BU Alum, Sarah Teoh

Education:B.A., Chemistry & Biology, May 2020
Current position/employer: Medicinal Chemistry Research Associate, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Tell us about your BU experience- and how did it shape who you became as a professional? What is the experience that sticks out as being the most beneficial?

My time at BU has been nothing short of amazing. I’ve gained friends and mentors who have helped and supported me throughout my time in college and even now after I’ve entered the professional world. As a chemist, BU’s Chemistry program had set me up to succeed within the industry. I was in a research lab throughout my time at BU where I gained hands-on experience and independence in conducting research in organic chemistry. That experience allowed me to smoothly transition into my current role where I am working with a team of talented scientists from different backgrounds to create transformative medicines for patients with rare diseases.

 

How did you decide what to do after finishing your degree at BU?

The project that I was working on for my Honors Thesis made me realize the impact a scientist can have on people. I was always unsure about the career path I was going to take after graduation but I knew that chemistry was something that was still of interest to me and I wanted to learn more about the field and what it was like to be a scientist in the pharmaceutical industry.

 

Do you have any general recommendations/reflections on networking and employment that you would like to share with international students?

If my job search process has taught me one thing, it’s that patience and persistence are key. I lost an internship offer during the pandemic and was looking for a job amidst the hiring freeze. The number of rejections that came as well as hiring managers rejecting my applications because they do not sponsor future visas was disappointing. I was very fortunate to have a professor in the chemistry department who gave me the opportunity to return as a visiting scholar in his lab which bought me some time to do more interviews with other companies, and ultimately landed me to where I am today. Apart from reaching out to other professionals via LinkedIn, I personally think that building your network starting with the people closest to you is also really important. This could be your friends, classmates, graduate students, colleagues, advisors or even professors – they are the ones who know you best. The BU Alumni Association also has a wonderful resource called BUConnects – a platform where you can find alumni in various industries who are willing to mentor or hire current students.

 

Best of luck! Feel free to reach out to me at sarahty@bu.edu or LinkedIn if you have any questions!