'Science models helped'

Aarthi Rathnasabhapathi, student of Edinburgh Napier University, scotland and currently a scientist at a biotechnology firm in Bangalore describes her experience and the opportunities available in the biotechnology sector.

I was born and brought up in a beautiful and pleasant township named Udumalpet, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. I completed my schooling in a reputed school where my chemistry teacher was my inspiration for what Iam now.

 My full interest was science, science and science. While searching for wide range of science related courses, I enrolled myself in Industrial Biotechnology in BIT Sathyamangalam, a reputed engineering colleges in Tamilnadu.

I completed my undergraduation in first class with distinction and decided to pursue my higher studies in my chosen area of Biological sciences in United Kingdom, a leader in terms of both research and technology.
 
Advanced studies

In my consideration of the suitable institutions in pursuit of my advanced studies, I had found out through meticulous search that Edinburgh Napier University is many miles ahead in the highly competitive field of higher education.

The information available to me convinced me of the exemplary on-campus facilities, exhilarating learning atmosphere and the enriching international student community prevailing in the university. So I had made my decision to enroll myself in the institution for Drug design and Biomedical Science programme.

I was fortunate in joining the programme of my choice at Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom that imparts good quality technical education in allied fields of research and technology.

The most fascinating part of the programme which attracted me was the modules Drug design, toxicology, Immunology and Biotechnology and Drug discovery.
It was more towards research than analytical study, which made me opt for this particular programme in this university. I was satisfied seeing both theory and laboratory classes equally distributed in the modules.

Drug design models

I still remember the models that my Drug design module professor used to bring to the class which takes me to the world of chemical entities.

Those drug models not only increased by imagination level but also explained clearly about the drug-drug interactions.

I had never taken chances of missing my Toxicology classes, because of my professor. It was always good to attend an interactive class than sleeping in a dark room with the presentation on. I love those questions and answer sessions and group discussions after every Toxicology class, which gave me more confidence in bringing my views and ideas to the group. 

Presentations

At each and every stage, we had course-works, poster and powerpoint presentations. This increased my comfort zone in interacting with other International students.
With the help and guidance of my professors, I received distinction for my poster presentation on SiRNA technology. By the end of my higher education, I finally achieved my first dream of designing a prodrug for cancer with the help of my professor Dr David Mincher.

Research assistance

Completing my masters, I started my career as a Research Assistant in Edinburgh Napier University where I continued my intense research in designing macromolecular prodrugs for cancer. By the end of 9 months of my research in University, I got an offer from Lab901 and worked on quantification of DNA and RNA using TapeStation.

After my short term experience with Lab901, I moved to India and joined as a Scientist in the Discovery biology division of Anthem Biosciences, Bangalore.
At present, I am working on screening of chemical entities for various diseases especially on cancer cell lines.

With 2 years of experience at Anthem, I found myself specialized in assay biology sector in performing and optimizing various in-vitro assays and other confidential in-house projects.

 I would proudly say that my Master’s education had given me a strong foundation for my future PhD in the field of drug discovery on cancer.