Ready for industry
Niels Grønning Rasmussen, with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Copenhagen, has chosen Drug Development as his area of specialisation.
The reason I decided on a master’s programme in the pharmaceutical sciences was the opportunity to combine my biological background knowledge with a pharmaceutical line. I’ll be able to finish my master’s with a unique combination of subjects and competences that will be directly useful in the drug and biotech industries.
Ready for industry
It was clear to me from the start that I did not want to work in the early phase of drug development, so the Drug Development line was perfect for me. It focuses on the later development phases, once the active drug substance has been identified. The interplay between laboratory work and theoretical teaching means that I have gotten a good look at the many challenges I will meet later in industry. I have combined economics courses at the Copenhagen Business School and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) with the compulsory subjects for the master’s programme in pharmaceutical sciences. That will make it possible for me to consider drug development from a financial as well as a development perspective.
International experience strengthens your CV
After taking the course in drug metabolism I knew I wanted to write my thesis on a subject in this area. The programme provides plenty of opportunity to study abroad. My contact with the international office at the Faculty resulted in a thesis study exchange at the Department of Pharmacogenomics and Drug Development at the University of Sydney.
My thesis was about the potential inhibitor properties of a substance during metabolism. I also investigated the connection between inhibition and the individual’s genetics. There was plenty of opportunity to use analytical chemistry and drug metabolism and I felt well equipped for the experimental work involved.
Writing a thesis abroad is a fantastic experience that gives you lots of personal challenges and cultural experiences. You work interculturally and are forced to think and work independently. It is a challenge but also one of the most education experiences I’ve had during my years of training.
Now I want to show what I can do!
As a graduate in the pharmaceutical sciences who specialised in Drug Development, I am looking forward to working in the later phases of drug development. The subjects drug metabolism and analytical chemistry combined with courses in economics give me an attractive profile to drug and biotech industries. My education has prepared me for the impending employment challenges and developed my knowledge of modern drug development. I am looking forward to demonstrating the many competences of someone with a master’s in the pharmaceutical sciences.
