel #2)</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--title.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--body--news.html.twig * field--node--body.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--body.html.twig * field--text-with-summary.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>By: Sonal Gahlawat</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Research in industry. Sounds chic and full of hopes and whatnot. But what does it look like? Do they spend all of their time doing experiments on the bench? What about work-life balance? I am sure you want answers to your hundreds of questions about bench positions in industry, so you're in the right place.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>This summer the iJOBS industry panel was split into two sessions. While session #1 was illuminating about the various career paths within the R&amp;D, educating on those little tricks and tips that recruiters are looking for, and revelatory about debunking myths on finding your first job after graduate school. Do not worry if you missed out on the chance to attend. You can read about </span></span></span></span><a href="https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/ijobs-career-panel-bench-positions-industry-panel-1"><span><span><span>Panel #1</span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span> and/or continue reading to learn about panel #2 discussion on bench scientists.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>On August 4, 2022, six different panelists from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry shared their meandering journey from their last year of graduate school to their current positions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinampuri/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Dr. Vinam Puri</span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span><span> is a Research Scientist II in the Formulation R&amp;D department at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.solaris-pharma.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Solaris Pharma Corporation</span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span><span>, a leading company that focuses on developing high-quality, affordable dermatological products. Vinam has a doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Science from Rutgers University, where he focused on developing product formulations for topical and transdermal drug delivery. His graduate school experience allowed him to collaborate with industry experts and become familiar with the research happening in different sized companies. He then realized the common theme of science in academia and industry, as well as different roles available in industry. Like every graduate student at the School of Graduate Studies who does not miss a single opportunity offered by the iJOBS program, Vinam also attended numerous events and completed several certificates provided by iJOBS and the Professional Science Master’s program (part of the Rutgers Business School). As he was finishing up his thesis research, Vinam worked at Johnson and Johnson in the consumer department as a co-op intern during the days while writing his thesis at other times. Thanks to his excellent networking skills, he landed his first full-time job at Solaris Pharma without even applying for the job; here, he wore multiple hats to hone his skills in regulatory affairs and product development and he loved it. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhargava-nemmaru/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Dr. Bhargava Nemmaru</span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span> is a Process Development Scientist at </span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.amgen.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Amgen</span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span>, a worldwide pioneer in biotechnology that discovers and develops “innovative human therapeutics for patients with serious illnesses.” Bhargava graduated from Rutgers University with a doctoral degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, where he explored the area of enzyme designing and engineering for producing biofuels. He also did a lot of protein expression and purification (Sigh! I do know how that feels). All the skills Bhargava gained as a graduate student can be easily transferred to the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry to produce antibodies, enzymes, and recombinant proteins. Close to finishing his Ph.D. degree, Bhargava started exploring various career options. By attending several iJOBS events, he developed his professional network on LinkedIn and connected to industry professionals to understand what job is the best fit for him. He did multiple informational interviews with professionals, which ultimately helped him get a job referral from one of Amgen’s employees. Bhargava advises everyone to<em> do informational interviews</em>; you never know when someone from your network could refer you for your dream job. Bhargava got his offer letter four months before graduating. With the perfect balance of luck, hard work, and timing, he moved to sunny California to leave behind the dead winters of New Jersey.  </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-huselid/"><strong><span><span><span><span><span>Dr. Eric Huselid</span></span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span><span> is a Scientist at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.janssen.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span><span>Janssen: Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson &amp; Johnson</span></span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span><span>, a global pharmaceutical company that creates "visionary medicines and healthcare solutions" for a wide range of human disorders. Eric holds a doctoral degree from Rutgers University and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, where he focused on drug development to treat glioblastoma, a high-risk area close to Eric's heart. Following his graduation, Eric completed a short postdoctoral research fellowship at the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, which helped him boost his resume in terms of productivity, skillset, and publications. Eric's first position in industry was as a Johnson and Johnson contractor, and <em>he got the full-time job within the same team 9 months later</em>. So, a great tip: if you are struggling to have a rewarding graduate school experience, a short postdoctoral experience might be what you need. Eric also explained the concepts behind the contractor positions. Due to heavy workload, contractors mainly aim to increase staffing for a particular project rather than a group. These contractor positions usually last 2-3 years to fulfill the project's needs but can continue on a rolling basis. In short, even though the contracting company will hire you, you might end up working for your dream company.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasadsubramaniam/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Dr. Prasad Subramaniam</span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span> is a Senior Program Manager in Translational Medicine at </span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.genmab.