Biorasi Spotlight: Iulia Tath – Intern

For this week’s Biorasi Spotlight, meet Iulia Tath, Intern, at Biorasi, LLC.

How did you become interested in clinical research?
As an undergraduate student majoring in Biology, I worked with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as a clinical research volunteer and conducted hands-on work supporting clinical trials, from data analysis to assisting with patient activities. I built on this experience as an intern for the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) in Washington, D.C., where I learned about the process of drug development and all of the players in the industry. These two experiences combined gave me a multi-faceted glimpse into clinical research, from the hands-on academic work to the big-picture industry perspective.

What was your favorite part of the internship?
The best part of my internship with Biorasi was that I was able to explore my interests and skills and to collaborate with others throughout the company. With each study, I had the opportunity to dive into the protocol and learn about the study drug and the disease it targets. By further discussing with members of the clinical and project management branches of the company, I was able to thoroughly understand the trial. The open lines of communication at Biorasi facilitate creative thinking and sharing of ideas among the teams to develop innovative solutions for the sponsor.

What were some of your biggest challenges on the job?
This internship required me to learn on the job and to adapt quickly to change. When I began interning at Biorasi, I had to rapidly understand the inner-workings of clinical trials from start to finish, while putting into perspective the regulatory landscape and the various requirements of a sponsor. Additionally, every new study required extensive research into protocol specifications to thoroughly understand the scope of the trial. Once the sponsor solution had been developed, we had to remain flexible to any changes in study design or scope. Although the fast pace of this environment is very demanding, I liked that it always kept me on my toes and I was always learning something new and adapting previous ideas to better meet the needs of the sponsor.

What advice would you provide to others for success in this internship?
Keep an open mind. As an intern, you are constantly absorbing new information and modifying what you previously thought was true to fit a new scenario. You must also work with a lot of people, some of who may operate differently than you are used to. It is important to find the value in each person’s point of view and utilize creative, open-minded thinking to find the best way to approach a problem.

Tell us something interesting about yourself?
I was born in Romania and moved to the United States when I was five years old! Traveling back to visit family and taking other excursions throughout Europe encouraged me to keep a broad perspective and to try to understand people of different cultures. I now speak four languages and I am always looking forward to the next adventure!