Peeking into a Pharma Scientist’s daily life!

Are you a lover of science and math? You’re imaginative but don’t wish to become a famished artist? Genuinely interested in helping people but not wanting to be recognized as a social worker?

Aren’t all these vague questions?

But what if I tell you that ‘By being a lover of science & math, you could help people and use all your artistry for making a difference in this world?’

Yes, you heard me right!

Heard of Pharmaceutical Scientists? With all the above skills, pharmaceutical scientists carry out intensive research, tests, and develop the pills, solutions, and lotions that a common man uses every day!

And that’s who I am, a Pharmaceutical Scientist!

Lazily I wake up every morning and even before I get into my senses; the to-do list begins to play in my head for the things that are needed to be accomplished at the Big Pharma for that day. And I am off my bed with the thoughts “New day, new challenges and indeed new learnings”

There is no such day when I can say that it isn’t a busy day.

By 8:30 AM, I have hopped into my second house and my head is behind my laptop screen checking through the morning emails. And off I rush into the laboratory where I spend most of my time! All the gallivanting Pharma scientists in the laboratory seem to be showing off their lab skills with the nitrile gloves & lab coats on.

And how can I forget the lunch hour? This hour reminds me every day of these lines:

“The essence of the beautiful unity is in variety”

-W. Somerset Maugham

Ideally, a Pharma scientist is hired wholly for doing research. So, if you think that the life of a Pharma scientist only revolves within the four walls of a laboratory then, YES, you’re highly mistaken. Because, a huge portion of my time is taken up by meetings!

There are weekly meetings being set-up for discussing about a new technology and research advancements. This implies that more energy needs to be put in - to prepare for these meetings, to analyze data, and to come up with an interesting plan or presentation.

With all these events, I don’t even realize that I’m done for the day!

You may say that I’m exaggerating, but there are days when I have no time to breathe and then there are days when I have a normal work schedule.

But overall, working as a Pharmaceutical Scientist at a Mega Pharma company taught me these 5 things:

1.) Meeting the deadlines by managing the time well as this may lead to crazy stress crop up in your life if you are a person who procrastinates.

2.) To work independently and in a team environment

3.) Be flexible in your approach.

4.) Efficiently communicating your thoughts in front of your colleagues because your thoughts can change your destiny.

5.) And lastly, think out-of-the-box!