Throughout 2023, the PHUSE India team will be conducting a series of visits to universities in India as part of an industry-academia collaboration to spread the word about PHUSE activities and share industry insights as well as career opportunities. PHUSE are excited to be collaborating with universities to understand their challenges and how our PHUSE Volunteers can help mentor students. By working directly with professors, they will help shape and update syllabuses to prepare students for industry.
From the four visits so far, we have received an overwhelming response from students interested in the opportunities the pharmaceutical industry can offer. Read on for a summary of each of the visits in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi and West Bengal!
“On behalf of the PHUSE Board of Directors, I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding work carried out by the PHUSE India team. Your efforts towards industry–academia collaboration have been noticed and are a testament to our core values at PHUSE. We are proud to have such dedicated individuals on our team who go above and beyond to support industry and academic collaborations!”
– Stephen Bamford, PHUSE Founder and Chairman of the Board
Mount Carmel College Autonomous, Bengaluru (January 2023)
The first-ever PHUSE India University Connect took place at Mount Carmel College Autonomous, in Bengaluru in January. We had students attend from biotechnology, computer science and life sciences. The PHUSE India team discussed clinical trials and potential job opportunities as well as how students can prepare themselves to get jobs. The students were very enthusiastic and eager to learn, as witnessed in our interactive Q&A session. We also discussed about how PHUSE is helping to achieve collaboration across the industry and promote a culture of innovation. Students learnt about PHUSE Events, the Education initiative, our Working Groups and Volunteer opportunities.
Overall, this was a great Connect and was very helpful to the students of Mount Carmel College. This was encouraging for the PHUSE India Leadership team, in their continued support of the student community. By reaching the grassroots, we can educate them about industry opportunities and underlying challenges and start instilling a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Osmania University, Hyderabad (February 2023)
It was a great experience connecting with students in the Dept. of Statistics at Osmania University, in Hyderabad, as part of a PHUSE industry–academia initiative. PHUSE India is committed to industry¬–academia collaboration. As part of this, on 20 February 2023, PHUSE Volunteers delivered an awareness session to a group of MSc Statistics students about pharma, clinical industry trends, job opportunities and how PHUSE India is supporting the industry and academia.
The students and faculty actively participated in the event and the Head of Dept. introduced the rest of his team. The PHUSE team extended discussions with the Head of Dept. on possible collaboration and future plans with PHUSE to build a plan of next action.
SGTB Khalsa College (North Campus), Delhi University (April 2023)
The PHUSE India team were excited to collaborate with SGTB Khalsa College (North Campus) of Delhi University. The event was supported by the college faculty and received an overwhelming response – more than 100 students participated.
The college faculty and students welcomed the PHUSE team with such high enthusiasm that it gave a fantastic start to the event and resulted in a seminar full of students. The participants seemed to be very eager to learn about the clinical research industry. Dr Kiran, Dr Aneet Sandhu and Gagandeep Singh Saini (PHUSE India team representative) explained in detail the clinical drug development process and the data science community’s role in today’s era of clinical research.
In this seminar, we focused on multiple career opportunities available in the clinical research industry and the data science domain. Moreover, we also explained how PHUSE have supported the clinical research fraternity in recent decades. The event would not have been complete without discussing the key pillars of PHUSE – Community, Events, Working Groups and Communications – through which PHUSE has become the industry voice for regulatory agencies such as the FDA, the EMA and CDISC.
During the Q&A Session, students asked questions and clarified their doubts regarding the topics discussed. Their excitement was evident after being introduced to the clinical research industry as a future career path.
The event concluded successfully, on account of the tremendous support from the faculty at SGTB Khalsa College. I would like to thank the college for arranging this wonderful interactive day with their students and the PHUSE India team for all their support!
The University of Burdwan, West Bengal (June 2023)
Everyone who is part of PHUSE is passionate about the PHUSE mission of ‘Connect – Share –Advance’. At PHUSE India, we have a manifesto of connecting with university students, sharing knowledge with them and helping them advance from college into the world of clinical research.
During his holiday, Anik decided to take a pit stop at The University of Burdwan. He got in touch with Prof. Arindam Gupta (Head of Statistics) to introduce him to PHUSE and to see if he (Anik) could meet his students. The university was enthusiastic about the visit and we worked out a date and time for Anik to talk to the postgraduate statistics students.
The talk was just a few weeks prior to exams. We were amazed to see that almost everyone, including second and third semester students, turned up, defying their exam preparations on a hot summer afternoon. It ended up being a highly engaging talk about PHUSE’s learning resources and opportunities for student development. We were impressed by their curiosity to know more about clinical research, the career opportunities for biostatisticians, and the skillsets they need to develop to become employable. Our sincere thanks to Prof. Arindam Gupta, Asst. Prof. Jayabrata Biswas and Ayan Pal for their support in organising such a successful PHUSE industry–academia event.
