Biotech and biomed offer a wide array of career options for ambitious individuals looking to make a difference.

 

Across the nation, the biotech and biomedical industry is flourishing as technology and innovation advances at a near break-neck pace.

While scientific professionals are a critical piece of this advancement and innovation, biotech and biomed offer a wide variety of career opportunities ranging from sales and marketing, and research and development to manufacturing, quality control and assurance.

Here five professionals working in various roles in the industry share their experience and what makes their companies a great places to work. They also provide advice for succeeding in this thriving industry, which starts in the lab, but stretches far beyond that.

 

Rosales’ Work Guides Better Health Information for Abbott

Miguel Rosales and his team want to help people achieve better health.

Rosales is a research and development product supervisor for Abbott’s diagnostics business, developing life-changing tests and diagnostic tools that give people accurate, timely information to better manage their health.

“You can think of diagnostic testing as a compass, providing information that helps in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of health conditions,” he says.

For instance, last year Rosales’ team began launching the new Alinity family of diagnostics systems across all of Abbott’s businesses.

“These are highly differentiated platforms that stand to change the way diagnostic labs fundamentally work by improving efficiencies and contributing to better patient outcomes,” he details.

Rosales was drawn to the field, in part, by trying to better understand his grandmother’s death as a child.

“When I was 10 years old, my grandma passed away from cancer, and I remember not understanding why,” he says.

“A few years later, I researched cancer in the encyclopedia and was awestruck that there was a problem so big that adults had not been able to solve. I think that awe and amazement is what drove my curiosity for research and, combined with a knack for science, ultimately drove me to pursue a field where I could have an impact on others and their ability to live their best lives.”

Rosales originally thought about becoming a doctor, but changed course when he learned about Abbott Park, IL-headquartered Abbott at a career fair at Loyola University in Chicago, IL.

“When I realized what an impact I could have there, helping to create life-changing technologies that really made a huge difference for doctors and their patients when diagnosing disease, I decided that was the direction I wanted to go. I was privileged to land at Abbott right after college and build my career here for the last 10 years,” he says.

What Rosales appreciates most about the company are the people. “Abbott does such a fantastic job fostering a culture of community and innovation among the teams here. I feel privileged to work with some of the smartest people in science.”

For young professionals to find success in the workplace, Rosales advises working hard - and being patient.

“Especially today, where I see people hopping from job to job, I think those who can learn to be patient find that patience rewarded tenfold,” he elaborates, noting that Abbott is a place where you can have multiple careers in the same company because of its diverse businesses and geographical footprint.

“Patience also allows you to develop real, deep relationships with mentors who will advocate for you as you pursue new steps in your journey, as well,” Rosales adds.

As a hiring manager, he further notes that landing a job in this field is not necessarily about your experience you have or the processes you’ve memorized.

“A solid scientific foundation is essential, of course (know your chemistry!), but an ability to adapt, to learn new systems - and to offer new, innovative solutions - are the ones that I see propelling people to the next levels in research here.”

To find career opportunities at Abbott, visit abbott.com/careers. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

Lugo & His Team Work to Develop ‘Outstanding Products’ for Zimmer Biomet

For Carlos Lugo the opportunity to design orthopedic knee implant products was more appealing than designing cars.

As an associate director of design quality for Zimmer Biomet’s knee, bone cement and limb salvage business, Lugo oversees a team that works closely with development engineers and surgeons to develop and design products, including the company’s knee replacement products.

“Working with new designs and upcoming developments is one of the most exciting roles in the company,” says Lugo. “I work with a great team that makes outstanding products that meet all regulations - domestic and international - so we know we’re putting a quality product into the field.”

With a degree in industrial engineering from Purdue University, Lugo was initially headed toward the automotive industry. But during a co-op program rotation, he realized the biomedical field was a much better fit.

“It’s night and day when you compare auto to medical. When I made the switch from automotive to medical it became real that what I do matters,” says Lugo.

“Building cars is really cool, and as an engineer, it’s the first thing I wanted to do. While working as a co-op in the knee group, I had an opportunity to experience my first cadaver lab and realized what I went to school for, and ultimately what I wanted to do.”

“Zimmer Biomet is a global leader in musculoskeletal healthcare. We’re very passionate, and we manufacture products and solutions that restore mobility, alleviate pain and improve the quality of life for patients around the world. I’m working for the company in the biomedical field.”

