Interview with a $cientist: From PhD to Start-Up
The $cientist: Alyssa Years in the Game: ~4 yrs
Job Title: Senior Scientist Education: PhD in Biochemistry
Job Focus: Lab-business Mix Whereabouts: Cambridge, MA
Alyssa guides us through the start-up world as a freshly-minted PhD earner-getting the job, Meeting with Venture Capitalists, juggling daily changes, and her advice to STEMmers.
“A unique and interesting way to be exposed to cutting edge science and being excited about what kind of breakthroughs people are making in the field.”
On Being a $cientist
What’s the role of a Senior Scientist at a small company?
At a small company titles mean something different compared to larger organizations, so I just do mostly the regular scientist stuff like being in lab to design and run experiments, data analysis, etc. I also manage external collaborations with companies and work on IP’s (intellectual properties), which has been really cool. I get to learn how important protecting our technology is, and the business side of things allows me to see that there is a lot more to this than just science.
Tell us more about the business side.
Something that I was not appreciative of before starting this career is the business side- intellectual property is such a huge part. I figured that I was going to be a scientist and everything else just kind of works out. In reality, there’s so much effort that needs to be put into making sure that your technology is protected and that you have freedom to operate. Making sure that someone else hasn’t patented your technology that could potentially block you from what you are doing is important.
What is a typical day like?
It definitely depends, and it’s a mix between doing lab stuff or working on whatever needs to be done for the external collaborations that we have to support them. Sometimes, my days are very experiment heavy, so I’ll plan them the day before. However, some days the experiments that I planned get postponed because I need to change gears to spend the whole day working on an unexpected request from a collaborator.
What’s the best thing about working at a start-up?
What I really like about this job is that you need to be all hands-on deck and do whatever you can to make everything work, which I think is unique to start-ups. I really enjoy the fact that I am exposed to so many different aspects. I get a little bit of taste and flavor of business development efforts and have been involved in intellectual property efforts. I get to experience contracts with collaborators, but also get to do the science, which I really like. We get a little more exposure in a small company because we have to be able to help with multiple aspects of the business like dealing with operations; I also order snacks for the company, which I find to be a very important role (insert laugh).
What do you find most challenging about your job?
Probably not having predictability. I adapt well to it, but it is still a challenge- the deadlines that are imposed, for example. A larger company might get it done when you can, but it’s our company’s lively-hood. So if collaborators ask us to do something, then we need to get it done right away. For example, a company asked us on a Friday afternoon to get done a complicated task, so we worked the entire weekend to fulfill their request. This is fine, and I think it goes like this in a lot of professions. However, not being able to close the door and leave work when I go home because there is so much that needs get done is a little challenging, but it’s worth it for the rewards of being stimulated and being excited by what I do.
Do you get to publish your work?
I would always want to publish because it’s exciting and enjoyable to share with the world my findings. Publishing in a company is important to demonstrate the technology, but it’s not a priority.
How did you land your current position?
My advisor approached me when I was graduating with my PhD, and asked me about my thoughts on working in a start-up company. He was happy with the work that I did in grad school and thankfully trusted me with this new company. He had me meet with the venture partner. I actually felt really great about the meeting, so that was awesome, and then they offered me that position.
“Just find something that you love and don’t get discouraged because there is one part of it that is not your forte- you can embrace the other part and enjoy it! It’s so exciting!”
What was it like to meet with a VC for an interview?
How the venture process generally operates is that venture partners (VP) will found companies with academic co-founders, and will act as the CEO at the inception of the company. Meeting with the VP allows him/her to get a feel for your ability to handle this company. I came highly recommended by our advisor and we worked with our VP previously, albeit on an entirely different project. It was a streamlined transition because we were comfortable with our VP’s style of management. The VP was fantastic- very supportive and excited about the idea. It was nice to have, in addition to my advisor, some new mentor-type people around me.
What prepared you for this position?
I missed the whole postdoc thing, which I was pleased with from the stand point of knowing that I didn’t want to go into academia or do basic research. Doing a postdoc is scientifically rewarding and interesting, but after 5 years of grad school I was ready for the real world- to get a job in industry, make a little more money, and having the opportunity to work on something applied. I wanted to start applying something that could be actually be made into a product, so for me it was the perfect position and transition.
Where are you headed with this position/company?
I’ve been here for almost 4 years, I’m still learning, and we are doing exciting things. I was promoted to a senior scientist from a regular scientist, but subsequently it didn’t mean a different role. Our organization is small, so we don’t have departments where we have room to climb the ladder of hierarchy.
What is your overall goal?
