January Alumni Career Profile

Name:  Edwin Sopp                                                                                            

Class Year: 1989

Major: Biology

Current Employer: Genzyme

Describe your career path since graduation.

I have worked with several biotech and pharmaceutical companies, primarily in the Quality Department.

 

What is your current position and how long have you been with your employer? 

Associate Director of Quality Assurance - 8 years

 

Describe the main responsibilities of your position. 

Assure the quality of clinical supplies for various development programs. This includes reviewing of manufacturing batch records and all testing data for all clinical supplies to be sure that the drug is safe for human use.

 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Developing a new drug. Taking it from discovery, to approval, to commercialization.

 

What do you find most challenging about your job? 

Working with outside contractors. Not all work is done internally and a significant portion is done by outside contractors. It is always challenging to keep your timelines with other companies. It is also rewarding to work with other groups and learn from them. I have been lucky enough to work with many different groups within the States as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Brazil.

 

Describe your typical work week.  (How many hours you work, your work environment, etc.) 

Typical - no such thing. But usually, it is around 50 hours a week in the office. The work environment is fun. Very busy but everyone working towards a common goal. It is never dull. Travel is also part of my job. There can be no travel and then traveling for weeks at a time. Travel is usually to work with outside vendors. This is always a good learning experience.

 

What job search methods did you use to obtain your current position?  

There wasn't much of a method - a friend of mine worked at the company and called me about the job.

Editor's Note: This is a good example of networking!

 

What advice could you give to students interested in your field? 

Try to find a job you think you will enjoy, but also at a company that will allow you to learn many things. It is important to learn all aspects of whatever field you enter. It is also important to learn that there isn't just one way to do things. The key is to adapt to different situations depending on what is needed.

Last Modified: January 19, 2005