Switching Careers? Try the Sampler Platter: Internships

Many of us know what it’s like to sit at the bench and dream of what else is out there.  Maybe it’s industrial experience that intrigues us, maybe it’s something far more removed from the lab.  In either case, the idea of taking a chance and diving in to a new career can be terrifying.  What if we don’t like it?  Are we giving up everything we’ve worked for on a whim?  Who would hire us with no experience?  The overwhelming feeling of uncertainty can be paralyzing and ultimately, prevent many of us from finding our true calling.

However, another important question arises: Is there a way to get more experience and information first, before starting an official job search?  Luckily, the answer is “yes.”  Often overlooked in science are the opportunities to perform internships or short contract projects in companies of potential interest.  These are a great way to experiment with different career paths while gaining valuable experience and contacts you’ll ultimately need.

But how do we go about finding an internship and what qualities are they looking for?  Lauren Celano, co-founder of Propel Careers, has set out to make this process as painless as possible to empower scientists to pursue their interests.  We sat down with Lauren to ask her about why she started Propel Careers, what makes scientists such valuable commodities and how she sees the job market over the next 12 months.

BenchFly: What is Propel Careers?

Lauren Celano: Propel Careers is a company which connects graduate students (Ph.D, M.S., MBA, M.D) and post doctoral fellows with life sciences companies for internships/short term consulting projects to provide students valuable experiences to enhance their career development.  Propel Careers also has a mentor network to connect these students with successful industry leaders for additional career guidance.  Our ultimate goal is to provide meaningful projects and connections to help foster future leaders of our life sciences industry.

How did the idea for the company develop?

As a full time graduate student, I saw a need to create better connections between students and companies, especially smaller ones.  Many of these companies could benefit from internships/short term consulting projects but these companies don’t have the time or resources needed to find students to help with their projects.  Students would benefit greatly from these experiences by gaining exposure to the many emerging companies to help with their career options post graduation.  When I met Omar Amirana, my co-founder, we decided to form Propel Careers to create a better network to connect companies and students.  We have been around for 6 months now and are making a lot of progress building our networks and connections.

Was there a specific moment in your previous work experiences that you would regard as a defining moment when you knew a resource like this needed to exist?

Prior to Propel Careers, I did business development for life sciences companies working with many emerging life sciences companies throughout the US and Europe.   When I started my MBA program, I noticed that mainly only the larger life sciences companies recruited for internships and while these companies certainly benefit from the projects done, smaller companies would benefit as well. This was one of the main reasons for starting Propel Careers – to provide smaller companies more exposure to students and create meaningful relationships which will benefit both parties.

There are a number of job boards/services out there – What separates Propel from the other sites?

Propel Careers has a personalized approach to internship searches therefore we provide more insight than just what you can read on the web.  This benefits the students since we can offer increased career awareness and suggestions on opportunities which would be a nice fit and it also benefits the companies by finding the best talent with the desired skill sets.

Are there any segments of the biotech/pharma industries that you think PhDs are particularly well-suited for?

Ph.D.’s have fantastic analytical skills and the ability to convey very complex information in concise forms.  These skills can be very helpful for consulting, investment banking, equity research, market assessment and analysis in life sciences companies.

What do you think are the most compelling reasons for a grad student or postdoc to consider an internship?

Internships would offer an opportunity to evaluate career options before taking a full time role and having to commit to a certain career path.   Internships can be especially helpful for graduate students and postdocs trying to decide between a career path in academics or industry.

What are the most important qualities of a good candidate?

A continued willingness to learn, a good attitude, ability to work well in a team and strong communication skills.

What can scientists do today to improve their job prospects?

I would recommend networking, since it is so important to finding the right career opportunity. Self reflection is also very important to know what skills you are good at, what culture you are looking for, what type of company/opportunity you are looking for.  Knowing this information will help you know when the right opportunity presents itself.

You’re working with a number of companies at the moment.  From your perspective, how do you see the jobs market for life scientists moving in the next 12 months?

Many companies will receive funding over the next 12 months, whether grants or venture investment, and they will need scientists to assist with research efforts.  Many of these companies will be smaller ones that will need scientists who are comfortable with science activities and also in some cases, business activities.

What has been the major challenge in getting Propel off the ground?

For Propel Careers, like many other start-up companies, obtaining funding has been the toughest part of getting the company off the ground.

What has been the most exciting/rewarding experience so far?

Propel Careers has already placed many students in internships at small life sciences companies in Boston and these are having a positive impact on the companies.   We are making valuable connections which are strengthening our life sciences industry.

Where do you see Propel Careers five years down the line?

Five years down the line, I see Propel Careers as an international network connecting students to life sciences companies from around the world.

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Lauren Celano is Co-founder and CEO of Propel Careers and has nearly a decade of experience working with emerging drug discovery & development biotechnology companies.  Prior to Propel Careers, she was a senior account manager for SNBL USA where she worked with emerging biotech companies in Europe and the US to help characterize and advance their drug molecules. Prior to SNBL USA, she held business development positions with Aptuit and Quintiles, where she focused on IND enabling studies to advance therapeutics from discovery into the clinic. At Absorption Systems, Lauren held positions as a marketing manager and account manager managing clients in the northeastern United States. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Gettysburg College and has an MBA with a focus in the health sector and entrepreneurship from Boston University.