How I manage to recover after being given that small little pill has always fascinates me. The seek for the answers to my childhood queries led me to Chemistry, and my choice of major, Bachelor of Applied Science with Honors in Applied Chemistry (Drug option), in the National University of Singapore (NUS). To fuel my passion for drug designing, I took up related modules and did my internship in Pfizer, one of the pharmaceutical giants in the world.

My involvement in the research of chiral compounds separation in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS), during my 2nd year of study, gave me an opportunity to brush up on the various analytical skills required in the research field. The relevant skills learnt during the course of this research proved useful during my internship in Pfizer. The entire duration of my internship was memorable and enriching as I was given ample opportunity by the company. Despite being only an attachment student, I was being extensively trained on different laboratory equipments and skills and the good manufacturing practice (GMP) of the pharmaceutical industry. On top of that, I also had a chance to work on a project which aims to improve the documentation of chemical release time. Having been attached to two teams in the company, the raw material and finish good teams, I had a clear understanding of the various process of the drug production and the materials needed and produced at these steps. The trainings and tasks given during the attachment sharpened my problem solving and analytical skills, and in the meantime, taught me the importance of being meticulous and initiative.

To explore a different stage of drug production, I focused on the computational method of designing a drug for cyclin-dependent kinase 5, which is a protein related to Alzehimer and Parkinson disease during my honors year. My honors project allows me to explore the different computer software and programs used in drug designing, such as BLAST, CLUSTERW, Modeller and Swiss Model. The skills learnt and satisfaction gained from the project further propelled my interest in this area.

Besides having the relevant technical skills, through the leadership roles I have taken up in the various co-curricular activities I was actively involved in, I have developed leadership skills that will help me work in a team efficiently. The process of coming up with a new drug involves professionals from different fields, thus, having good interpersonal communications skills and the being able to work in a team is essential. My term as a vice-president in the cultural activity club (CAC) in NUS, where I act as an coordinator between external organizations, the standing committee of CAC and the substituent clubs of CAC, sharpened my communication and public relation skills. I was also given a taste of how things should be done in a corporate world when I held the position of Project Director in NUSSU Video Photography Club 2006/2007 bazaar. As all the positions in the bazaar committee were not entirely filled, I had to take charge of finding vendors, finance issues as well as the smooth running of the whole bazaar. I believe that the soft skills that I gained from my experience would contribute to my adaptability to the culture of your company.

The various activities that I joined gave me a good understanding of team dynamics and how to work as a team. I believe that the experience and knowledge gained in my undergraduate years would prove useful if I have an opportunity to work in your esteem pharmaceutical company.