2016_02_03_CIE_empresa

You are currently working as consultant at Ernst&Young. What exactly do you do at Ernst&Young?
In fact, I have been working for two and a half years now in the Advisory department , within the Life Sciences department of Ernst&Young, in Barcelona. It is not the most usual career for a biologist/biochemist but, after finishing the degree program at the University and thanks in large part to the vision provided by the Diploma in management and Creation of Science Companies, I realized that perhaps the research was not my thing.

It seems that because of our training we are "predestined" to end up in a laboratory, but I had always liked the business, numbers, the Economics in general, so I started looking for a work that would allow me to dedicate myself to what I really liked, and I was lucky enough to find this department within a large multinational.

As for the work that we perform, the consultancy service is broadly speaking to support companies in projects of any class for which they do not have enough knowledge, providing them with strategic value for decision making and an external and objective view of the problems they have to face. This is what we do, but in the field of healthcare. Our clients are, in general, pharmaceutical companies, biotechs and, in some cases, the public administration.

How do you apply your training on your work space?
To do consultancy service, motivation and the desire to learn are the most important things. And, of course, the skills you have been able to develop in your academic training . In our case, scientists can contribute a lot, especially with the proposal of creative solutions to problems that, in many cases, are complex. Throughout the degree program we have a lot of burden internship. We face challenges that do not have a specific solution, as is the case - with all due respect - in the day-to-day work of large companies.

How did the training you received at the Diploma of management and Science Entrepreneurship help you?
The Diploma opened my eyes to new opportunities beyond research, from laboratory. At that time I already had many friends who had finished university and were doing consultancy service, but they were all from area in economics, engineering, finance, etc. I could hardly find any scientific profiles. Then I started to consider other options.

In your opinion, in which sectors are there more business opportunities in the science area ?
Currently in Spain the scientific research is not given the importance it has. Many classmates have had to go abroad to find their opportunity, and I know firsthand that they are doing fantastic. So I would encourage those who are thinking of pursuing science degree program to go abroad and have some international experience subject .

If they are interested in the business field, they should evaluate what companies in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology sector offer them, not only in their laboratories, but also in other areas Departments, such as sales, coordination of clinical trials, market access, development business, business intelligence, health economics, etc.

And if none of these areas appeals to you, there is always the option of entrepreneurship - you just need to have a good idea!

III edition of the Diploma of management and Creation of Science Companies.

The III edition of Diploma of management and Creation of Science Companies, organized by the Career Services of the University of Navarra together with the European Center of Innovation of Navarra (CEIN), is being held between February and March and has 22 students in this edition. Most of them come from training programs of the School of Sciences: Degree in Biochemistry (10 students), Degree in Chemistry (1), Double Degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry (1) and the Programs of doctorate of the area of the biomedical research (3).