In order to achieve my long-term goal of being an entrepreneur in the field of digital therapeutics, I plan to work as a junior software developer immediately after graduation. Of the variety of positions available in the area, I aim to focus on positions in which I can build skills sought out by digital therapeutic companies. Job listings for development positions within digital therapeutic companies emphasize a deep understanding of web and mobile development. For example, Big Health seeks Senior Software Engineering candidates who will “[b]uild and improve our existing digital therapy systems.”22 Requirements for positions such as these often include three or more years of experience and applied experience with web frameworks, such as React and React Native. Focusing on junior positions immediately after graduation allows me time to build experience and expertise in these specific technologies. My degree also emphasizes entrepreneurial projects and informal internship experiences to further prepare me for my goals. For example, my capstone project and undergraduate research proposal can both serve as direct experiences in the development frameworks sought out by digital therapeutic companies. I also aim to build as much direct experience with development tools through co-curricular experiences as possible in order to prepare me to work in the digital therapeutics industry. These experiences make me a compelling candidate for junior development positions, which are the first steps in achieving my goals.
If I am unable to find employment in software development directly after graduation, I plan to enter the industry as an intern. This allows me to build my skills and prepare to be a more compelling candidate for the future. I also have a number of connections to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, including a currently active role at Ortus Academy as a general purpose IT professional.14 I perform a variety of software-based tasks and have an open offer to return to the company to work on future projects. This serves as another avenue to develop the technical skills necessary for working on developing digital therapeutics for psychotherapy.
Finally, my degree adequately prepares me for my long-term goal of being a digital therapeutics entrepreneur through coursework and experiences in critical areas of the industry. I will graduate with knowledge in clinical evaluation, regulation, product development, and management fundamentals. This prepares me to both lead a team in an existing company or to start my own given the opportunity arises. Another option for achieving this long-term goal is to apply to a leadership program such as UMBC’s Master’s in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership. This program strengthens leadership skills and culminates in a capstone project that could serve as further relevant experience for software development in digital therapeutics. The only admission requirement for this program is a 3.0 GPA, which I aim to continue to stay above during the remainder of my time as an undergraduate.23