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Genmab</span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span>, an international biotechnology company specializing in developing "differentiated antibody therapeutics" for treating cancer. Prasad also holds a doctoral degree in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Rutgers University and designed novel nanomaterials for molecular imaging and drug delivery to malignant tumors. He also worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University for five years while simultaneously building his network and figuring out his short-term and long-term goals. With the mantra of "<em>to get the job in  industry, it's not what you know, but whom you know</em>," Prasad never stopped networking and applied for &gt;1,000 jobs. <em>Seven people</em> recommended Prasad for his first job at Bristol Myers Squib as a contractor. For two years, he focused on building his technical and business skills, which were his main interests, that ultimately allowed him to climb the ladder to become the Strategic Innovation Lead as a full-time employee in the Product Development department. As a leader in his current role in Genmab, Prasad loves helping build organizational structure and provide strategic support. With his persistence, hard work, and networking skills, Prasad has paved his way toward the business development part of science, a goal he has always sought to accomplish.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-j-garcia/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Dr. Carlos Gracia</span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span> is a Senior Medical Director at </span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.neon-nyc.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Neon</span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span>, a full-service healthcare agency part of IPG Health and produces "provocative and groundbreaking killer ideas" that help patients choose the best life-saving treatments. Carlos graduated from Rutgers University with a doctoral degree in Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology and investigated useful, predatory bacteria's role in killing disease-causing bacteria. He identified his first job opportunity through an iJOBS event, where <em>one of the medical communicator panelists saw potential in his communication skills</em>.  The panelist helped Carlos get his first internship in the medical writing field and he subsequently joined GlaxoSmithKline for his second internship, again through iJOBS. He efficiently leveraged his internship experiences, technical skillset, and networking skills to get his first full-time job at the GSW Advertising agency. Once you are in industry, a.k.a. you <em>have industry experience</em>, employers have more faith in your ability to succeed outside of academia, which makes finding a second job easier.  While Carlos is not doing bench science, he extensively uses the skills he gained during his graduate school journey to create innovations with his team, ultimately winning the highly coveted Clio Innovator Award and becoming the first medical director at IPG. In his current role, Carlos works with medical affairs team and </span></span></span><a href="https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/bringing-value-most-demand-financially-free-and-self-fulfilling-career-road-becoming-msl"><span><span><span>medical science liaisons</span></span></span></a><span><span><span> of big pharma companies on promotional materials including social advertisements, brochures, and messages; everything to sell a drug to the target population, right from his home office. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-a-dowden/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Dr. Robert Dowden</span></span></span></span></strong></a><strong><span><span><span><span> is a Scientist I at </span></span></span></span></strong><a href="https://www.admerahealth.com/"><strong><span><span><span><span>Admera Health</span></span></span></span></strong></a><span><span><span><span>, a leading “precision medicine and molecular diagnostics company.” Like our other panelists, Robert holds a doctoral degree in Kinesiology and Health from Rutgers University, where he probed the host-microbiome interactions between exercise and diet, leading to a first-author publication in <em>Scientific Reports</em>. Thanks to his networking skills, Robert joined Genesis Biotechnology as a Research Scientist, where he investigated novel drug targets for treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis utilizing assay development and compound profiling. Robert loves doing bench work and gets excited about understanding the mechanisms and pathways behind something, but it can be daunting and frustrating at times. While still trying to figure out what he likes, he became more interested in the business aspects of science. Frustrated by the long commuting hours, Robert switched jobs and is currently working at Admera Health, where he regularly interfaces with customers and fellow scientists to ensure the successful completion of product workflows. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In our last panel, graduate students were <strong>curious about how research differs in industry vs. academia</strong>. While our panelists agreed that funding is more abundant in industry, Vinam argues that it primarily depends on the company's size. Since startups usually have limited resources, a part of Vinam's job includes finding cheaper alternatives for equipment and products, which can include identifying and collaborating with CRO/academic institutions or exploring alternative approaches without compromising research quality. On the contrary, Eric pointed out that large companies tend to follow the "<em>done fast, done right</em>" mantra. Another striking difference is the time spent doing experiments. Suppose one can confidently draw conclusions based on the results of an assay. In that case, there is no point in repeating it to get the perfect or publication-quality image of the results (I am definitely looking forward to this aspect of the science!) </span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>While panelists made it seem like getting that first dream job is "easy as pie" with hard work and networking included, <strong>let's not forget the struggle of international students</strong> who must manage visa restrictions, worry about getting an H1B before their OPT (Optional Practical Training) runs out, and many other concerns. Graduate students on an F1 visa typically need to apply for OPT to get a work authorization permit before working for any company. The process usually takes 30-90 days, depending on the filing season. Bhargava gave a piece of great advice, which was a relief even for me: pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies work closely with law firms that helps take care of the paperwork, whether it's OPT or H1B or filing for green card application. Amgen automatically enrolled Bhargava for the H1B lottery at the start of the following year and started his green card process after six months of joining. The green