Amicus Therapeutics, a biotechnology company located in University City, is changing the world. And on February 10, we chatted with three team members all about how you can join this groundbreaking company dedicated to saving lives by curing rare diseases. Missed it? You can watch the FULL panel interview right here!
Careers that are Changing the World: Learn More About Amicus Therapeutics
Amicus Therapeutics is a global, patient-dedicated biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and delivering high-quality medicines for people living with rare metabolic diseases.
Those who work on the Amicus team are inventive and purposeful, and they seek to deliver the highest quality therapies for persons living with diseases.
And… they’re growing! Amicus is hiring for summer 2021 internship positions across all departments. Are you Amicus’ next intern?
The Summer Internship Program at Amicus was created to give students an opportunity for experiential learning in a corporate environment. This is a meaningful, mutually beneficial program where students will bring innovation and drive that will help Amicus reach their goals. In turn, the highly skilled Amicus team will help students apply what they already know and broaden their knowledge base!
Interested? Watch the special panel discussion from Feb. 10 now, where you’ll hear from three professionals on the Amicus team all about how their careers are making a difference in the world, and how YOU can join this groundbreaking company committed to changing the lives of patients this summer.
Panelists include:
- Brian Ranes, Principal Investigator, Discovery Science
- Kinesha O’Brien, Senior Clinical Trial Manager, Clinical Operations
- Shawn Singh, Senior Analyst, Account & Finance Reporting, Finance
Meet the panelists below!
Meet the Panelists: What’s it Like to Work for Amicus Therapeutics?
Brian Ranes, Principal Investigator, Discovery Science at Amicus Therapeutics
Meet Brian Ranes
“I have worked in the Amicus science department for 16 years, focused on the in vitro preclinical study of new treatments for more than a dozen metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Currently, I lead a team of scientists using cell-based imaging and tissue histology to study the effects of new treatments on cell and animal models of disease.
In addition, I serve as the scientific Target Lead for two of our main programs: First, CDKL5-deficiency disorder, a rare neurodevelopmental disease; next, our gene therapy program for MPSIIIA, a rare lysosomal storage disorder.
My path to this fulfilling career has been non-traditional—I studied violin performance (and microbiology) in college and did not go to grad school. I was the first intern at Amicus and was offered an entry-level research assistant position when I graduated. I give credit to my supervisors over the years with helping me become a good scientist. I credit my experience in music and the arts, as well as my other hobbies, for making me a creative scientist with good teamwork and leadership skills. I live with my wife and our 6-month-old son in Drexel Hill, PA.”
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about your job?
Most people don’t know just how many experiments don’t work in research science. The hard part is not thinking of an experiment—it’s making sure to design that experiment to give you results that are unequivocal.
What’s it like to work for a biotech company that’s curing rare diseases and saving lives?
This is a difficult business. Science is hard. But when it works it is wonderful. Early in my career I remember testing a new drug in cells grown in a plastic plate, and I remember plotting the graph that showed the drug was working in the cells.
More than 10 years later, in a celebration for that drug’s approval by the FDA, one of the patients who had taken that drug spoke, telling us simply that it made him feel better. In this company and in other biotech, we have the opportunity to apply science to create drugs that help people feel better or even to save their lives. It is incredibly rewarding.
Kinesha O’Brien, MPH (center), Senior Clinical Trial Manager, Clinical Operations at Amicus Therapeutics
Meet Kinesha O’Brien
“I am an Associate Director in Clinical Operations and I have been working at Amicus Therapeutics for two years. I received a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University and I also hold a Master of Public Health from New York Medical College.
I first learned about Clinical Research by chance, while I was job hunting, after moving to Boston back in 2007. I started my career in the industry as a Clinical Trial Associate at PAREXEL Intl, and from there, I have held various positions at Pfizer (Legacy Wyeth), PRA Health Sciences, Novo Nordisk, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
However, when I’m not working (especially in the pre-COVID era), I love traveling to any Caribbean island destination!”
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about your job?
I don’t work in a laboratory! Many people assume that Clinical Trials and Drug Research & Development entail only performing research in a laboratory environment, which isn’t the case at all. Managing a trial or study program is similar to managing a project, where you have to project and plan budgets, resources, and timelines.
Scientifically, there are some aspects that relate to the lab, however, pre-clinical studies are conducted and completed long before the in-human studies ever begin, as these studies focus on the safety profile of the drug to ensure they are safe for patients.
What’s it like to work for a biotech company that’s curing rare diseases and saving lives?
Amicus is a very special place to work because not only do we focus on exploring therapies for rare diseases in adults and children, but we also do our best to raise awareness of these diseases and seek out patients to share their stories. Amicus is a company built on the belief that patients come first, and this is very well represented within our business culture by having a Patient Advocacy Department that works closely with patients and brings their stories alive during frequent town halls.
By doing so, all Amicus employees are reminded that we each contribute to something bigger than all of us can ever imagine, especially when the end result involves extending or improving the lives of those impacted by serious, life-threatening diseases.
Shawn Singh, Sr. Analyst, Accounting & Financial Reporting at Amicus Therapeutics
Meet Shawn Singh
“I am a graduate of Rider University with Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance, as well as a Certification in Leadership. After college, I gained valuable experience as an auditor with Deloitte while perusing my CPA certification. After 3 great years with Deloitte, I transitioned into an SEC reporting role at Amicus.”
What’s your favorite part about working at Amicus?
For an international company, it still feels small enough that everyone knows you or gets to know you very quickly.
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about your job?
I have never used a calculator… Excel does all the math for me!
What’s it like to work for a biotech company that’s curing rare diseases and saving lives?
Rewarding. Even though I’m not in a lab directly contributing to the effort, it is rewarding to know I work for an organization that’s saving lives.
What’s a typical day like in your role at Amicus?
A few meetings to remain aligned with my team, consolidating information from other teams for reporting purposes, and working on the 10-Q / 10-K—all currently from my 5-second commute to my desk at home!
Next Up: Life Sciences and Biotech Career Fair
Join us on Thursday, February 25, from 3-6PM on Brazen for our next virtual career fair!
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in science, biotechnology, bioengineering, pharmaceuticals, biomedical technologies/devices, gene therapy, research and development, technology transfer, and commercialization, sign up today for this virtual career fair and take the first step in finding your dream job!
