Caroline is a Senior Scientist at Be Biopharma and a newer Studylog user.
Where did you grow up? Where did you go to school?
I grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, and attended public schools. I then went on to Bates College in Lewiston, Maine to get my bachelor’s degree in Biology with a secondary concentration in Education. I am certainly no stranger to snowstorms!
What sparked your interest in Science?
Starting as early as third grade, we participated in city-wide school science project fairs each year. I have very fond memories of creating my project each year with my late father, a PhD scientist himself, and being amazed at how the world worked. My projects ranged from learning about sickle cell anemia to the components of an animal cell to how batteries worked and truly ignited a passion for science as I got older.
Did you have any specific role models? If so, who were they?
I have had a lot of role models throughout my life, from teachers to friends to managers, but the re-occurring theme among those I consider role models are people that have supported and encouraged me to stay true to my authentic self and forge my own path.
What would you say to a young person considering a career in science or specifically oncology?
I would say there is no one particular path for pursuing a career in science, so do not give up along the way. There are so many ways to be involved in the science field. Finding strong mentors during the journey is also something that has been very helpful for me in the past.
What is important to you personally? I.e.what things do you value most in life?
It is important to me to be contributing to the greater good through my profession, which is why I feel so fulfilled being in the science industry. Additionally, I lost my father to a very short cancer battle when I was 17, so working towards a cure for a disease that has impacted so many families like mine is extremely important to me. And that ties into what I value most in life: relationships with friends and loved ones. Life can be taken away so quickly.
What are some of the challenges you have faced either in your career or personally that you feel have helped you become the successful person you are?
Working in science itself can be challenging because many times outcomes may not work out in your favor. Learning how to adapt and pivot in different directions on sometimes tight timelines has made me a stronger and more agile person.
What did you think when you first saw Studylog?
I thought, “Where has this been all my life?!”
Has Studylog saved you time? How has Studylog impacted you or your team?
It has allowed me to become more efficient and have all my in vivo study information kept accurately in one place. As our team adds more scientists, it will also allow me to keep track of study schedules across the portfolio. When we are at full capacity, I can envision Studylog saving our team up to 20-40 hours per week.
What would you say to people who prefer to use Excel because it is free?
I would say that it is preferable to have an in-life data capture system like Studylog to avoid the human error that Excel sheets can potentially enable. In vivo data stored in Excel sheets take a lot of time and attention to detail to QC, so the time savings alone for your employees will be worth it.
What is your favorite Studylog feature?
My favorite feature that Studylog provides is the automatic export into Prism. I create so many graphs for presentations that this feature is saving me numerous copy/paste headaches! I can also see the report generation feature coming in very handy as our in vivo program grows.
What do you do for fun when you're not curing cancer?
I love to take trips to the ocean, read, and spend time with my loved ones and my almost 10-year-old Brussels Griffon, Seussy.