card process start date can differ from company to company. He also advised graduating Ph.D.'s to ask the hiring manager visa-related questions as all the companies know this can be an issue. As for Vinam, he is working in a small company and on F1 visa and is considering filing for the green card application for the EB1 category. Smaller companies are usually less likely to sponsor candidates due to limited availability of resources. Since the visa situation changes a lot depending on the political situation, Prasad mentioned to always be up-to-date about the visa regulations and how it affects you. Compared to five years ago, companies are more willing to sponsor a H1B and green card application to be competitive in their fields. In short, always be working on your profile. If you want to understand better what you can do on a visa, check out the iJOBS blog on “</span></span></span><a href="https://grad.rutgers.edu/news/international-students-and-visas-workshop"><span><span><span><span>International Students and Visas” A Workshop</span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span>.”</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Great, you have finished two sessions on bench positions in industry. Even if you think you are not ready to apply for that dream job in sunny California or rainy Seattle or cold Boston, I will say, “<em>you are ready and all prepared!</em>” Before we wrap up our session, let’s get some last-minute tips from our highly talented Rutgers’ alumni. One great piece of advice came from Vinam: whether you want to do an internship or a co-op to build your LinkedIn profile or just want to explore a role within industry, have that conversation with your advisor and explain your career goals. Think from the advisor’s perspective and <em>be flexible to match their/lab’s needs</em>. Prasad also recommended doing multiple informational interviews with people from different roles and backgrounds and see what you like. Pick a few roles in which you can see yourself and apply for those positions. Once you are in, you will be able to “<em>expand your skillset and move across functions.</em>” <strong>Just like us, most of our panelists are still figuring out what they want to do!</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'filter_caption' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/filter/templates/filter-caption.html.twig' --> <figure role="group" class="align-center"> <img alt="figure 1" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="557168e6-636f-43b2-b180-958a87cd77bf" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/2022-08-04_iJOBS%20Career%20Panel-Research%20Positions%20in%20Industry%20fig1.png" /> <figcaption>Figure 1: Key Takeaways from our panelists for getting that first dream job.</figcaption> </figure> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/filter/templates/filter-caption.html.twig' --> </p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><strong><span><span><span><span>My Thoughts…         </span></span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>After two intensive and visionary sessions on bench scientists in industry, I feel like I’m ready to take that plunge and start applying for jobs, even though I still have time before I can graduate. The field of bench science can be rewarding for some and daunting for others. The critical question is figuring out our short and long-term goals and creating a path to achieve them. This iJOBS career panel was enlightening, to say the least, both in terms of shedding light on bench scientists as a career and giving us confidence that we have it in us. As rightly pointed out by Robert, if you don’t know something, “you are a Ph.D. You are going to figure it out!”</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span><span><span><em><span><span><span><span>This article was edited by Junior Editor Shawn Rumrill and Senior Editor Natalie Losada.</span></span></span></span></em></span></span></span></p> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--uid--news.html.twig x field--node--uid.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--uid.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <span> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'username' --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> <span lang="" about="/user/352" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype="">nml95</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/user/templates/username.html.twig' --> </span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--uid.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--created--news.html.twig x field--node--created.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--created.html.twig * field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <span>Tue, 09/13/2022 - 12:57</span> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'core/modules/node/templates/field--node--created.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-tags--news.html.twig * field--node--field-tags.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-tags.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Topic Areas</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/211" hreflang="en">Featured</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/251" hreflang="en">Biomedical Sciences</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/282" hreflang="en">career development</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/254" hreflang="en">iJOBS Event Summary</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/320" hreflang="en">Pharmaceutical Industry</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/317" hreflang="en">STEM careers</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/268" hreflang="en">Industry Perspective</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/321" hreflang="en">industry research positions</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/308" hreflang="en">biotechnology</a></div> </div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-academic-cluster--news.html.twig * field--node--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-academic-cluster.html.twig * field--entity-reference.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-academic-cluster field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Academic Cluster</div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/226" hreflang="en">Biological, Biomedical, and Health Sciences</a></div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <!-- THEME DEBUG --> <!-- THEME HOOK: 'field' --> <!-- FILE NAME SUGGESTIONS: * field--node--field-authored-on-year--news.html.twig * field--node--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--node--news.html.twig * field--field-authored-on-year.html.twig * field--computed-integer.html.twig x field.html.twig --> <!-- BEGIN OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> <div class="field field--name-field-authored-on-year field--type-computed-integer field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Authored On Year</div> <div class="field--item">2022</div> </div> <!-- END OUTPUT from 'themes/bootstrap/templates/field/field.html.twig' --> Tue, 13 Sep 2022 12:57:04 +0000 nml95 2454 at https://grad.rutgers.edu