Finding her mentor led to finding her calling.
Jennifer Poulakos spent a lot of time in New York City as a teenager from Newark, NJ. Armed with a high comfort level for the East Coast, Jennifer pursued her academic degrees on both sides of the Hudson River. Today her career and her life are flourishing in southern California.
What nurtured your interest in a STEM educational path and career?
My parents’ love of reading exposed me to Popular Science and National Geographic magazines. My interest in science took off in junior high school, and I won the chemistry award in high school.
What degrees did you earn after high school?
As a freshman at New York University, I studied both chemistry and biology, but then decided to focus on biology and that’s my bachelor’s degree. I then worked as a research assistant in a neuropharmacology lab at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), which is where I earned my Ph.D. in pharmacology.
Can you briefly describe your career path?
One day during an appointment with my dermatologist, I told him about my challenge finding a lab research position. He suggested I apply to UMDNJ, and two weeks later, I had a job. You never know who will say the right thing at the right time to help your path take the right turn. I worked there before receiving my Ph.D., and then I had a post-doctorate and research faculty position at the University of Florida for five years. I transitioned to industry when I joined Amgen in the 1990s, beginning as a clinical trials manager, advancing to team leader, and then moving into Quality Assurance where I had the opportunity to ensure clinical studies meet industry standards. I’ve been serving in the same function at Astellas/Agensys for more than five years.
What is the best part of your job?
Contributing to a team is wonderful, particularly when we analyze the results of our clinical studies and can see cancer patients that had very poor prognoses responding to our investigational products. The clinical trial process is complex and challenging at times, so seeing positive results is very rewarding. I also enjoy sharing my experience with young people with the hope of inspiring them to pursue a career in STEM.
What advice can you offer to girls and young women who might be interested in a STEM career?
Follow your interest; if it’s in STEM, go for it. Find a mentor who is positive, encouraging and will give you the tools you need at that point of your life. And remember that being in a mentor relationship is mutually beneficial. It’s gratifying to be a mentor, so don’t be shy—ask for help when you need it. And know that hard work and perseverance really do pay off.
What do you know now that you wished you knew as a teenager?
I wish I knew about the many career opportunities there were for someone interested in a STEM career. I knew I was interested in science, but I had no idea of the many career paths that would become available to a biology major.