To earn a master’s degree and embark on a fascinating career in
the biotechnology industry, Vidhi Desai ‘09MS took a journey across
the world.
“I came all the way from India to attend St. John’s University’s Institute of Biotechnology,” the
recent graduate proudly explains. “After speaking with the esteemed
faculty, hearing positive feedback from alumni and learning about
the innovative classes being offered, I was thrilled with the
endless possibilities a St. John’s degree in the biological
sciences would offer me.”
Established in 2002, The Biotechnology Institute is an innovative
collaboration between two of the University’s acclaimed schools –
St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The schools have combined
their faculty and resources to create a cutting-edge
program that provides hands-on training in laboratory research
and basic knowledge of analysis, critical thinking and problem
solving.
“The colleges joined together to construct a multi-disciplinary
program whose goal is to get students ready to establish careers in
the bio-sciences. Students graduating from the Institute will leave
with a broad education that encompasses both the sciences and the
liberal arts and exposure to the corporate world through
prestigious internships that are incorporated into the program’s
curriculum,” explains
Diana Bartlet, Director of the Institute.
After receiving her degree, Vidhi put the skills and knowledge she
acquired in the program into practice and rose from an intern to
senior research associate at
OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc., the largest pharmaceutical company in
Long Island. The program not only equipped her with the
qualifications to work in the industry, it opened the doors to her
first position in the field.
“I always believed the right courses at the right institution would
help me accomplish my goals in life. St. John’s mission of
providing an excellent education to all students as well as the
opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of others
aided me in fulfilling my dreams.”
Working in the Cancer Biology Drug Discovery division of OSI, Vidhi
conducts daily experiments and analyzes research to explore the
known causes of cancer. This ground-breaking research is critical
to the discovery of a cure for the debilitating disease.
“I attained my graduate degree and began my career. The most
important aspect of this program is that it’s a mixture of biology,
biotechnology and pharmacy, so anyone interested in pursuing a
career in any of these fields would certainly be in a position to
make a difference. My professional life is going exactly the way I
always wanted. I’m thankful to St. John’s for making that
happen.”