Looking back, I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the HKLSS summer interns. Working for Take2 Health, a Hong Kong-based start-up with a focus on delivering effective healthcare solutions in the biotech field, was indeed useful for my career planning. Although I had been taking part in another internship program before as a summer research assistant in a bioinformatics laboratory at a university, dealing with cancer protein and gene data, it was a distinct experience at Take2 Health to explore life sciences at a commercial level.

Never set foot in the commercial world before, I found it challenging at the beginning of my internship. Back then, there was not much business component taught at university, it was the co-workers at Take2 Health filled me the gap in understanding the different perspectives of our stakeholders and the rationales behind the company’s commercial strategies for their product – Take2 Prophecy, the latest Nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening test. They have made my life easier. 

This internship experience also helped me to think more broadly. While I was dedicated to the tasks assigned for me, the weekly town hall meetings allowed me to learn how each department operates to ensure successful collaborations achieved. Above all, the idea of commercialising a product has inspired me to envision a bigger picture for scientific research – converting a research paper into something that creates benefits to the world outside of the laboratory is far more important than merely publishing it. 

Going out for lunch with co-workers was always the favourite part of my internship. Hanging out with them I got the chance to hear about interesting stories of their career journeys. One of the stories that fascinated me most was how a nurse who used to work in the public health-care system changed her career path and became a key member in a biotechnology company. Outside the office, I also enjoyed socialising with other interns and coworkers through sports. We played badminton often and that’s when our friendships grew! 

More than just an internship position at a biotechnology company, several panel discussion sessions were held as part of the HKLSS internship program. The thought-provoking sharing from invited speakers, who are experts working in various Hong Kong biotechnology companies, have been very useful in helping me to make informed career decisions, alongside the mentorship scheme.  

Joining the mentorship scheme during COVID-19 surely wasn’t the best time as I couldn’t meet my mentor face-to-face. However, the support that I gained from my mentor, Dr David Liu, the Managing Director of Vivo Capital, has not been disrupted. He shared his perspectives and learnings based on his past experiences as a PhD student overseas, giving me valuable insights into the daily life and career aspects of a PhD degree. He also evaluated the pros and cons when he was working in a start-up company, compared to his current role in a biotechnology investment company. It was very insightful to learn about the latest market trends and topics in the life sciences field that is worth investing in his perspective! I also felt very comfortable in bringing up my worries and problems regarding my skills and career development. He has given me constructive feedback, helping me to enhance my self-awareness and achieve the professional goals that we set together in our initial meeting! After hearing lots of worthwhile advice from Dr Liu, I am now considering applying for a master’s degree that consists some business elements and possibly a career relating to the business side of the life sciences field! 

I would say the internship program and mentorship scheme offered by HKLSS was really out of my expectation and what it offers to me was clearly more than what I have imagined before joining both schemes. It has undoubtedly inspired me to work in and contribute to the life sciences field in the future!

境隨意遷

回看有幸獲香港生命科技青年會選為夏季實習生的經歷，讓我能夠在香港一間初創企業Take2 Health實習，認識他們如何為生物科技市場有效地提供醫療保健方案。在此之前，我也曾參與過其他實習計劃，例如在大學的生物資訊學實驗室當暑期研究助理，處理癌症蛋白及基因數據的研究，但相對在Take2 Health的實習經驗是大相逕庭的，全因Take2 Health給我體驗了在商業層面上發掘生物科技的不同可能。

從未踏足商業社會的我，在Take2 Health實習初期確實有點吃力。我在大學時期沒有很多機會接觸到商業元素，幸好實習時彌補了這方面的不足。透過實習，我認識到公司不同持份者在針對鼻咽癌疾病篩檢的最新產品Take2 Prophecy上的商業考慮和觀點。這些經驗令我的學習更為全面。

這趟實習旅程大大開拓了我的思路。當我在努力完成獲分配的工作之時，公司每週的例會讓我了解不同部門如何合作，務求把產品成功地推出市場。最重要的是，這個過程使我對科學研究有更宏觀的想法，就是除了將實驗研究結果發表外，更要確切地在現實生活中應用，造福社會。

在實習期間與同事們一起午膳是我最享受的，因為他們都很樂意與我分享工作趣事和經驗，讓我獲益良多。其中一位同事分享了她由公立醫院護士轉為投身生命科技公司的經歷，使我深刻難忘。而工餘時我也喜歡跟其他實習生及同事結伴打羽毛球，聯誼一番！

不只是實習時的工作經驗開拓了我的視野，香港生命科技青年會的實習計劃亦舉辦了多場研討會，邀請來自香港生物科技界的精英擔任講者，分享行業內的真知灼見，再加上我也參與了師友計劃，大大為我的學業及工作前景提供了實質的建議。

在疫症期間參加師友計劃，令我未能親身跟我的導師會面。不過，我從導師維梧資本(Vivo Capital)的董事總經理劉衛東博士身上獲益良多。他以曾是海外博士生的經驗，告訴我學習領域上的需知，以及如何拓展事業。他亦跟我分析在初創企業與他現時的生物科技投資公司工作的利與弊。能夠藉著他去認識市場上最新的景況，明白行業裡哪一範疇值得投放更多的時間去深入了解。我亦毫不忌諱地跟他分享我在事業發展及技能上的擔憂。他給予我非常實用的建議，助我更了解自己，同時又跟我一起定下工作上的明確目標。聽了很多他的建議後，我正考慮攻讀商業與生物科技學兼備的碩士課程，或認真地投身以生物科技為主的商業機構。

對於參與香港生命科技青年會的實習及師友計劃，我可以肯定地說是喜出望外的，我從中的獲益遠比我所預期的多，對我在生物科技行業上的發展莫大裨益。
 

-Ashley Lai, Mentee 2021