Industry Transition Spotlight: Anand Devasthanam, Ph.D.
An interview with Anand Devasthanam, Ph.D.
What is your name, your full job title, and the full name of the company you work for?
Anand Devasthanam, Medical Writer II, PAREXEL Informatics – a subsidiary of PAREXEL International.
Can you describe what a typical day at your job looks like?
- Coffee!
- Meet with the internal team comprising of physicians, scientists, and a project manager to discuss a client-specific work assignment as it pertains to overall objectives, endpoints, deliverables, and timelines.
- Research any relevant literature and follow FDA guidance, as well as internal operating procedures, to draft deliverables expected of the Medical Writer while communicating with team members, keeping the client’s requirements in mind and demonstrating a sense of ownership.
- Meet with my line manager and senior Medical Writers, as needed, to discuss any potential regulatory hot spots, quality issues, and operational considerations.
- Deliver work on time
- Go home and have a beer.
What is your biggest or most satisfying career goal you’ve reached since transitioning into industry?
Earning trust and credibility as a Medical Writer has been the most satisfying career goal since transitioning into industry.
What’s been your biggest learning experience or Ah-Ha moment since transitioning into your new role?
I have come to realize that companies hire the person, not the resume. Having realized this, I have shifted my perspective from, ‘”I must diversify my portfolio and improve my resume” to “I must become the approachable go-to person for anything Medical Writing related”.
How is your current industry position different from your academic postdoc or experience as a graduate student?
Industry treats me like a person.
If you could go back in time, to before you received your job offer, and give yourself one piece of advice or encouragement, what would it be?
I would give myself the very same advice that Rocky Balboa gave his son:
“It’s not about how hard you can hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”
What was the most memorable moment for you (so far) as a Cheeky Scientist Associate?
Moment 1: realizing that I was responding positively to the “tough love” CSA approach.
Moment 2: sharing my transition story on the CSA Facebook page.
What do you see as the next step in your career?
This is my first large-scale client-facing role within industry. My goal this year is to develop efficiencies in this area and work toward becoming a valuable, service-oriented, Medical Writing representative.
How can the Association and the Association’s members help you continue to achieve your career goals?
To achieve my career goals, I will need to see and understand the industry landscape through the varied perspectives of different individuals. Stories add perspective and provide a glimpse of the road ahead. CSA provides a platform for people to candidly share their transition stories and experiences through Facebook posts, Cheeky Spotlights, Expert Webinars, and Isaiah’s much welcomed academia-bashing blogs.
Now that you’ve spent some time working in industry, what is the biggest takeaway(s) you’d like to share with those who are still executing their job search?
Exude positivity because vibrant people get the job; grouchy people don’t.
To learn more about how you can transition into an industry career like Anand, including instant access to our exclusive training videos, case studies, industry insider documents, transition plan, and private online network, get on the wait list for the Cheeky Scientist Association.
