Q. Where do you currently work?
A. Symbion Research International, based in Newbury Park, California.
Q. What is your role at Symbion?
A.
I am a Clinical Project Manager and Business Development Manager. I split my time between site monitoring, study management and business development.
Q. What is a typical day like for you on the job?
A.
It includes almost all aspects of clinical study management. Most days this means corresponding with research sites and clients, study tracking and updating study status, and internal correspondence with our data management team and QA professionals. Additionally, I routinely perform site-monitoring visits, which require scheduling my own travel arrangements as they frequently require air, hotel, rental car, etc. When I'm wearing my Business Development hat, l do a lot of account management, which involves ongoing follow-up with prospective clients and attendance at various networking and industry events.
Q. What skills are necessary to be successful in your job?
A.
Project management skills are critical. Managing clinical trials is very tracking extensive, and everything revolves around very narrow timelines. You need to be very organized and manage your time well. I've heard many times in this industry that drug companies can lose $1M in revenue every day that a drug remains off the market; so timelines are very critical.
Communication, both written and verbal, is also very important since you are the intermediary between the site and the sponsor, and being a clear communicator can make or break you.
Q. What do you like most about what you do?
A.
I am constantly learning about new technologies and new companies. Every day is different, with new challenges and new opportunities.
Q. How did you end up working at Symbion?
A.
When l was an undergrad, l wanted to go into dental school. Before applying to dental school, l wanted to get some research experience; so l applied for an internship opportunity at Symbion, doing data management during my last undergrad year. While completing my internship at Symbion, I decided not to go to dental school for a number of reasons. Upon completion of my undergrad, Symbion offered me a full-time position as a Clinical Research Assistant (CRA) and l have been there since.
Q. Where have you worked before?
A.
I have only worked at Symbion. I started as a Clinical Research Assistant, then became a Clinical Research Associate, and now l am a Clinical Project Manager/Business Development Manager.
Q. Why did you choose to go into the Clinical Trials field?
A.
I wanted to be in medicine but didn't especially enjoy working in the laboratory. Clinical research seemed exciting at the time. You get to see things farther down the development path, after they are out of the lab and into the clinic. I really enjoy that my job still allows me to work with cutting edge technology and contribute in my own way to modern medicine.
Q. What is your educational background?
A.
I have a B.S. in Biology with Chemistry minor from California Lutheran University.
Q. How did your education play a role in where you are now?
A.
My education provided me with a solid foundation in science and has helped me with what l do at Symbion. I'm able to understand much of the scientific information at a working level and speak about it intelligently. While at school, the problem solving and time management skills I learned have greatly helped me do my job more effectively.
Q. What are your near-term and long-term career goals?
A.
In the near term, l would like to continue to help Symbion grow. In the longer term, l would be interested in starting my own company to develop a medical product. Creating something new, being challenged, and helping people are where I see myself long-term.
Q. What advice would you give to students and professionals currently in the life sciences industry considering a career in Clinical Trials?
A.
If you'd enjoy a career working in a rapidly changing industry, then you will like clinical trials. You get to learn and develop new scientific breakthroughs while still having close, though not direct, contact with patient care.
Field: Clinical Trials Management
Job: Clinical Project Manager/Business Development Manager
Company: Symbion Research International, Inc.