PHUSE India is committed to engaging with universities and helping them develop talent for the clinical research industry so that we can collectively take forward clinical research and meet unmet patient needs. This talk at The University of Burdwan kicked off a possible long-term engagement with PHUSE. We are looking forward to engaging with the faculty and the students to facilitate including contemporary industry skills and knowledge in their curriculum. Our PHUSE India volunteers hope to forge further long-term university engagements to help students pursue careers in clinical research.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Punjab (September 2023)
The PHUSE Academia Connect event, hosted at the esteemed National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Mohali, Punjab, achieved remarkable success on 16 September 2023. The PHUSE team was thrilled to collaborate with NIPER, and the event received robust support from the college faculty and an overwhelming response from undergraduates to PhD scholars.
The seminar commenced with a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the PHUSE team. It then delved into an exploration of PHUSE and its core pillars: Community, Events, Working Groups and Communications. These pillars have firmly established PHUSE as the industry’s respected voice in its interactions with regulatory agencies. This introduction was followed by a captivating session on the future of clinical trials, during which attendees explored emerging trends, the evolving trajectory of the field and how the integration of cutting-edge technology is poised to redefine the landscape of clinical research. Additionally, the seminar shed light on the multitude of career opportunities available in the clinical research and data science domains.
Dr Aneet Sandhu and Gagandeep Singh Saini (PHUSE India team representative) delivered engaging talks that deeply resonated with the students. Consequently, they received an influx of questions regarding the industry’s evolution and how students could actively participate in shaping its future. The students exhibited a strong curiosity about the inner workings of clinical research, signalling a keen desire to enter the clinical research industry.
The event concluded on an encouraging note, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the faculty of NIPER for their invaluable assistance and facilitation. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the PHUSE Team, Sarvesh Singh and Shrishaila Patil for bringing this enlightening initiative to students.
PHUSE India University Connect – University of Kerala
We are excited to share the success of our recent visit to the University of Kerala as part of the PHUSE India University Connect initiative. Our dedicated team of industry professionals, including Ajith B. S. Nair, Senior Project Manager at GENPRO Research; Rijesh Paramal, Senior Manager of Statistical Programming at ICON; and Mahesh Divakaran, Associate Lead in Clinical Data Analytics at GENPRO Research, conducted an engaging and informative three-hour session on 26 October 2023.
During this session, we discussed job opportunities in the field of clinical research, shedding light on the current job landscape, growth prospects, and emerging trends. Students and faculty members actively participated, asking questions and seeking valuable insights into the pharmaceutical industry.
It was an interactive session that encouraged questions and discussions. As a result, we received numerous requests for follow-up sessions, both from enthusiastic students eager to explore career opportunities and teachers interested in aligning their curriculum with industry requirements.
We are thrilled with the positive response from the University of Kerala and are committed to further collaboration. Our mission to bridge the gap between academia and the pharmaceutical industry, foster innovation, and provide students with the skills and knowledge they need for successful careers is off to an encouraging start. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm for this exciting journey of knowledge exchange and collaboration. Stay tuned for more updates on our initiatives.
PHUSE India University Connect – CUSAT
In a memorable visit to Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) on 20 September 2023, the PHUSE India University Connect initiative continues to make waves. Anil Kumar, Senior Director at ICON Clinical Research, and Mahesh Divakaran, Associate Lead in Clinical Data Analytics at GENPRO Research, took centre stage in a stimulating session that left a profound impact on both students and faculty members.
The visit revolved around the vast realm of clinical research and the myriad career opportunities it presents. Anil Kumar, a distinguished industry expert, provided valuable insights into the field, delving into the current job landscape, growth potential, and emerging trends. Mahesh Divakaran, with his expertise in clinical data analytics, added depth to the conversation, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experiences.
The interaction during the session was both dynamic and engaging, fostering a spirit of curiosity among the students and faculty. This translated into numerous requests for follow-up sessions from students eager to explore the industry and from educators interested in aligning their curricula with industry requirements.
Our visit to Cochin University of Science and Technology is a testament to the dedication of the PHUSE India University Connect initiative in bridging the gap between academia and the pharmaceutical industry. We are enthusiastic about the journey ahead and remain steadfast in our mission to empower students with the knowledge and skills they need for a prosperous career in the pharmaceutical sector. We thank you for your unwavering support and look forward to continuing this exciting journey of collaboration.