Pavan Kamath, MBIOT '21

Prior to pursuing the Master of Biotechnology degree, I worked as a quality control technician at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, India. I was interested in transitioning into a QA role in the pharmaceutical industry and I searched for graduate programs that offered a combination of business and technology courses. I found the MBIOT program to be a perfect fit for my career goals. I was particularly drawn to the flexibility offered by the program. While there were required core biotechnology and business courses, the students also had the opportunity to choose electives that suited their diverse academic needs. I was also interested in the research and internship components of the program which I knew would provide the platform to explore different areas of working in the industry.

I completed my co-op program at iBio, Inc., Bryan, Texas. After graduation, I transitioned to a full-time role as a Quality Assurance Specialist III with the quality systems and compliance team at iBio, Inc. My role at iBio, Inc. included document control, technical transfer, GMP training management, performing and managing compliance investigations, executing risk assessments, performing internal audits, managing the raw material testing program, and collaborating with vendors and our cross-functional team to develop release testing specifications for the drug substances and drug products. During my co-op program, I acquired many technical skills required for a quality assurance professional, as well as project management skills. The internship is a key component of the MBIOT program. It allows the students to explore different biotechnology areas, to apply the skills learned in academic courses, to develop professional contacts, and to widen one’s network for future opportunities.

As I look back at my MBIOT program experience, I am grateful for the opportunity and thankful to all staff members who made this experience worth it. The Texas A&M University professors engaged the students in discussions and often challenged us to think outside the box. I pursued the MBIOT program during the peak and uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic. I learned how to navigate through problems and come up with creative solutions. I had the opportunity to work at the Texas A&M University AgriLife Genomics and Bioinformatics Service Lab for a directed studies project. The MBIOT program has been instrumental in helping me widen my horizons, and work towards accomplishing my career goals and aspirations.

I currently work as a Senior Quality Assurance Specialist at Moderna, Boston, Massachusetts. I am involved in QA Operations and work with the clinical drug product team. I am responsible for providing quality oversight for the semi-automated aseptic fill-finish operations for investigational drugs. Some of my tasks in this role involve performing room changeovers, troubleshooting on-the-floor issues, reviewing executed batch records, performing final dispositions of manufactured GMP batches, and assisting with compliance investigations.