What are your responsibilities as process engineer at Johnson & Johnson?

I am currently working as process engineer at Janssen Schaffhausen within Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and I am responsible for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in the small molecule sector. We are producing the “foundation” of drugs and I am therefore representing this part of the drug across the supply chain. In collaboration with different departments, I ensure the supply of APIs and support the launch of new compounds. The produced drugs serve patients worldwide with serious diseases, who depend on the required treatments. I am very proud that I can contribute directly to the launch of important therapies addressing the needs of patients around the globe. Innovation, complex development and research work, handling challenges of large-scale production and the people behind it enabled the improvement of patients’ life.

Your first contact to Johnson & Johnson happened at the Chemtogether fair. How did this help you in your application process?

My first contact with Johnson & Johnson was indeed at the Chemtogether at the ETH Zurich. I was talking with HR representatives and had inspiring discussions about possibilities at Johnson & Johnson. I got better insights in the different programs offered by J&J and learned more about the advantages, which I was not aware of before the discussion. For example, I started at J&J in a temporary PostDoc program, which was my first step into the pharmaceutical industry…and which was initiated by the recruiting event at the ETH.

During your PhD you worked on synthetic fossilization of DNA in silica nanoparticles. Can you apply your expertise in your current work? How did your studies prepare you for the challenges in industry?

My PhD research was already including applied science and problem-solving regarding application of the designed nanoparticles as tracer and tags. I intensively worked with different collaborations and departments to find the best design concept, the best detection method and the best application for it. On the one side, I learned that only the interpersonal interactions and discussions rise the most efficient and creative solutions and on the other side, I gained a tolerance of frustration. Both learnings and competencies are part of my personal tool box, which I daily use in my current function.

What advice can you give to graduating PhD candidates regarding future employment opportunities outside of academia?

Ask yourself what you really want, what is your core motivation and go for it. See the big picture and do not limit yourself by trying to get everything directly after PhD or study (e.g. permanent position, leading function, location). Build up your competences step by step… but therefore you need to jump into cold water.

What are possible career paths and promotion prospects at Johnson & Johnson?

This depends on yourself! You own your career and within Johnson & Johnson there are a variety of possibilities in different aspects. We openly talk about individual career paths, whether with our line manager, during career events or in special designed programs.

Which suggestions do you have for a recent ETH graduate applying for jobs or internships?

Be well prepared! Get all information you can get about the job, the company, the industry sector, business reports etc., use your network and especially all offered possibilities at ETH Zürich (e.g. ETH Career Center). Try your best and when it will not work out…do not give up.