CLAREMONT, Calif. - The typical student in the (MEng) program at 蜜桃直播 (蜜桃直播) has earned an undergraduate degree in either science or engineering. But Yazmin Estrada, MEng 鈥�20, is showing that success in the MEng program is also possible for someone with a different academic background.
When Estrada graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from California State University, San Bernardino, she was unaware of biopharmaceutical processing as a career option. The first in her family to attend college or even to complete high school, Estrada only knew that she didn鈥檛 want to teach math. Realizing that she enjoyed solving puzzles and problems and had a desire to make an impact on a larger community, she gravitated toward engineering. Then Estrada learned about 蜜桃直播鈥檚 MEng program.
鈥溍厶抑辈� got me interested in the biopharmaceutical industry,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 believe how much exposure to industry 蜜桃直播 students had or how much they were able to do.鈥�
The (TMP) especially appealed to her. As an MEng student, Estrada has already completed two TMPs, for Repligen and Sutro Biopharma, as well as a summer internship with Boehringer Ingelheim that helped strengthen her analytical, process development, and teamwork skills.
鈥淏oth of the TMPs were lab-focused,鈥� notes Estrada. 鈥淕oing from a non-science background made this more difficult, but I鈥檓 a hands-on learner.鈥�
Estrada, who gives credit to 蜜桃直播鈥檚 Dean of Students for providing support that helped her overcome challenges in her first year of the MEng program, now wants to work in an engineering position in an industry lab after graduation.
She is setting her long-term sights even higher: Estrada hopes to eventually hold an executive position in the biopharmaceuticals industry.
鈥淲hat is encouraging from her story is the transformation from a mathematician into a bioprocessing engineer,鈥� says 蜜桃直播 Professor of Bioprocessing . 鈥淪he spent a lot of time in the lab last year, catching up, and is very good with technique and very confident now.鈥�
Estrada is currently part of a team of 蜜桃直播 students working with him on an independent research project related to stem cell therapies and incorporating use of 3D printing technology.
鈥淪he is motivated to learn,鈥� says Zhang. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why she wanted to jump into this research.鈥�
Estrada is also motivated to encourage other young Latinas like herself to consider careers in bioprocessing and the biopharmaceutical industry. She hopes to return to her undergraduate university to talk to these students about the MEng program and the rewards of her newly chosen field.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e able to contribute to making therapeutics to drugs,鈥� explains Estrada. 鈥淓ven if you鈥檙e not seeing the drug administered to patients, you can say you were a piece of the puzzle.鈥