Consultant Spotlight - May 2021

How long have you been with miLEAD? 

Since October of 2020.

What is the focus of your research?

Our lab investigates metabolic alterations within pancreatic cancer. My project specifically looks at how regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role in conferring immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, thus providing a more favorable scenario for the cancer to grow and proliferate.

What are your career goals? 

As a second-year PhD student, I'm still keeping all options on the table at this point. However, consulting is alluring due to the fact that you have the opportunity to work on many different projects over time as opposed to focusing on one specific research area. Regardless of the field, I look forward to providing leadership in a team-based setting, as that is where I feel I have a particular gift.

What roles have you played on projects? 

I have been a consultant so far on one project conducting primary and secondary research for a company developing a high-sensitivity immunoassay device.

What led you to seek out milead?

I have been interested in the intersection between science and business for some time and it seems like consulting is a great opportunity to marry these two fields. Several previous consultants and board members spoke very highly about miLEAD and suggested that it would be a great opportunity to get some exposure to the world of consulting.

Since joining miLEAD, what skills have you been able to develop?

In order to perform the primary market research, I was able to get some experience developing and refining interview questions to generate the type of feedback we hoped to obtain. This involved working with our consulting team and analyzing what data would be most valuable for our client. I have also been able to familiarize myself with some of the secondary market research databases and learn what a wealth of information they are. Lastly, in presenting our results to the client, I have gotten more practice honing my professional interpersonal skills.

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences thus far working with miLEAD? 

The most satisfying experience thus far has been the ability to provide our client with robust feedback that they can use to improve their product. It is a good feeling to be given a task and have confidence presenting the deliverables at the end of the project.