ALUMNI SUCCESS STORIES
Every month, we choose to highlight an alumni success story. Berkeley Pharma Tech alumni are making their mark in the fields of medicine, finance, international aid, engineering, technology, education, entrepreneurship, and the creative arts, among many others.
The Alumni Success Stories below highlight just a few of our almost 300 remarkable former interns who represent Berkeley Pharma Tech’s legacy. We are proud of them, their achievements, and the contributions they make to their fields and communities.
SIMRAN LALLIAN
We are pleased to announce that Simran Lallian, a former intern of Berkeley Pharma Tech has has raised $50K to advance her startup, which is focused on developing a wearable device that predicts seizures by detecting irregular brain activity. Alongside her partner, she secured first prize at the 2024 Big Bang! Business Competition. Episense’s innovative technology can alert caregivers in real-time, offering potentially life-saving warnings for people with epilepsy and seizure disorders.
SHelden shi
We are excited to announce that Shelden Shi, a former intern of Berkeley Pharma Tech has recently secured $500K in funding and a coveted spot in Y Combinator's Summer 2024 cohort. His startup, Lilac Labs, leverages AI to streamline drive-thru operations for quick-service restaurants, addressing industry challenges with a voice AI system that enhances customer service and operational efficiency.
Kaitao Chen
Master of Software Engineering | Carnegie Mellon University
We are thrilled to announce that Kaitao Chen, a former intern with Berkeley Pharma Tech during the Fall of 2022, has embarked on an exciting new journey of pursuing a Master of Software Engineering degree at Carnegie Mellon University! During his time at Berkeley Pharma Tech, Kaitao showcased exceptional dedication and talent, contributing significantly to the team's projects. Now, as he dives deeper into his academic pursuits, we are confident that Kaitao will continue to excel and make meaningful contributions to the field of software engineering.
Courtney Hooks
Cripps Lab | San Diego State University
We are pleased to share Courtney Hooks's latest career milestone! Having interned with Berkeley Pharma Tech during the summer of 2021, Courtney has now secured a position at Cripps Lab, based at SDSU. Since starting her journey in August, Courtney has embraced the challenges of her role as both a researcher and manager, experiencing a whirlwind of growth and learning opportunities each day. Her enthusiasm for expanding her skills and knowledge in such a dynamic environment is evident, and we're confident she'll continue to thrive in her new position.
Gayoung Yang
DO/PhD Program | Michigan State University
We are thrilled to announce that Gayoung Yang, a former intern during the summer of 2022, has been accepted into a fully funded 8-year DO/PhD program at Michigan State University, with an expected graduation in 2032! Gayoung’s acceptance into this prestigious program is a testament to her outstanding academic prowess and commitment to advancing the field of medicine. We have no doubt that Gayoung will continue to excel in her future endeavors, and we eagerly anticipate the groundbreaking contributions she will make to the medical community.
Harrison xu
Undergraduate | Princeton University
We are excited to announce that Harrison Xu, a former intern at Berkeley Pharma Tech during the Summer of 2022, has been accepted into Princeton University's Class of 2027. Harrison is set to embark on a journey towards a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton. During his time at Berkeley Pharma Tech, Harrison exhibited exceptional dedication and innovation, contributing significantly to various projects. We anticipate that Harrison will continue to thrive academically and make remarkable contributions to the field of engineering. Congratulations, Harrison, on this well-deserved achievement!
Ronit Sherstha
Research and Development Engineering Rotation Program | Medtronic
We are thrilled that Ronit Shrestha will join Medtronic full-time as an R&D Engineer post-graduation! After interning with Berkeley Pharma Tech as a lead Medical Research Intern, Ronit went on to intern with Medtronic, a leading medical device company, over two summers and has now signed an offer to go back full-time.
“As of July 2024, I will begin my role as an R&D Engineer as part of Medtronic’s Early Career R&D Rotation program! I am excited for this opportunity to explore the world of medical device development across various functions.”
