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Name: Ken Messier Brown Affiliation: Ken took a few courses during his graduate degree; then worked at CytoTherapeutics, a start-up company based on Brown technology. Company/School: Genzyme Position: Director, Biomaterials Research Degree(s) Earned:
B.S
Chemical Engineering
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What
is your educational background - advanced degrees do you have (if
any)and are they a must for what you do? B.S
Chemical Engineering Yes,
the degrees are important for career advancement. What
positions did you hold before your current position (what other jobs
led you to where you are now)? 20
years in the Biomedical industry:
Pfizer as a research scientist,
J&J as a development engineer, CytoTherapeutics in the clinical
production facility, Focal as a research engineer then program
management and finally Director for new research programs, Genzyme as
program manager and assessment of advanced technologies in
regenerative medicine. What
are your favorite aspects of you job?
What are the drawbacks? The
science, especially the unique integration of engineering,
biomaterials, and biology, for the purpose of 'helping people', as
well as the clinical and business aspects of the industry. The
drawbacks are few, except for the long hours. What
advice do you have for someone who is thinking about pursuing a career
in your area? Take
the classes, get the degree, and get involved. The biomedical industry
will continue to be one of the greatest growth industries over the
next 20 years, and will significantly change the way that our health
is managed in the future. You can start at a B.S. degree and grow, or
get the advanced degree and start at a higher level. Either way will
provide an excellent career opportunity for you. What
do you look for in a potential job candidate/ what qualities are most
important for someone in your field? Passion,
education, intelligence, communication and teamwork skills. |