While Lugo loves being part of new product development and the challenges that come along with this type of work at Warsaw, IN-based Zimmer Biomet, he also appreciates helping develop his young team, which is mainly comprised of biomedical, mechanical and industrial engineers.

“Seeing them develop and move up excites me,” he says. “I love being able to help them grow and advance their career. We have some of the most amazing engineers, and it’s great to see them moving up in the company.”

Zimmer Biomet offers internships and a co-op program for students and recent graduates. The two-year rotational program provides on-the-job experience in key functional areas such as quality/regulatory and finance to accelerate a move into a leadership role in the company.

“These programs give you a flavor of the different areas, [and] the ability to explore and understand the company while using your skills as an engineer,” says Lugo. “The programs help us attract amazing talent.”

One of Lugo’s key pieces of advice is to take advantage of the opportunity to get hands-on experience so you can find the best place for you in the professional world.

“The best advice I received is to do what makes you happy. Do the thing you really want to do: the thing that doesn’t feel like work; the thing that is attractive to you eight, nine, 10 hours a day. I can say that about what I do. I love what I do at Zimmer Biomet.”

Find career, co-op and internship opportunities with Zimmer Biomet at zimmerbiomet.com/careers. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

Claudio Puts Passion into Practice as a Biomedical Researcher at Mount Sinai

Science and medicine have always been the passion of Luz Claudio, Ph.D. Today she puts that passion into practice as a biomedical researcher at New York, NY’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

“I think the brain is the most amazing and intricate thing to try to understand,” says Claudio, who has a doctorate in neuroscience.

“I also became interested in how the environment affects health. I learned about how people are affected by pollution depending on where they live and other factors. Now I do scientific research on how environmental factors affect the health of children.”

Claudio has recently been collaborating with computational scientists to research the effects of air pollution on children's brain development. Some evidence from the research suggests children exposed to higher levels of air pollution early in life do worse on standardized tests.

“The best thing about my job is the freedom to explore different scientific ideas,” she says. “I started as a neuroscientist, but later wanted to work more directly with communities of color that were most affected by environmental pollution.”

From Puerto Rico with much of her family still on the island, Claudio’s passion for the field was a greatly influenced by her grandmother.

“She did not just have a home garden, she collected and studied plants, and used them to make medicines. With her I made the connection between the environment and health very early in my life,” she shares.

At Mount Sinai since 1991, Claudio chose the organization as it has one of the best-regarded departments of environmental medicine. She also appreciates the organization’s commitment to community and health science.

“Mount Sinai is a top 20 medical center in the U.S., and the excellence in the level of competence of students and colleagues is the best. I love we’re very focused on human health sciences and very committed to the community.”

To succeed in this field, particularly on the research side, excellent writing skills are a must.

“Many students that come into the fields of science or medicine do so because they want to help people, they have a scientific mind, [and] they are curious about the world around them,” says Claudio.

“Most don't realize that to succeed in this career they must be able to write well. You can be a great scientist or physician, but if you don’t have skills to write and publish your work, no one will know how great you are.”

She’s assisted hundreds of students and research fellows with science writing, and recently wrote a book, How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper: the Step-by-Step Guide, to help others improve their writing.

Claudio also wants others to know being an underrepresented minority and a woman in a STEM field may seem difficult, but it has advantages.

“I won't deny that it’s been hard. But I’ve managed to use my being a Puerto Rican female scientist to help me understand my research into how environmental pollution affects different populations, and because I speak Spanish, I’ve made many important research collaborations with scientists in other countries,” she points out.

“I'm also able to relate to many different medical and graduate students who need help navigating academia. Life has been good to me because I've been able to turn things around toward the positive.”

Find career opportunities with Mount Sinai at careers.mountsinai.org. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

 

Morillo Has a Key Role in Ensuring Quality & Compliance at Smith & Nephew

Quality is at the heart of Jose Morillo’s work for Smith & Nephew.

As a senior quality specialist, Morillo ensures that Smith & Nephew products are manufactured in compliance with regulations and are of the utmost quality. This includes handling commercial releases for pharmaceutical/biotech products and medical devices for global distribution, overseeing suppliers, warehouse and distribution centers, and contract manufacturer operations, and supporting quality and compliance audits.

“Smith & Nephew is a quality-, compliance- and customer-focused company,” he says. “I feel encouraged and empowered every day to make a difference, to earn trust and to innovate.”

As an example of his work, the quality assurance team, along with operations, recently led the implementation of serialization, which creates unique identifiers, for two major Smith & Nephew biotech products in the U.S.