Ethan Tse
Graduate Student | University of Pennsylvania
We are excited to share that Ethan Tse has graduated from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in Spring 2023. He has accumulated numerous experiences and achievements including co-founder of the BioBreakthrough Conference, Cal Poly Science and Mathematics President, and even co-founder of an urban farming business. “Next up, I’m pursuing my Master of Public Health at the University of Pennsylvania. Super excited for their unique interdisciplinary graduate ecosystem. I continue to be heavily interested and involved with tech startups”.
Tejaswini Govindaraman
Operations Professional Development Program | Abbott
We are pleased to announce that University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduate, Tejaswini Govindaraman, has accepted an incredible career development opportunity at Abbott! “Starting July 2023, I am thrilled to begin my full-time career at Abbott as part of their flagship Operations Professional Development Program, a 3-year global rotational program where I will gain exposure to various Abbott divisions and roles”.
Sujata Shivakumar
Research Associate | J. Craig Venter Institute
Sujata Shivakumar, a recent Biotechnology graduate with a Technology Management minor from UC Davis, has been selected for a Research Associate role in the Sequencing Core at J. Craig Venter Institute. She will begin this exciting opportunity starting August 2023. “I am extremely excited to be part of an institution known for its groundbreaking contributions to genomics research and innovation”.
Jade cherfils
Project Manager | Twist Bioscience
We are excited to share that Jade Cherfils has taken on a new job as a Project Manager at Twist Bioscience recently. She is looking forward to advancing her career in this new position through the experience she will gain. We are proud of Jade and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!
Estee foroozan
Talent Manager | Robert Half
Estee Foroozan, a former Human Resources intern at BPT has recently accepted a position at Robert Half as a Talent Manager. We are proud of Estee for her accomplishments and wish her the best in her future endeavors!
“I have begun my professional career with Robert Half in Santa Barbara, California as a Talent Manager dedicated to helping people find meaningful careers in administrative and customer support roles.”
Jordyn Novick
Team DRIP Member | M-Heal
We are excited to share that Jordyn Novick has joined M-Heal as a Team DRIP Member. M-Heal is dedicated to developing and testing affordable prosthetic legs for diabetic amputees in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. During her tenure with us, Jordyn served as a member of the Medical Research team and composed a grant proposal exploring the potential of CRISPR as an innovative therapy for FUS-mediated ALS. We take pride in Jordyn's accomplishments and offer our best wishes for her future endeavors.
Jake calendine
Quality Assurance Engineer | Meissner Filtration Products
We are pleased to highlight the career progression of one of our former interns, Jake Calendine. During his time with us, Jake demonstrated his leadership skills as a team lead and contributed to a comprehensive review paper on gene therapy for the treatment of COPD symptoms. He has now taken the next step in his career as a full-time Quality Assurance Engineer at Meissner Filtration Products. We are proud of Jake's achievements and wish him continued success in the future!
bhavana sreepad
Medical Student | Texas Christian University
Bhavana Sreepad, a former biomedical research intern at Berkeley Pharma Tech, has recently achieved a remarkable milestone by getting accepted into medical school at TCU. Bhavana, who also served as a team leader during her time at Berkeley Pharma Tech, conducted a literature review on Parkinson's disease and demonstrated her passion for the field. As a fun fact, her father was there to support her during the white coat ceremony, helping her put on her coat. We are proud of Bhavana and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!
miguel monares
Student Researcher | Intel Corporation
Miguel Monares was a Game App Developer Intern at Berkeley Pharma Tech. In the beginning of 2022 his professor at UCSD recognized his talents and endorsed him for the Student Research Intern position at Intel. He will be working there for the next two years. In addition, he is coming back to Berkeley Pharma Tech in the role of Software Engineer Team Lead, and will be working closely with our SWE teams. We are happy to be collaborating with him once more!
”I'm excited to rejoin the talented and progressive team at Berkeley Pharma Tech. Looking forward to the projects we create!”
Anna Kurianowicz
Developmental Biologist | Bayer Pharmaceuticals
The last couple of months have been quite a whirlwind but Anna Kurianowicz, a former intern at Berkeley Pharma Tech, is very happy to share two updates: After having graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in December 2021, in February she started her first full-time position as a Developmental Biologist for Bayer Pharmaceuticals at their Berkeley location!