I’ve gotten the taste of start-up life, so I’m interested in seeing what it’s like in big pharma. I’ve enjoyed my time in a small company, but it sounds exciting to explore evaluating and identifying promising technologies, and how they can be applied internally to a big company. It will be a really unique and interesting way to be exposed to cutting edge science and being excited about what kind of breakthroughs people are making in the field. However, I do recognize that there is a lot of bureaucracy in large companies. I understand that the frustrating aspect might be that even though great technologies exist, they might not be implemented for reasons that are not scientific at all.
Would you recommend a start-up to PhD’s?
There’s never a dull moment. If you are not happy going with the status quo, then a big company may not be as rewarding as a small company where you are doing everything you can. It might be nice to know exactly what you are going to do every day, but I feel like it can be a little tiring. Switching gears on the drop of a hat can be a little frustrating, but I think it depends on the person.
“Oh, my gosh the body is like doing reactions, this is amazing!”
General $tuff
Why did you choose STEM/science?
I know it’s so cliché to say, “oh when I was a child I loved science" (insert laugh), but I always found chemistry and biology to be more interesting subjects and my parents definitely encouraged me. In undergrad, I considered environmental science, but after one class I realized it wasn’t the science that excited me. However, the pre-requisite class was chemistry and I thought it was really great. Still, I wasn’t passionate about it, but I liked it because I felt that I had a wonderful teacher. Maybe by that point my mind was developed enough to really appreciate it and understand it, so I continued on and enjoyed it. I am probably one of the only people in the world who loved organic chemistry- it was so interesting, the culmination of it all like with biochemistry, I was like “oh my gosh the body is like doing reactions, this is amazing!”
Why did you decide to get a PhD in lieu of settling with a bachelor’s?
Honestly, out of undergrad I thought “I love science, it’s amazing, and I’m going to be a professor”. However, early on in my career as a graduate student I realized that I did not want to be a professor. My experience doing geo-biochemistry research in undergrad showed me that there is a difference between chemistry professors and other professors. It just seemed like they were getting eaten away and I quickly realized that was not what I wanted my life to be like. But I appreciated that I really enjoyed science and like the idea of translational research- research that has applications)- so I stuck with it since I was already in grad school. I decided to go into industry because of that.
Your pre-PhD work was on various viruses. Are you still interested in working with viruses and diseases?
The stuff we were doing for my PhD was interesting and I felt that it had cool applications. Everyone knows that the work that you do in your PhD is not likely to turn into a product because most of it is basic research. I really enjoy viruses and working on different diseases as long as it’s something that is applied and can help people. I chose to take this position because it’s an opportunity, not particularly because I did not want to work with viruses anymore. In the future, I would love to get back into stuff that is more closely related to what I did my PhD in because antivirals and anti-infectives are really interesting and so important.
What advice would you give to students who are interested in the STEM fields?
Just go for it! Work hard, find something that you are excited about. You might not be great at physics or math, but don’t let that discourage you because there are a lot of things you can do where you don’t need to be the best at it. Just find something that you love and don’t get discouraged because there is one part of it that is not your forte- you can embrace the other part and enjoy it! It’s so exciting!
On Mentoring
Why did you decide to become a mentor?
I am passionate about science and I was interested in working with a younger scientist who might not be sure about her trajectory to get her motivated and excited about research.
Why did you choose the Nexxt Scholars?
It was a unique program that I happened to hear about when I felt like I had enough time to commit to a mentorship role. I really liked how it focused on bringing science to women who come from cultures and regions where women are not as encouraged to pursue a career in science. I believe the more diversity that we have in science, the better we will be at solving the world’s toughest problems.
What was the most valuable thing that you learned being a mentor?
I think I am still learning about my mentoring style and how to be most effective. I am still very much a work in progress.
Are you continuing to mentor?
I have been mentoring interns at my company and I am still in touch with my Nexxt Mentee even though she has graduated. It has been great to see her grow as a scientist and I look forward to seeing where she goes!
Etc.
How do you balance work and life?
It can be tough because of the crazy hours, but I try to make most of everyday. I get in my exercise by walking to work, and I like spinning. I realize that if I don’t get everything done, then it’s okay because there is always tomorrow. I also traveling and seeing new places. I love baking, but I feel like that is cheating because it is science (insert laugh).
Most people see scientists as introverted and some are. How are your interactions with other scientists compared to academia?
I have definitely noticed scientists of all personalities and work styles (as I think there are in all professions). I think the stereotypical introverted nerdy scientist isn't really that common in my experiences. In both academia and industry, I think that it is in everyone's best interest to be collaborative and for the most part I think people work towards that.
Do you see art in science?
I certainly think there is an intersection between art and science. Chemical reactions, for example, can create beautiful colors and shapes. Biology to me is a symphony of molecular machines (proteins) creating life. Maybe it's not art as the mainstream would see it, but I definitely think it is beautiful in its own artistic way.
SCIENCE IS BEAUTY™
EFFORTLESSLY BEAUTIFUL IN THE LAB.