“[This was a] huge accomplishment for the team and the company as we drove the project to completion well within target, in compliance with the FDA Drug Supply Chain Security Act and without having any interruptions of product supply,” he notes.

With the company for eight years, Morillo was drawn to Smith & Nephew as it fulfilled his desire to do work, which allowed him to give back and make a difference.

“I wanted to utilize my skills and background to help others, and I thought what better way than working for a pharma/biotech company where I can be involved in making or developing products with utmost quality to improve people’s lives.”

It’s also what he’d always wanted to do. “This is what I wanted to do and where I wanted to do it when I finished high school. I’ve worked very hard to get where I am in my career, and I know this is just another stepping stone in my long journey,” says Morillo.

“I take pride in what I do, and I’m confident the products we make and distribute to wholesalers, hospitals and pharmacies have been thoroughly assessed and approved for use.”

He also appreciates that Smith & Nephew - which has global offices in London, U.K. and U.S. offices in Andover, MA - is an inclusive and empowering workplace. “I always feel recognized for my work. The company strives on building solid and cohesive teams around great leadership.”

For success in the field, “a science degree helps build the necessary critical-thinking skills,” according to Morillo. Attending regulatory and compliance seminars or getting quality-oriented certifications can be great tools, as well.

Morillo has personally found his greatest assets have been a commitment to quality work, attention to detail, drive and personal integrity, which apply to anyone seeking employment in the field.

“I would encourage young professionals to find which task or field that you are passionate about and use it as motivation to strive for greater things,” he says.

He also shares some career advice he received early in his career: “Work the hardest, deliver to your full potential and make sure things happen.”

Find career opportunities with Smith & Nephew at smith-nephew.com/careers. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

 

Allergan’s Rios Blanco Is Committed to Delivering Medicines to Enhance People’s Lives

Melva Rios Blanco and her team are driven to help people overcome disease.

“My team and I work on the development of new medications to cure different diseases,” says Rios Blanco, executive director of research and development for Allergan, which has global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland and U.S. headquarters in Madison, NJ.

“We evaluate whether new potential treatments are safe for patients. We also continuously assess and optimize our processes to accomplish our work in more effective ways.”

This work plays out in a variety of ways and products. For instance, she recently completed the initial safety evaluation of a novel therapeutic for the treatment of depression.

“Mental health is one area where innovation is greatly needed for patients,” she notes.

Rios Blanco had always been interested in science, and while at college, she had her first experience in research in a laboratory studying the effects of UV radiation on DNA. With this experience, she knew she was going to pursue research and a doctorate degree in science, and focused her study on the adverse effects of chemical and biological organisms on human health, and how to prevent or lessen the impact of those effects.

“This path,” she says, “ultimately led me to research and development in the pharmaceutical industry.”

With Allergan for 12 years, Rios Blanco was initially drawn to the company for its diverse and innovative pipeline and its collaborative work environment.

“What first attracted me to Allergan was its extensive and diverse development pipeline, and it’s still the case. In addition to treatments already in the market, Allergan is developing new treatments that address medical needs encompassing many therapeutic areas including women’s health, ophthalmology, mental health and anti-infectives hoping to deliver needed treatments to patients waiting for breakthroughs, and to help people live longer, healthier lives.”

She adds: “Everyone at Allergan is committed to delivering medicines and treatments to enhance people’s lives. It’s our common goal. We’re all encouraged to think of new ideas and empowered to drive those ideas to fruition.”

For a successful career in science, Rios Blanco recommends building strong technical expertise, but also taking time to develop your network, and your leadership and soft skills.

“We don’t work in ‘silos’ but in teams, and relating to others successfully is essential to attain your goals and those of your workplace. We learn from each other, so it’s important to identify people who you admire professionally or personally, and ask them to be your mentors, learn from their experiences.”

She further advises: “Always, always, keep an open mind.”

As there are several career paths and opportunities in research and development within the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare in general, Rios Blanco suggests familiarizing yourself with the different areas by talking to professionals in the field.

Once you identify your area of interest, work toward gaining the technical skills needed through continued education, internships or on-the-job training. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help.

And once in this ever-evolving field, the challenge is to stay current.

“This is a dynamic industry fueled by innovation, and, therefore, [it’s] important to stay up to date with technological advances and to constantly seek efficiencies in everything we do,” Rios Blanco emphasizes.

Find available career opportunities with Allergan at allergan.com/careers. Connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.