Carol Krantz President, BioNow Consulting, previously Director Regulatory Affairs When you watch the video - think about the number of different jobs at Amgen - scientists, engineers, lawyers, artists, writers, sales force, project managers, researchers - many different people and personalities collaborating to make medical products. | |
Environment Matters
Amgen website: http://amgen.com
Want to learn more about what a job in Regulatory Affairs looks like at Amgen: LINK
More information about careers in Immunology
Careers in Immunology http://vbs.psu.edu/majors/iid/careers
How to become an Immunologist Link
Career posting in Immunology http://jobs.sciencecareers.org/jobs/immunology/
- Supportive family - Carol's parents had science backgrounds and encouraged her in science fields, mostly biology, and her grandparents encouraged her too.
- Carol knows the benefits of having good people around you. That may be study groups, friends, professional societies, mentors or sponsors. Having good people around you is important whether its now as you start to consider what you want to do, while you're entering your career and learning how to get started, AND when you're in your job so you keep learning from others, grow your skills and hear about new opportunities that might interest you.
- Important difference between Mentors and Sponsors - mentors are people that will support you by meeting and talking with you, helping you with difficult situations, offering advice. A sponsor is someone who is going to be your champion - they'll take you to different places, they'll speak up for you and help create opportunities for you.
- What would I do if I wasn't afraid? Carol challenges you to take chances and try things even if you're a little afraid. She has definitely taken on challenges in her work and sees this as a way to learn new things - and we learn by doing and we learn by doing and not always getting it right - that's okay!
- Carol came on immunology because of her senior high school project. She was a baby sitter for two people that worked in this area and so asked them what it was about. The people she asked then took her to work so she could see exactly what they did. She became hooked on what it was.
- She still enjoyed a variety of subjects at school, but looked for projects to work on in the summer that involved immunology. She tried being a teacher but decided it wasn't for her.
- She got a job with a small immunology company called Immunex, and got to work on several projects. Then the company was bought by Amgen. She was then asked to do Regulatory work. She wasn't sure she was going to like the work as she thought it was about policies and keeping people inline to follow the rules of what they can and can't do, what she learned was it was in fact a very creative job. Her role was to work with the scientists, and policy makers to figure out how they could create the best drugs for a situation, and help take them quickly and safely from research to getting them into the hands of those that needed them.
- She was really happy she'd done languages in school and college as her work has required her to work with people from around the world - and being familiar with cultures helps her in her work.
- She's learned in her career that even though she worked for a company whose focus is creating medical products that people at the company have all types of careers not just immunology. There are lawyers, artists, writers, and people in sales and marketing - people who are skilled in their fields but also either have or develop a strong interest in the science of the products they support.
- Her most interesting project to date was working on an Ebola Vaccine project to help with recent outbreak last year in West Africa. There were 3 components to the vaccines and the US, Canada, and China each provided part of the solution. Carol's job was as a Regulatory Director to make sure the vaccine met the appropriate safety and health requirements before sending - managing 3 companies from 3 countries was challenging, there was lots of problem solving required. The work was incredibly rewarding - having the opportunity to bring medicines forward and get them into the hands of people that need them is a great feeling and very satisfying.
- A positive attitude can really help you get to where you want to be. Sometimes we worry too much about what will happen if we don't succeed, or if it all goes wrong, or we doubt our ability - we have to learn to not listen to that voice of self-doubt and step up and have a go. If you can figure out how to bring the best you to all situations you'll do great.
- Carol has a great attitude to keep learning. There are always new things coming from science and technology. She likes to learn what's new in her field and also what's going on in the larger world. She loves to get opportunities to try things out.
- Take time to know what you like and feels good for you. Sometimes you have to try things out to see if it fits, like Carol did when she tried teaching - she thought she'd like it but after a short period realized that wasn't fulfilling to her, but when she started to work in immunology she was naturally curious and interested in learning more. So if someone offers you an opportunity and you're mildly interested - TAKE IT! And if you want to try something out and no one is offering an opportunity then ASK SOMEONE for a chance to try it.
Amgen website: http://amgen.com
Want to learn more about what a job in Regulatory Affairs looks like at Amgen: LINK
More information about careers in Immunology
Careers in Immunology http://vbs.psu.edu/majors/iid/careers
How to become an Immunologist Link
Career posting in Immunology http://jobs.sciencecareers.org/jobs/immunology/