Introduction
Hello everyone, my name is Gauri Kulkarni. I embarked on my academic journey in India with a clear vision and passion for the research industry. While my peers aspired to become doctors, I knew that my calling lay in the world of scientific exploration and discovery. This led me to pursue a Bachelor of Engineering in Instrumentation and Control with a major in Biomedical Engineering.
During my undergraduate years, I developed a solid understanding of engineering principles. In my final year, I had the incredible opportunity to work on a project aimed at developing a device to detect Parkinson’s disease. This experience ignited a deep interest in neurodegenerative diseases, propelling me towards a future focused on understanding and finding solutions for these conditions.
To further my education and delve deeper into the field of Biomedical Engineering, I knew that pursuing a Master’s degree was essential. I soon realized that gaining admission to reputable schools in the United States without work experience would be challenging. Determined to acquire practical skills and knowledge, I decided to work for a year in a pharmaceutical company in India. This invaluable experience provided me with hands-on exposure to a wet lab environment and allowed me to work with cutting-edge analytical lab equipment.
In 2018, I made the decision to pursue my Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in the United States. I was accepted into Binghamton University, where I immersed myself in my studies. With a particular focus on neurodegenerative diseases, I continued my research, eager to contribute to the growing body of knowledge and make a tangible impact in this field. I focused on detecting Alzheimer’s disease using digital biomedical engineering techniques. This research not only deepened my understanding of the field but also exposed me to various programming languages and software tools, enhancing my technical skills.
During my Master’s program, I also had the opportunity to collaborate with a PhD student. This collaboration sparked my initial interest in the field of oncology, as I witnessed the profound impact that research could have on improving cancer treatments and patient outcomes.
Upon completing my Master’s degree, I secured a job as a biomedical engineer. In this role, I primarily worked in process development, applying the engineering principles I had learned throughout my education. After a few months, I realized that my true passion lay in the research aspects of my work, particularly in the field of immuno-oncology.
Motivated by my passion for research and the desire to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in cancer treatment, I made the decision to join as a research associate in a biotechnology industry company. Here, I have been fortunate to work on groundbreaking research aimed at developing transformative cancer treatments for patients. Along the way, I have gained valuable skills, both technical and interpersonal, that have furthered my growth as a researcher.
Throughout my journey, I have come to realize that my training in engineering has been instrumental in my ability to excel in the research field. The problem-solving mindset, analytical thinking, and attention to detail that I developed during my engineering education have proven to be invaluable assets in my research endeavors.
As I look back on my experiences and the skills I have acquired, I am grateful for the opportunities that have shaped my path. With each step, my passion for research and dedication to improving patient outcomes in the field of immuno-oncology continue to drive me forward. From my beginnings in India to pursuing my passion in a foreign land, I have encountered numerous challenges along the way. But my determination and unwavering commitment to making a difference have propelled me forward.
Biological Sciences Fellow
career options
The biotechnology and biomedical engineering fields offer a wide range of career options for individuals interested in applying science and technology to improve human health and advance medical research. These fields involve the use of biological systems, engineering principles, and technology to develop innovative solutions and products. The different careers offer opportunities for research, development, manufacturing, and consulting in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology companies, research institutions, and medical device companies.
The field of biotechnology and biomedical engineering is vast, with many diverse career paths. A few options have been described below, but these only encompass some career paths.
Biological Sciences Fellow
skills
What are the main hard skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
Aseptic techniques in the biotechnology industry are essential for maintaining the sterility and integrity of biopharmaceutical products. These techniques involve creating a sterile environment, ensuring personnel are properly trained, sterilizing equipment, and performing aseptic manipulations. Regular monitoring and validation are also crucial to ensure the effectiveness of these techniques. By implementing aseptic techniques, biotechnology companies can prevent contamination and ensure the quality and safety of their products, meeting regulatory requirements and maintaining product integrity.
Biological sciences scientists often face large quantities of raw data generated from experiments or research. Consequently, the skill of data analysis becomes critical - how to draw meaningful conclusions to support or deny initial hypotheses, are there any potential issues that need troubleshooting, etc? Much like any hard skills for biological science scientists, this skill is refining-by-doing.
Laboratory techniques are a broad concept that encompasses details from basic bench skills, to operating scientific instruments, and proper handling of samples, etc. It is very much a hands-on skill which I acquired through years of experience: learn the basics and fundamentals in-depth, repeated practices, troubleshooting, and finding solutions for different scenarios.
