Background: PhD, Chemistry
Bioscience Internship: Genentech
Current Career: Synthetic & Computational Chemist, CBN
Author on recent American Chemistry Society Publication (from her internship work at Genentech!): Nanolipoprotein Particles as a Delivery Platform for Fab Based Therapeutics
Janice at work
While I am currently not employed in the biotechnology sector, the CCSF Biotechnology program has been instrumental in helping me find a promising career. After getting laid off in March 2017 from my first job as a staff scientist at a Bay Area battery startup, I decided that it was time for me to step outside of my comfort zone and learn new skills. As a trained Ph.D. inorganic chemist, I had always enjoyed working close to the bench top and wanted to see how my chemical synthesis background could fit into the broader biotech industry profile.
In Fall 2017, I enrolled in biotechnology courses at CCSF where I had practical training in handling and analyzing biological samples. These classes prepared me to enter the Bioscience Internship program in Spring 2018 where I interned at the protein chemistry department at Genentech. In addition to learning about various aspects of drug development and gaining exposure to the world of biopharma, perhaps my most important lessons came from informational interviews with various scientists at Genentech. Through my one-on-one conversations with organic, analytical, and pharmaceutical chemists at the company, I learned about potential opportunities in the biopharma industry for someone with my background. Upon completing my internship, I joined a blossoming high-tech company in Silicon Valley as a senior scientist where I have been synthesizing various molecules for lithography applications.
Although I cannot disclose the technology my current company is developing due to the proprietary nature, I can confidently say that the biotechnology skills and knowledge I gained are impacting my career. I am immensely grateful for all the exceptional opportunities the CCSF Biotechnology program afforded me.
