Mikaela

After finishing my BS in Biology and BA in Anthropology in 2021, I found myself facing uncertainty, globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and personally because I was unsure of my professional direction. After applying to jobs from conservation research associate to diagnostics lab technician, I landed in vaccine research as an RA at the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research. Six months into the job, I was promoted to the lab’s Pre-clinical Analytical Project Manager. This role made a lightbulb go off, as I now understood that I wanted to be involved in the pharmaceutical and drug industry, not just in the lab, but helping to run trials and working directly with clients at pharmaceutical companies.  

This led me to explore graduate degrees that would set me up for success in both business management and pharmaceuticals. NYU’s Biotechnology and Entrepreneurship degree was a standout, providing a meticulously designed curriculum that I did not find at other schools. The biotechnology classes equipped me with a deep understanding of asset research and development, and the drug approval process. The entrepreneurship offerings developed my business acumen, as well as communication and presentation skills.

All of these cross-functional competencies helped me to graduate with a job offer from the first job I applied to, as an Associate Consultant in medical strategy at IQVIA. Here, I have been able to put the knowledge base I built at NYU into action. Currently, I work with my team to build R & D evidence strategy plans to gain regulatory approval for pharmaceutical and medical technology assets at both emerging and large companies.