Career in Scientific and Business Strategy after PhD | PhD to Industry Transition | Biopatrika
Career Konnect brings forward diverse and evolving career paths for science and engineering professionals. In this edition, we feature Gayatri Raghupathy, PhD, VP Scientific and Business Strategy at Kognitic USA. With a solid foundation in biotechnology and a PhD in molecular cell and developmental biology, her journey spans from hands-on bench science in Texas to medical writing and strategic leadership in New York City. Her transition from academic research into the business of science highlights how a shift in mindset and interdisciplinary internships can lead to a versatile and impactful career in the biopharma industry.
Bridging fundamental science and real-world healthcare impact
Current role: Executive Director, Functional AI and Process Excellence, US Medical, Novartis, USA
Career Konnect Interview
Q1. Could you please walk us through your journey?
After finishing my BTech in biotechnology in India, I recognized I wanted to seek higher education opportunities outside of India for exposure. I did my master’s in biotech at the University of Texas at Dallas right after my undergrad. I sought internships and opportunities in labs to get hands-on bench science experience. After that, I worked as a research associate for a biotech company in Austin, Texas, called Xbiotech, working on a cancer drug. My role was around protein purification and manufacturing-related experiments, but I really wanted to understand things at the fundamental cell and molecular level, which sparked my interest in doing a PhD.
During my PhD at CUNY Hunter College in New York City, I initially thought I would return to being a bench scientist. However, by my third or fourth year, I pivoted after being exposed to many career opportunities outside of academia. I did two key internships: one in business development at the New York Genome Center and another as an analyst to see if consulting was right for me. These interdisciplinary experiences made me feel that I wanted to be in a role talking about science in a different sense rather than doing experiments. This led me to a medical education agency called BGB in New York, where I was a medical writer.
Q2. What is it like working in the industry as a scientist compared to being in academia?
Industry is extremely fast-paced; everything you do needs a strategy and a plan for execution. In a business setting, everything translates to what revenues it will bring or how it satisfies client goals. A key change I had to learn was not to go into “rabbit holes” and to function efficiently with limited knowledge. As a PhD, you are trained to bury yourself deep into a concept, but in industry, you must be more strategic, multitask, and bring an idea to a product very quickly. It is also very collaborative; I had to work with copywriters, graphic designers, and editorial teams who didn’t necessarily have a scientific background.
Q3: You did a little bit of medical writing… What happened to that dream?
Medical writing served as a good launchpad where I learned about the pharma industry. However, two things made me pivot. First, I fell in love with artificial intelligence and machine learning and how it could impact pharma. Simultaneously, I was a new mom working 12-hour days in a pre-COVID environment where virtual work wasn’t common. It wasn’t the right fit for the lifestyle I wanted where I could spend time with my daughter. I came across Kognitic, Inc. through casual searching and found my fit.
Q4. What is your normal day like now?
Every day involves a lot of meetings and talking. I work with upper management on innovation and strategy. I lead the scientific team to ensure content on our platform is up to date and data quality is good. I also wear multiple hats in business and marketing since we are a startup—one day we talk about science, and the next we are setting up LinkedIn ads. Most importantly, I focus on being a good mentor and leader for my team, which is something you learn through real experience rather than books.
Q5. It seems you are doing more business than science. Is it your choice?
It’s my choice. As you grow in a role, you move out of “analyst mode” and become more business or product-centric. Even though I am on the business side, I am still closely connected to science. For our oncology platform, I need to understand emerging drugs and technologies to keep our users informed. I’m taking scientific knowledge and translating it into areas like user experience and marketing.
Q6. What advice would you give to someone obtaining a PhD degree?
Love what you’re doing right now and hang in there. Most importantly, know what you love. I recommend doing internships; don’t take “no” for an answer if you want to go outside of academia. If you can’t find an internship, try to do something strategic like starting a blog or writing LinkedIn posts.
Networking is also critical. It’s not just about finding a job; it’s about what you can learn when you talk to somebody. Capture those pearls of wisdom and keep the connection going. Finally, remember to pay it forward once you have hit your goals and help emerging PhD candidates.
Dr. Gayatri Ragupathy’s transition from a specialized bench researcher to a strategic leader serves as a powerful blueprint for the modern scientist. Her journey emphasizes that a PhD does not just create an expert in a single molecule, but develops a versatile, interdisciplinary professional capable of translating complex data into business value. By advocating for proactive networking and strategic internships, she highlights that the bridge between academia and industry is built on a willingness to step outside the laboratory and embrace the fast-paced, customer-centric world of global biotechnology.
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