Five Questions With: Jennifer Bairam, University of Rhode Island student

JENNIFER BAIRAM, A JUNIOR in University of Rhode Island's Pharmaceutical Sciences Program will be part of the intern program at Lonza Biologics this summer. /COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
JENNIFER BAIRAM, A JUNIOR in University of Rhode Island's Pharmaceutical Sciences Program will be part of the intern program at Lonza Biologics this summer. /COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND

A native of Hooksett, New Hampshire, Jennifer Bairam is a junior in the B.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences program at the University from Rhode Island. She has had years of experience working in pharmacies and will be part of the intern program at Lonza Biologics this summer.

Now a junior at URI, what first interested you about studying pharmaceutical sciences at the state’s flagship research institute?

Going into college I had a pretty good idea I wanted a career in a science field post-graduation. I have always been interested in drugs, especially the research and design that goes into them, but I knew I absolutely did not want to be a pharmacist. When I heard about URI’s pharmaceutical sciences program, I did not know much about it at all. I am from New Hampshire, so I had been looking at a lot of science programs offered at our state schools and pharmaceutical sciences was not an option. I was accepted into URI for chemistry, but the months before I began at URI, I was looking more at their offered programs, and that’s how I came across the Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences program. I really dug deeper into what the pharmaceutical sciences program and knew I had to be in it. I loved that it incorporated all of the basic science classes – such as organic chemistry, microbiology, and biochemistry – in the first two years, but also educates the BSPS students on pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism and more in the last two years.

 

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How did you first learn about the bachelor’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences Mentorship program and how do you think it augments the classes you’re taking now?

I heard about the BSPS mentorship program through Erin Edmonds, the BSPS experiential education coordinator. Erin reached out to the juniors and seniors in the BSPS program highly encouraging us to apply to be a part of this program, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to get exposure in the pharma world. The program is great because it helps bring together everything I learn in my pharmacy classes. Now, when I go to class, I try to see myself being interested in that specific topic for a career in the future, and what part of the pharma industry that topic may fit into. I also really enjoyed the program because I gained so much knowledge from my mentor about the industry, and careers in pharma, that I may not have gotten in my classes.

 

What have you learned while shadowing pharmaceutical experts in the field?

My mentor, Jeff Cehelsky, is vice president of clinical operations at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. I learned a good amount about his job and how a clinical operations department would run in the internship. Over the past three years at URI, I have not learned too much about clinical trials and the work that goes into them so it’s great that he was able to introduce me to a different department of pharmaceutical companies.

 

Has this experience given you a better understanding of what to expect in the pharmaceutical workforce post-graduation?

Yes, this experience makes me feel more confident in knowing how these companies operate and what it would be like to work at one post-graduation. It was great to have Jeff look over my resume and cover letter and get approval on them from someone involved in a hiring process themselves. It was also nice to shadow Cehelsky and see the inside workings of a pharma company.

 

What would you say to prospective BSPS Mentorship applicants?

Even if you feel like you are dead set on going into the industry, grad school, or research right after graduation, I would tell them not to hesitate and apply. Going through this mentor/mentee relationship may change your mind and attitude about what you actually would like to see yourself doing after graduation. It can never hurt to gain experiences and knowledge from someone in the pharmaceutical industry, or in a research setting at a university. This is an opportunity that can only better you in the future.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey.

 

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