Data analysis skills are crucial in biotechnology and biomedical engineering, allowing for interpreting and extracting insights from complex datasets. Proficiency in statistical analysis, knowledge of data analysis techniques, and familiarity with software and statistical packages commonly used in these fields are essential for effective data analysis.
What are the main soft skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
Data generation and evaluation are indeed a critical process for biological sciences scientists. However, it would all be in vain if one failed to efficiently and effectively communicate this valuable information. Learning how to communicate scientific findings to different audiences is a critical hard skill for scientists – this can be daily verbal communication to peers, scientific presentations in front of crowds, etc. – this is a skill that demands years of practice and experience to refine.
Scientists, especially under the biotech/pharmaceutical format, are constantly challenged with handling difficult projects and multitasking, and this makes task management skill an essential on a daily basis. Learning how to prioritize tasks, to manage time effectively, and to properly allocate resources are paramount components of this skill.
Biological sciences scientists constantly face information overflow from literature search & reading or group/team meetings. Consequently, an important soft skill is to be able to critically think and filter information of greatest relevance and significance. I personally encounter similar scenarios on a daily basis – always take good notes and put in the time to evaluate what to take in.
In academia or industrial settings, biological sciences scientists will always run into situations where cross functional collaboration is demanded. You could be working with chemistry scientists or computational scientists and engineers, so taking the time to understand the fundamentals and workflows of different functions you collaborate with will greatly boost your efficiency and effectiveness in work.
Biological sciences, in practical situations, is all about identifying ways to succeed from failures. Consequently, it is important to have the soft skill to readily identify problems from things that did not work and solve the problems for success. It is important to note that this skill requires vast experience and in-depth knowledge of your projects, methodologies, and background information – and it takes practice!
Mengshen
’s personal path
Tell us about your personal journey in
Biological Sciences Fellow
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Looking back on my job search journey, I feel that it was a journey of personal growth. After obtaining my Ph.D. degree in biological sciences, I was proud and ambitious. I told myself that I would absolutely not go for postdoctoral fellow positions – and there came my first realization of the industrial setting – I was simply too inexperienced to step into large pharmaceutical companies, and there was a long way to go. Subsequently, between an offer for a junior position in a biotech company and a postdoctoral fellow position at Harvard Medical School, I chose the latter to further enrich and prepare myself for the industrial setting. This experience turned out to be a wise call that secured me a great position at another biotech company a few years later, where I had a true taste of the industrial side of biological sciences, worked with a lot of great people, learned a magnitude of cutting-edge techniques and methodologies, and started building a rich network for myself. All of which helped me in taking the next leap into landing a senior scientist position a few years later.
It should be noted that job search for biological sciences scientists is by no means a trivial task. Taking my more recent job search experience as an example, I spent a significant amount of time identifying potentially matching open positions on LinkedIn and submitted applications each day. While it is not uncommon not to hear back from most of them, the usual next step would be a quick call with the HR for initial screening. Following which there would be a more in-depth conversation with the hiring manager of the open position to go over job duties and expectations, and if things went smoothly, the last and final step would be either going onsite or virtually for a seminar presentation highlighting your own achievements and one-on-one interview sessions with people you would potentially work with. The essence of job searches as biological sciences scientists is to be genuine, resilient and adaptable – it takes time and a lot of no’s to eventually land a fulfilling job.
What would you tell your younger you regarding building your current career?
If I had any advice to give my younger self regarding career building, the first would be to always take the opportunity to learn new things: while it is important to have specific expertise, never let it become a restraint that limits you from branching out and expanding your toolset. In addition, I would tell my younger self to spend more time and be more proactive in communication and networking – even if I was not in the process of job hunting: it is better to build the network in advance than rushing it last minute. And my last tip to my younger self would be to be more confident and more well prepared during the application and interview process: it took me a good 2 or 3 failed initial screenings and hiring manager conversations to finally become comfortable with the process – should I have been more well prepared and confident, I probably would have grasped those opportunities.
Final thoughts & tips
The path to become a biological sciences scientist is filled with challenges and obstacles – but don’t let that scare you by any means – it is a fulfilling and rewarding career path for those who welcome challenges and wish to contribute to society through their knowledge and expertise. Should you go down this journey, always be tough and resilient in the face of challenges and obstacles, and always stay curious and innovative.
Resources to dig in more
Uniprot
Perfect first stop to any protein science-related query or searches
PubChem
Fantastic tool to query protein or gene targets to search for existing chemical matters and bioassays
BioSpace
Great resource to catch on latest biotech, pharmaceutical and clinical research news and browsing for biological sciences and pharmaceutical jobs
