On Friday, February 7, 2025, Yale’s Office of Career Strategy (OCS) and the Yale Postdoctoral Association (YPA) organized a job trek to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Headquarters in New Brunswick, NJ. This event provided an exceptional opportunity for 34 Yale Bioscience PhD candidates and Post-Docs to explore career opportunities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, connect with J&J professionals and Yale Club members, and gain firsthand insights into the company’s culture and operations.
Upon arrival, attendees were warmly welcomed and treated to a museum tour led by J&J staff, offering a fascinating glimpse into the company’s rich history and innovations.
One of the many highlights was a J&J led panel session, held at Johnson Hall, where J&J professionals shared their career journeys and insights. Yale Bioscience scholars listened to several inspiring presentations from J&J employees, including Claire Yiqing Liu, Senior Scientist; Jessica Saintibert, Postdoctoral Fellow in Market Access Oncology; Lucy Anderson, Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Market Access Oncology; Chin-Wen Chang, Senior Principal Data Scientist; and Susan Goodin, VP of CMC Early Late Development.
J&J panelists offered insightful guidance on transitioning from academia to industry, exploring various career opportunities beyond bench research, and navigating a successful career in the pharmaceutical sector. Attendees were also able to ask questions and participate in engaging discussions during the Q&A session.
Following the panel discussion, participants had the unique opportunity to connect with the President and two Trustees of the Yale Club of Central NJ—Evangeline Tross, Esq., Gale Tenen Spak, PhD; and Michael Labowsky, PhD, in coordination with the Graduate School Alumni Association (GSAA).
The Club members explained to the students that they are already considered alumni by Yale. This status enables them at once to immediately participate in the new GSAA Engage Yale Task Force and to benefit from the networking opportunities of joining Yale Clubs near New Haven; and then later, near their future work locations.
Given that NJ is known as the “medicine chest of the world,” the Club members also highlighted the numerous opportunities in the State for individuals with the advanced knowledge provided by a Yale graduate education.
After a refreshing lunch break, Aya Mansour, Business Analyst in Supply Chain, delivered an insightful Talent Acquisition presentation, sharing valuable tips on J&J’s recruitment processes and how candidates can stand out. The day wrapped up with a networking mixer, offering participants the chance to further connect with J&J panelists and Yale Club members. Attendees left with a deeper understanding of career opportunities at J&J, broadened professional networks, and valuable insights into the pharmaceutical industry.
This job trek showcased the strong partnership between Yale and Johnson & Johnson, and we look forward to organizing more events like this in the future across New Jersey and the greater New England area. A special thank you to the J&J team for hosting the Yale Bioscience scholars, and to all the participants for contributing to the success of the event!
