Consultant Spotlight - August 2021

How long have you been with miLEAD? 

Almost 2 years - I joined January 2020.

What is the focus of your research?

I study the proteins comprising microbial pathways that synthesize pharmaceutically relevant natural products using structural biology and biophysical techniques.

What are your career goals? 

My current career goal is to work for a consultation firm focused on healthcare, biotechnology, or the pharmaceutical industry.

What roles have you played on projects? 

I have worked as a consultant on three projects thus far. I plan to manage my first project this fall!

What led you to seek out milead?

I sought out miLEAD knowing that I was not interested in academic careers and wanting to explore an interest I had in more business/industry-focused routes. Originally, I knew that my time in miLEAD would allow me to learn more about how businesses launch/operate and gain firsthand experience with clients, but I've since grown to be very passionate about consultation work and for finding helpful solutions for our clients.

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

The most important skill that I developed working in miLEAD was learning to translate the critical thinking and analysis skills we all naturally gain through our PhD training towards finding creative answers and strong, data-based business recommendations for clients. I was much more efficient and successful working on projects once I started to think through business problems in the same way I would a problem with my research project. It's easy to lose sight of how similar the thought process is when working on your first project outside of your research area, but there is a reason all of the skills we develop through a PhD transfer to so many other career paths!

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

One of my most rewarding experiences thus far in miLEAD was working to help develop the training modules for new consultants on my first project. Developing the training modules was not only extremely rewarding for my personal development as a new consultant at the time, but it's very gratifying knowing that my work will help to train the future consultants of miLEAD.