3 answers
Guillermo
Student
La Ceiba, Atlántida Department, Honduras
3
Questions
Asked
114 views
If I want to be involved in the pharmaceutical industry, what career path should I take?
I've always thought that obtaining degrees like biomedical engineering, biotechnology or chemical engineering gives me many options to where I want to guide my career, including the pharmaceutical field. What is the optimal career that I should take to be involved in the creation of pharmaceutical products?
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3 answers
Dr Lucas Txibamba
Humanitarian
19
Answers
Luanda, Luanda Province, Angola
Updated
Dr Lucas’s Answer
Hi Aminah,
You're facing a big decision, and it's great that you're thinking carefully about it. Let's figure out how to move from feeling unsure to feeling confident.
Building Confidence in Your Choice
Confidence doesn't just appear suddenly. It grows as you learn more about yourself. Think of yourself as a detective solving the mystery of "What Should Aminah Do?"
Here's your toolkit:
1. Look Beyond Classroom Favorites
Liking a subject in school is a clue, but ask yourself why you like it.
Spanish:
- Is it the grammar and structure? (Think linguistics, translation.)
- Is it learning about different cultures? (Think international relations, anthropology.)
- Is it communicating with more people? (Useful for many global careers.)
Journalism:
- Is it chasing a story? (Think investigative journalism.)
- Is it crafting a narrative? (Think content creation, PR.)
- Is it informing people and holding power accountable? (Think law, advocacy.)
Your Task: Write down what excites you about each subject. This is your first piece of evidence.
2. Test Your Interests in Real Life
Schoolwork is theoretical; see how you feel about real-world tasks.
For Journalism:
- Start a blog on a topic you love.
- Join the school newspaper and chase a story.
The Test: Do you enjoy the process, not just the final article? If yes, that's a good sign.
For Spanish:
- Find a language exchange partner.
- Volunteer to translate for a local organization.
- Enjoy Spanish media in your free time.
The Test: When things get tough, are you curious to learn more? If so, that's a sign of true interest.
3. Talk to People in the Field
Find a journalist or a professional who uses Spanish and ask them:
- What does a typical day look like?
- What are the challenges?
- What skills are key to success?
- What would they do if they were in your shoes?
Their insights can give you a clearer picture.
4. Rethink the Purpose of a Major
Your major is a set of skills, not a life sentence.
- Journalism teaches research, communication, and writing.
- Spanish teaches cross-cultural communication and empathy.
These skills are valuable in many careers, from PR to international business.
Finding Your Path
Stop asking if there's a perfect path. Instead, ask if this path uses your favorite skills and leads to a meaningful life.
You'll know you love it when you enjoy the hard parts. If you keep working on a tough article or spend time understanding Spanish grammar because you're interested, that's real passion.
Combining Spanish and Journalism is powerful. You could be a foreign correspondent, a translator for news agencies, or work in global communications.
Your Action Plan:
- Explore why you love Spanish and Journalism.
- Start real-world projects this summer (like a blog or language exchange).
- Talk to professionals who use these skills.
Confidence comes from action. You're already on the right path by asking these questions. Keep gathering your evidence, Aminah. You've got this!
Dr. Lucas
You're facing a big decision, and it's great that you're thinking carefully about it. Let's figure out how to move from feeling unsure to feeling confident.
Building Confidence in Your Choice
Confidence doesn't just appear suddenly. It grows as you learn more about yourself. Think of yourself as a detective solving the mystery of "What Should Aminah Do?"
Here's your toolkit:
1. Look Beyond Classroom Favorites
Liking a subject in school is a clue, but ask yourself why you like it.
Spanish:
- Is it the grammar and structure? (Think linguistics, translation.)
- Is it learning about different cultures? (Think international relations, anthropology.)
- Is it communicating with more people? (Useful for many global careers.)
Journalism:
- Is it chasing a story? (Think investigative journalism.)
- Is it crafting a narrative? (Think content creation, PR.)
- Is it informing people and holding power accountable? (Think law, advocacy.)
Your Task: Write down what excites you about each subject. This is your first piece of evidence.
2. Test Your Interests in Real Life
Schoolwork is theoretical; see how you feel about real-world tasks.
For Journalism:
- Start a blog on a topic you love.
- Join the school newspaper and chase a story.
The Test: Do you enjoy the process, not just the final article? If yes, that's a good sign.
For Spanish:
- Find a language exchange partner.
- Volunteer to translate for a local organization.
- Enjoy Spanish media in your free time.
The Test: When things get tough, are you curious to learn more? If so, that's a sign of true interest.
3. Talk to People in the Field
Find a journalist or a professional who uses Spanish and ask them:
- What does a typical day look like?
- What are the challenges?
- What skills are key to success?
- What would they do if they were in your shoes?
Their insights can give you a clearer picture.
4. Rethink the Purpose of a Major
Your major is a set of skills, not a life sentence.
- Journalism teaches research, communication, and writing.
