Michael Garger explains how being able to attend this interdisciplinary course gave him the foundations to address the complex challenges in the bioscience industry.
Being the recipient of the Bioscience Enterprise studentship is a great honour, and I am deeply grateful that this award was extended to me. Having the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university has been a valuable experience, and the learnings gained during the MBE course thus far have been truly insightful. Crucially, the studentship served to contribute to my self-belief which ultimately enhanced my focus and drive to maximise my benefit not just from the course itself but also the ancillary opportunities it provided me with. Moreover, the personal growth and professional development that I have experienced provide favourable conditions for the transition from academia to industry.
The MBE studentship is the first financial award I have received during my academic career. I have been fortunate that my parents were able to support me financially throughout my entire education so naturally being able to reduce that burden is of immense value. In addition, beyond the financial face value of the award, it had a more profound personal effect on me too. It instilled a motivation to capitalise on this unique situation to ensure I made the most of the opportunities and resources at Cambridge particularly regarding starting my professional career. While I felt that the studentship was in a way recognition for my achievements thus far, it also provided a subconscious sense of stability and reinforced my drive to get the most from the programme.
The academic quality and rigour of the course has been truly enriching, and the breadth of material covered has made it a well-rounded experience. The content and teaching style of the course has inherently been different to my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, but it was much like I had hoped it would be. Given its focus on the commercialisation of bioscience innovations, the lectures, workshops and assignments effectively illustrated to me the key concepts required to unlock the financial value of scientific research and output. This was precisely what I was missing in my previous course, and I am grateful to have been accepted to one of the few programmes able to provide these unique insights. What I found particularly useful was the variety of speakers conducting the lectures, who are not only experts in their field but also at the cutting edge both from a research and investment perspective. The lectures surrounding venture capital and valuation undoubtedly provided some of the most important learnings of the course. Crucially, they effectively illustrated the interdisciplinary approach and framework that is required for successful venture creation and investment decision-making. In line with this, I was also fascinated to learn about the integral role of intellectual property and the strategies to ensure adequate protection of innovations, given their intrinsic financial value. Overall, the course has built a strong foundation that fosters a holistic perspective and strategic mindset to address the complex challenges in the bioscience industry.
The opportunity to study at Cambridge has also had a significant impact on my professional development. The MBE is designed to provide students not just with the necessary knowledge but also key practical skills to excel in the bioscience industry. In this context, the emphasis on teamwork throughout the course has been a crucial element for me, especially since I gained valuable insight into the differences in people’s work styles and dynamics given the diverse nature of the cohort. The consulting project has been a particularly insightful project during the course, given the intrinsically multifaceted nature of the work drawing on various skill sets that are vital in a professional setting. The course has also provided ample networking opportunities and learning about the career paths of people being involved in the field has been inspiring. Together with the career resources provided by Cambridge, these professional development opportunities have not only enriched my university experience but have also positioned me well for future job prospects in the bioscience industry.
Beyond the academic and professional development opportunities, my engagement on the MBE course has also contributed to my personal growth. Throughout the programme, I have been challenged to think critically, analyse tasks and develop a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset. This was particularly reflected throughout the projects which helped me develop my leadership, communication and teamwork abilities. Most notably, numerous assignments required interacting with key opinion leaders and experts both in terms of interviewing and presenting back to them which was especially effective in strengthening my self-confidence. Similarly, working with fellow students from different backgrounds has been crucial to understand and learn from the varied approaches that can be taken to complete certain tasks. Interacting with other students from my college and in the wider Cambridge community was also highly influential in broadening my horizon and seeing everyone’s drive, passion and commitment nurtured a beneficial learning environment. Ultimately, the course has provided the framework to become a dynamic and adaptable professional within the bioscience industry with the necessary competencies to have a meaningful impact.
Lastly, the experiences and insights over the past months have been instrumental in shaping my career choices. When I first joined Cambridge, there were multiple career choices I had been deliberating mostly between a consulting/investment route or working directly at a bioscience start-up. The course has provided ample opportunities that have exposed me to these fields in greater depth both from a conceptual and practical standpoint. Personally, I have found the start-up field to be more enticing and rewarding, enabling me to integrate both my background in biochemistry as well as the business acumen furthered by the MBE course to make a meaningful contribution. The smaller team size also allows for greater autonomy and ownership of projects, enabling one to directly impact and shape the company’s success. Most importantly, however, the dynamic and fast-paced environment combined with working at the forefront of technological innovation is a highly rewarding prospect. Over the past years, I have been fascinated by the development of cellular regeneration technologies, a field that I am actively pursuing since it has immense potential to transform healthcare.
Once again, I would like to extend my personal and sincere gratitude to the donor(s) of this award. It has truly had a transformative impact on my Cambridge experience!
*The Bioscience Enterprise Studentship is possible thanks to the vital funds raised during LucyGives 2022.