Emmanuel earned PhD in Chemistry from the University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in Summer 2020. His dissertation research focused on developing small molecule inhibitors for proteins implicated in human diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease.
Emmanuel is a senior analyst in strategy consulting firm for healthcare industry, Health Advances in Boston, MA.
Emmanuel participated in PhD Plus modules in Consulting, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization and Data Literacy. Over the summer, Emmanuel participated in the Propel program, UVA's new project-based learning program designed to gain valuable skills and solve real-world problems for clients. PhD Plus supports the program, primarily for experiential learning of PhD students towards career preparation in Consulting.
Q. What are your career aspirations?
I am interested in life science consulting where I will leverage the skills honed through my graduate school training to help biotech and pharmaceutical companies address the challenges they are facing and, through that, speed up therapies getting to patients.
Q. Please summarize your experience in the Propel program of project-based learning.
Propel provided me an opportunity to participate in team-based projects sourced through employer partners and local Charlottesville start-ups. My team had 5 members comprising 1 PhD student and 4 undergraduate students, and we received mentoring from an alumni project coach. The project challenge was 2 weeks long and concluded with a capstone presentation that we presented to a panel of judges comprised of employer partners and alumni.
I enrolled in Management consulting bootcamp to gain the knowledge and skills required for consulting. Dr. Brendan Boler's bootcamp taught us how consultants approach problems and more importantly communicate solutions to clients. The skills I learned in the bootcamp came in handy when I participated in the UVA propel project where I worked with four other UVA students and a mentor to identify ways Fluvanna County officials can help business owners build an e-commerce network.
Q. What professional skills did you develop through this experience?
By getting involved in Propel and other programs offered by PhD Plus, my teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and data analysis skills have significantly improved.
Q. What advice would you give your peers on utilizing PhD Plus project-based learning and other experiential learning opportunities for career development?
I highly recommend graduate students to take advantage of the suite of programs offered through PhD Plus. The earlier the better because some jobs recruit one year ahead of the start date. PhD Plus also organizes events throughout the year to connect students with alumni working in different industries. Through the program, I have connected with UVA alumni in consulting who have provided valuable insights on the application process and life in consulting.