She is incredibly excited to expand her skillset as well as cultivate the skills that she has learned after having taken on and completed her undergraduate major of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and her minor in Journalism, after having completed her editorial internship at Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine (BPTJM), and having spent large blocks of her undergraduate career working and contributing towards research.
Anna is pictured here on her graduation day in front of the Sather Tower, a beloved icon on the UC Berkeley campus.
Piper Tonne
LA Models | Contract
In addition to pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biopsychology at UC Santa Barbara, Piper also works as a photography model in LA, where her elegance and charm have a chance to shine. You can view her portfolio here.
She is the lead author of the article titled The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Neuromodulation Therapies as a Potential Treatment Adjunct for Multiple Sclerosis published in the BPTJM.
Samrat Thapa
Translational Science Immunopharmacology Intern | Pfizer
Samrat Thapa has accepted a position as a Translational Science Immunopharmacology Intern at Pfizer for the summer 2022! He is thrilled to join the In Vivo Pharmacology Group to develop tumor models and monitor therapeutic efficacy.
He is the second author of the review paper titled Circulating Nucleic Acids as Promising Biomarkers: A New Frontier of Personalized Medicine published at the Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine. He currently attends Stanford University pursuing a major in Computer Science and a minor in Biology.
landon phung
Landon, a former team leader in medical research, has joined Health Legacy as a laboratory intern studying epilepsy, while serving as the Grant Writer Fellow at BPT since 2021.
"Hello, my name is Landon Phung, and I was the team leader of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research group for Spring 2021. My team's ambition for this research was to identify current challenges in diagnosing RA during the early stage and explore potential solutions to address these challenges.
My career goal is to become a physician who guides patients with disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue better health and life quality. As a first-generation college student from Vietnam, I am also passionate about promoting education. Outside of work and school, I am running a volunteer program to help language learners enhance their language skills through technology and social media platforms.
I appreciate the opportunity at Berkeley Pharma Tech, where I can collaborate with other ambitious interns. Given our talented pool of interns, I am excited about BPT's future successes in the biotechnology field."
shelden shi
Automation Engineer Intern | Roche
Shelden Shi is a former Cryptocurrency Software Engineer Intern at BPT turned Automation Engineer Intern at Roche Diagnostics. He is currently receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley.
Check him out on https://www.shelden.tech/ !
“At Berkeley Pharma Tech, I have been working on the smart contracts of our incoming ERC20 Token and a Web App to crowdsale the tokens. In additional to building and technology, I enjoy having philosophical discussions and motorcycle rides in my spare time.”
david murray
UX Designer | UC Davis
Full Time
David is a former UX/UI intern turned full-time UX designer for UC Davis' Risk and Safety Solutions team. He received his Master's in UX from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Check him out on https://www.dmurraydesigns.com/ !
nancy nguyen
Campus Content Manager | Bumble
Nancy was a part of the Online Marketing Team at Berkeley Pharma Tech in 2021. She is currently majoring in Cognitive Science and Media Studies at UC Berkeley.
In 5 years, Nancy hopes to be a successful UX/UI Designer. To achieve that, she aims to learn more about visual communication, collaboration, visual empathy and brand building. In 10 years, she hopes to have mastered UX/UI Designing and move on to other fields like product design. Nancy hopes to use her skills to create an excellent product experience for everyone to enjoy.
Nadia moneishedi
Executive Assistant/Office Manager | Bioforcetech Corporation · Full-time
Nadia was a highly organized and productive director’s executive assistant at Berkeley Pharma Tech. She exceled at providing administrative support, conducting research and finding relevant information on a day to day basis. She is courteous, diligent, and holds her own work up to the highest standards. Even during sick days she strives to get her work done on a timely manner.
“Currently I’m working full time as an assistant to a VP of a biotech company while finishing up school at San Francisco State University. I really enjoy working out, hanging with my friends and family, as well as trying new restaurants.”
sri guttikonda
Undergraduate Researcher | Rutgers University
Sri served as the coordinator of the editorial team at Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine. Her job is to supervise five different teams, ranging from communications to peer review. In her free time, she likes to play sports and run outside. Sri envisions herself in an esteemed MD/Ph.D. program, where she will be further developing a passion for research.
