Graduate Stories
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Lisa Ho, MBioEnt 2007: Business Analyst, Plant & Food Research “My position at Plant & Food Research within the Business Development team involves defining and engaging in business and project opportunities for the purpose of creating and exploiting intellectual property. The Masters of Bioscience Enterprise degree has given me the practical skills and knowledge required in this role. It has prepared me for working in a sector that requires an understanding of both science and business - a position that gives great job satisfaction.” - August 2011 |
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Tim McCready, MBioEnt 2007: Business Development Associate, NZTE “This degree gave me the skills to understand the complexities of the international biotechnology environment, and the contribution New Zealand can offer. The course immerses you in the industry - the networks I’ve built are immeasurable. My job has allowed me to work locally and overseas with biotechnology companies to facilitate development, and promote New Zealand’s value proposition. Having companies say I’ve added value to their business is a really good feeling.” - August 2011 |
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Megan Barrett-Hamilton, MBioEnt 2008: Commercial Analyst, ViaLactia Biosciences NZ “In my role within the commercial department at ViaLactia, I engage with the multiple facets of R&D commercialisation of bovine and forage technologies. This ranges from financial and market analysis to intellectual property and project management. Armed with the MBioent degree I’m able to leverage my newly acquired business acumen daily in an environment which demands knowledge of the integral science. The MBioent programme has helped me launch a rewarding and prosperous career in the biotech industry.” - August 2011 |
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Mitali Purohit, MBioEnt 2008: Research Analyst, Pacific Channel “The MBioent degree gave me business development, leadership and networking skills that allowed me to secure a role at Pacific Channel, a venture development and investment company for life-science start up and early-stage ventures. The solid foundation in science commercialisation I gained while completing the MBioent degree is proving to be invaluable when assessing investment opportunities and making Pacific Channel’s portfolio companies investment ready.” - August 2011 |
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Cameron Sharpe, MBioEnt 2007: Regulatory Compliance Engineer, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare “I really enjoyed my internship through the Bioscience Enterprise programme at FPH, and now I’m here full time. My job involves monitoring customer feedback for opportunities to improve our products, and meeting international quality regulations. Working a lot with other functions (e.g. R&D, marketing, legal), I found the MBioent degree was very useful in giving me an understanding of their different roles, in addition to technical knowledge to help understand our products.” - August 2011 |
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Tom Donovan, MBioEnt 2010: Account Executive, Buchan Consulting Melbourne Australia "The MBioEnt degree opened my eyes to the scope of the wider industry beyond the bench. Building on a scientific background, I became familiar with the language and basic concepts used in the major associated fields; law, finance, and marketing. I came to appreciate the breadth and variety of opportunities available in the sector, which made it easier to understand where I fit best. In my case, that was in communications. My internship with Unlimited magazine was a fantastic opportunity to work in media. I gained an understanding of the rhythms of the news cycle and how publications are put together. It also made me examine my writing and consider new styles for new audiences and content. I also interviewed a range of interesting businesspeople (including tech and biotech CEOs) and had the satisfying experience of being published. The internship experience also gave me an edge in securing the first job to which I applied immediately after finishing my thesis. I am now employed in Melbourne, working with ASX-listed biotech companies as a consultant on their investor and media relations. It’s an exciting role that requires working with many clients on many different projects. Completing the MBioEnt degree helped me move quickly into a specialised role that closely fits my career aspirations, as well as giving me a knowledge base on which to build real expertise." - August 2011 |
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Matthew Needham, MBioEnt 2010:
Research Analyst, HT Analysts Sydney, Australia "The MBioEnt programme gave me an invaluable bridge between the scientific and business communities. As well as offering an essential grounding in key fields of research commercialisation and innovation, such as law and intellectual property, marketing and finance, it taught me how to communicate these concepts and apply them to issues faced by the biotechnology sector, both in New Zealand and abroad. For me the most integral part of the programme was the 6-month internship undertaken in the latter half of the second year. I had the opportunity to intern at the Australian headquarters of Merck Serono, a global pharmaceutical company, during which time I was able to experience life in the pharmaceutical industry first-hand. The time I spent at Merck not only changed my understanding of the industry, but it shaped my career, helping me choose the path that suited my interests but also my skills. Through my internship I secured a position with a health technology consulting firm in central Sydney. As a research analyst I work on a variety of projects for clients, both pharma and non-profit, that involves systematic reviews, regulatory submissions and late-phase research design and analysis. The MBioEnt programme set me up perfectly for a career in the commercial side of the biotechnology sector. With its recognition both in NZ and internationally growing every year, I cannot recommend it more highly." - August 2011 |
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Neelam Sharma, MBioEnt 2009: Technology Commercialisation Strategist, AUT. "My journey into the MBioEnt course has taken me into multiple roles within New Zealand’s science and innovation sector. This included an internship and intellectual property based role within Plant & Food Research’s commercial development team. My current role with AUT’s Business Innovation Centre is the culmination of the many skills I picked up through the MBioEnt course! I meet the inventors, provide an initial assessment of the technology to determine whether the technology meets our incubation criteria and help incubated companies from concept to product. It’s exciting being part of an incubator that helps turn an idea into a product and the MBioEnt degree played a critical part in giving me the solid and holistic foundation I needed to understand this research commercialisation space." - November 2011 |
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