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Genzyme reaches out to PC students |
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PC alumni who are working at Genzyme Corporation presented a program, “Internships and Careers in Biotechnology,” at a campus forum sponsored by the Office of Career Services. The presenters are, in front row, from left, Erin Whitney ’00, senior clinical research associate; Frances Murphy ’85, clinical account executive; and Kailene Souza ’01, senior research associate; in the back row are Mike Wyzga ’83, chief financial officer for accounting and executive vice president for finance; and Dr. Paul LaRochelle ’03, clinical research fellow.
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Providence College alumni who work for one of the leading biotechnology companies in the world are lending a hand to current PC students who are exploring their career options after college.
Recently, the Office of Career Services sponsored “Internships and Careers in Biotechnology,” a forum where students from science, business, and the liberal arts disciplines could interact with five alumni currently working at Genzyme Corp.
The program was preceded by a dinner with the alumni, faculty representatives from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Accountancy, and staff members in career services and the Office of Institutional Advancement.
More than 60 students attended the presentation in Moore Hall, gaining insight into internship opportunities and the fields of finance, research, pharmacy, sales, and project management, among others.
Genzyme is a Fortune 500 company that has introduced a number of breakthrough treatments in several areas of medicine, including inherited disorders, kidney disease, cancer, and diagnostic testing. Founded in 1981 in Boston, Genzyme has grown from a small start-up to a company with 10,000 employees worldwide.
Kathleen A. Clarkin, director of the Career Planning and Internship Service in the Office of Career Services, credited Michael S. Wyzga ’83, Genzyme’s chief financial and accounting officer and executive vice president for finance, for leading the collaborative effort with his alma mater, resulting in summer internship opportunities for PC students.
“Genzyme is an example of a values-driven organization that can benefit from hiring talented PC students while providing them with key experiential opportunities to enhance their education and gain a competitive edge,” Clarkin said.
Wyzga said he started the partnership because he saw it as sustainable program that could lead to further collaboration between PC and Genzyme.
“This is not something we’re doing because it’s fashionable. This is truly important to us,” Wyzga said. “The students get to try things that are tangible and we get growth we can rely on. When we get the right students and it works out, the end result is spectacular.”
In addition to Wyzga, four other PC graduates were panelists at the Genzyme forum in February: Frances Murphy ’85, clinical account executive; Erin Whitney ’00, clinical research associate; Kailene Souza ’01, senior research associate; and Dr. Paul LaRochelle ’03, clinical pharmacy research fellow.
As a former biology major at PC, Souza said she remembers being confused as to what her post-graduate plans would be. However, she added that programs like the Genzyme forum make students aware of the many options out there.
“So far, I have had a great response from the students who attended the forum. I had a few come visit me at my lab and a few more are scheduled,” she said. “I know it can be scary for students who aren’t going on to grad school, but the forum gave me a chance to explain to students that there are other career options out there besides medicine and graduate school. I personally think this sort of thing is invaluable for both PC students and Genzyme.”
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