- Spanish teaches cross-cultural communication and empathy.
These skills are valuable in many careers, from PR to international business.
Finding Your Path
Stop asking if there's a perfect path. Instead, ask if this path uses your favorite skills and leads to a meaningful life.
You'll know you love it when you enjoy the hard parts. If you keep working on a tough article or spend time understanding Spanish grammar because you're interested, that's real passion.
Combining Spanish and Journalism is powerful. You could be a foreign correspondent, a translator for news agencies, or work in global communications.
Your Action Plan:
- Explore why you love Spanish and Journalism.
- Start real-world projects this summer (like a blog or language exchange).
- Talk to professionals who use these skills.
Confidence comes from action. You're already on the right path by asking these questions. Keep gathering your evidence, Aminah. You've got this!
Dr. Lucas
Dr Lucas Txibamba
Humanitarian
19
Answers
Luanda, Luanda Province, Angola
Updated
Dr Lucas’s Answer
Great question, Guillermo. Your degree choices—biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and chemical engineering—are excellent for entering the pharmaceutical industry, especially in product creation.
Here's how each degree fits into the drug development process:
1. Chemical Engineering:
- Roles: Process Engineer, Formulation Scientist, Manufacturing Engineer
- Focus: Scaling up drug production from lab to factory, designing the drug's form (like pills or creams).
- Why It's Optimal: Directly involved in making high-quality, mass-producible products.
2. Biotechnology:
- Roles: Upstream/Downstream Process Scientist, Analytical Scientist
- Focus: Using living systems to create drugs, purifying proteins, and ensuring drug quality.
- Why It's Optimal: Central to creating biologic drugs like antibodies and vaccines.
3. Biomedical Engineering:
- Roles: Drug Delivery Engineer, Tissue Engineer, Biomaterials Scientist
- Focus: Designing systems to deliver drugs effectively, creating materials for drug delivery.
- Why It's Optimal: Innovates ways to deliver drugs within the body.
Recommended Path:
- Undergraduate Degree: Choose Chemical Engineering for a strong foundation in scaling processes. If interested in biologics, look for programs with a biotechnology focus.
- Research Experience: Get internships in process development or manufacturing.
- Graduate Degree: A Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Biotechnology can lead to advanced R&D roles.
Decision Guide:
- If you enjoy chemistry and industrial processes, go for Chemical Engineering.
- If you love cell biology and biochemistry, Biotechnology is ideal.
- If you're interested in mechanics and drug delivery, Biomedical Engineering is a good fit.
Action Plan:
- Talk to professionals in these fields to understand their daily work.
- Compare university courses to see which subjects excite you.
- Don't worry too much; all three degrees offer transferable skills.
Good luck, Guillermo! The pharmaceutical industry values your interest and dedication.
Here's how each degree fits into the drug development process:
1. Chemical Engineering:
- Roles: Process Engineer, Formulation Scientist, Manufacturing Engineer
- Focus: Scaling up drug production from lab to factory, designing the drug's form (like pills or creams).
- Why It's Optimal: Directly involved in making high-quality, mass-producible products.
2. Biotechnology:
- Roles: Upstream/Downstream Process Scientist, Analytical Scientist
- Focus: Using living systems to create drugs, purifying proteins, and ensuring drug quality.
- Why It's Optimal: Central to creating biologic drugs like antibodies and vaccines.
3. Biomedical Engineering:
- Roles: Drug Delivery Engineer, Tissue Engineer, Biomaterials Scientist
- Focus: Designing systems to deliver drugs effectively, creating materials for drug delivery.
- Why It's Optimal: Innovates ways to deliver drugs within the body.
Recommended Path:
- Undergraduate Degree: Choose Chemical Engineering for a strong foundation in scaling processes. If interested in biologics, look for programs with a biotechnology focus.
- Research Experience: Get internships in process development or manufacturing.
- Graduate Degree: A Master's or Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Biotechnology can lead to advanced R&D roles.
Decision Guide:
- If you enjoy chemistry and industrial processes, go for Chemical Engineering.
- If you love cell biology and biochemistry, Biotechnology is ideal.
- If you're interested in mechanics and drug delivery, Biomedical Engineering is a good fit.
Action Plan:
- Talk to professionals in these fields to understand their daily work.
- Compare university courses to see which subjects excite you.
- Don't worry too much; all three degrees offer transferable skills.
Good luck, Guillermo! The pharmaceutical industry values your interest and dedication.
Michael Trocchia
Supply Chain Director
85
Answers
Mine Hill Township, New Jersey
Updated
Michael’s Answer
There are many career paths that can lead to the pharmaceutical industry
The engineering degrees you mentioned are definitely a good start
You can also go the organic chemistry route too. An advanced degree in chemistry is almost required if you want to be in a position that does research
The engineering degrees you mentioned are definitely a good start
You can also go the organic chemistry route too. An advanced degree in chemistry is almost required if you want to be in a position that does research