“I am a sophomore premed who is currently working on research involving wearables (like Fitbit and Apple Watch) and their impact on heart rate variability. I love to exercise mostly in the form of running, swimming and lifting some weights. In the past I have worked on the Alzheimer’s review paper here at Berkeley Pharma Tech.”
anonna hasan
Electrical Engineering Intern
Velodyne Lidar, Inc. · Full-time
Anonna worked at Berkeley Pharma Tech from August 2020 to May 2021. She has shown a remarkable ability to keep working on one project until it is brought to fruition. She is highly motivated, engaged, and is a wonderful collaborator. Even under the challenges of a pandemic, Anonna has shown perseverance and commitment to her project. Anonna is a great team player.
“I worked on the Game App at BPT. In the game, a drone shoots out bullets to destroy COVID particles. In the past, I designed the merit badges for different teams in the company. I really enjoyed my work because there is a visual element to both. It is really fun playing around with the game app code to see how a small change in the code can transform the way the drone moves. In my free time, I have been learning how to play chess which is a really fun challenge. I also love to draw!”
jeffrey du
Incoming Global Trading Summer Analyst Summer 2022 Internship | T. Rowe Price
In his time at BPT, Jeffrey has worked on a number of projects, including doing research on cryptocurrency and conducting financial analysis on various biotech projects. Each project has its own demands, but Jeffrey is a fast learner and grasps the concepts very quickly, being able to apply them soon afterwards. He has a very good eye for details, and asks a lot of questions during the meetings to connect the dots. His mental acuity will serve him well, should he chooses to pursue finance in the future.
“In general, I'm really interested in finance and business operations, particularly with regards to startups, and I look forward to working with startups regarding their financials after I graduate. Outside of finance, I'm also really passionate about immigration law and advocacy, having interned at an immigration law firm and conducted research on immigration policy. In my free time, I love playing various pickup sports and composing musical arrangements through a variety of instruments, as well as going on long walks at midnight.”
william wong
Recruiting Coordinator | TikTok
Full Time
At BPT, William served as the Team Lead in Human Resources. We are proud of him for joining TikTok as a recruiting coordinator in 2021.
“I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Communications in 2020. I only recently decided to pursue HR after graduation, and I am very grateful that BPT has taken a chance with me and let me grow with the company! I am also thankful for the opportunity to build and lead the HR department.
Some things that I have helped accomplish while here is revamping some of the older HR practices and helping expand our recruitment efforts.
Some of my past times outside of the company are cooking and trying new recipes, as well as playing tennis and trying new gear!”
thejaswini vembar
Thejaswini, a former high school student in Plano, Texas and medical research intern at BPT, was admitted to UC Irvine to pursue her B.S. after interning at BPT for a year.
“I am considering a future in the healthcare field, specifically Neuroscience related. Hobbies that I enjoy outside of school include playing the violin and painting. An interesting fact related to my hobbies is that I play two different styles of violin, Western Classical and Indian Classical.”
MARY NOWAK
Mary, a former Medical Research Team Lead Intern, joined Purdue University as a Doctorate Candidate in Veterinary Medicine in 2021. She is passionate about animal wellbeing, and is thrilled to start her program.
"Hi! My name is Mary Nowak and I was the gut microbiome and hormone group team leader. During my time at BPT, my team and I were reviewing the literature to discover potential avenues for the development of microbiome therapies in women of post-menopausal age. The impeccable network and experiences I gained through Berkeley Pharma Tech have laid the foundations for me to engage in creative thinking that encompasses a wide array of disciplines.
I am truly passionate about making connections among ideas and applying these concepts to tangible scenarios. Apart from research, I love volunteering at animal hospitals, playing the violin, drawing, reading, and spending time outside. I am truly honored to work with an amazing team at Berkeley Pharma Tech and I look forward to the next steps as we embark on the BPT mission to foster ideas into reality.”