Daisy Medina applied to the Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program (SMDP) last spring after hearing positive experiences from Joel Agosto Pena, GSBS alumni and previous SMDP scholar.

Daisy, fifth year IBMS student in the Cancer Biology Discipline, shares she applied to be an SMDP scholar “because of the emphasis on supporting ethnically diverse students with personalized mentoring, networking, and the opportunity to attend the BIO conference.” The SMDP program pairs ethnically diverse graduate students and post-doctoral researchers with industry mentors who work at biotech and consumer healthcare companies. Several months after submitting her application, Daisy received the news that she had been selected for the 2024 cohort.

This year’s SMDP program kicked off with Daisy attending the BIO Conference this past June. The BIO Conference is the largest biotech industry event that brings together leading biotechnology companies, investors, service providers, patient advocates, and government officials. The theme of the conference was “Where Business and Breakthroughs Converge” and centered around uniting technologies across biotech and experts to advance research, development, and manufacturing.

“I have attended academic conferences before, but this was my first industry conference, and the difference was very noticeable,” says Daisy.  At the conference, Daisy had the chance to hear Oscar winning actress Viola Davis share her story and her mother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. She also learned about Broadway Actor and Singer, Aaron Lazar’s ALS diagnosis. Their stories are powerful reminders about the impact biotech can have on improving the lives of those facing neurodegenerative diseases and the critical need for advancements in medicine.

Daisy explains her favorite memories from the conference were the welcome reception and Gaslamp block party. “The reception and block party were a blast with live music, entertainment, and a variety of food stands. It was a great chance to meet new people while waiting for food or sharing a table and enjoying the live music. The casual vibe made networking feel almost effortless and I connected on LinkedIn with people from around the world while standing in line for a slider!”

In addition to attending the BIO Conference, scholars and their mentors attended a five-day training session to learn about career opportunities in industry and receive career coaching.  The training session was divided into activities and informational talks giving Daisy and the other SMDP scholars the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights from industry professionals. At the training session, Daisy met her mentor, Dr. Benjamin Wu, Director and Distinguished Scientist at Genentech.  “The mentors I met at the SMDP training session are incredibly passionate, and many have been SMDP mentors for numerous years. It is also inspiring to see that several of the SMDP mentors were once SMDP scholars themselves,” Daisy shares.

When Daisy left the SMDP Training Session in July, she was filled with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. The training session profoundly changed her understanding of industry while emphasizing mentorship, connections, and personal development.

For one year after the training session, SMDP scholars carry out an individualized mentoring plan tailored to meet the specific needs of the mentee. “Being paired with an industry mentor has helped me navigate the complexities of the biotech field; has helped me make informed decisions about my career path; and has expanded the range of job opportunities I can consider,” says Daisy. Daisy and her mentor, Dr. Wu, meet once a month to identify goals and develop a plan of action to achieve them. She also receives feedback on her resume and cover letters as she applies for jobs. Daisy is grateful for the time and flexibility her mentor puts into their monthly meetings as his efforts and commitment have made a significant impact on her development.

Along with her SMDP mentor, Daisy’s academic mentor, Dr. Manjeet Rao, has also played a pivotal role in supporting Daisy’s research efforts. Daisy’s research focuses on why pediatric osteosarcoma patients do not respond to immunotherapy. More specifically, Daisy’s research focuses on the tumor-intrinsic mechanisms that enable osteosarcoma to evade immune system surveillance.

Daisy is passionate about this research because it addresses a critical and unmet need in pediatric cancer treatment. “Osteosarcoma is a devastating disease, particularly in children, and the current standard of care often falls short and results in debilitating side effects. The idea that we could use the patient’s own immune system more effectively against this cancer is incredibly motivating. Knowing that my work could contribute to a breakthrough in this area further deepens my commitment to this research every day,” she says.

Daisy praises Dr. Rao for being a key source of support and encouragement. Daisy shares, “He consistently motivates me to apply for grants, fellowships, and awards, and he has guided me through the application process making sure my proposals are strong. His support was crucial when I resubmitted my F31 application and applied for the Greehey Graduate Fellowship.” In November, Daisy’s F31 application received a terrific score in the 8% percentile and will receive funding from the National Cancer Institute.

Both of Daisy’s mentors have greatly influenced her growth as a researcher. As Daisy transitions to the next phase of her research career, she acknowledges both her mentors for their impact. “Dr. Rao’s belief in my potential has boosted my confidence and encouraged me to be open to new opportunities.” She credits her SMDP mentor, Dr. Wu, with helping her understand what companies are looking for during the hiring and interviewing process. “Having an industry mentor expands my network to include theirs. An industry mentor can make meaningful introductions to other professionals in their network that I can leverage to benefit my long-term career,” she says.

Many biotech companies use the SMDP portal to hire scholars. Daisy is hopeful the SMDP portal and network of scholars and mentors will give her a better opportunity of securing a job that interests her after she graduates in May. Her goal is to become a translational researcher and contribute to making lives better, especially for those affected by rare cancers.

If you are looking for mentorship from leaders in industry, the SMDP program may be for you. Applications for 2025 are now open. The application deadline is April 4, 2025. To apply, visit the SMDP website.