Adrian Gunaratne, PhD
Medical Science Liaison
GlaxoSmithKline
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-gunaratne
Interview:
Q: Tell us a bit about your graduate research. What were your most exciting findings?
During my graduate research I was fortunate enough to work alongside Dr. John Di Guglielmo's team where I was exploring the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in mediating and altering TGFb signaling pathways. One of our most exciting findings was that we were the first to identify phosphorylation of a polarity protein Par6 in lung cancer cells by the atypical protein kinase C, an event and signal that had previously been linked to epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
Q: What skills did you acquire in graduate school that help you in your current position? How did your degree give you an advantage in attaining your position?
Some of the most important skills we develop in graduate school that are key to any discipline are teamwork, resilience and problem solving, analytical ability, and communication skills.
Q: Did you know when you entered graduate school that you would most likely pursue a career outside academia?
When entering and during graduate school I knew that I wanted to be ready for any tangent that I took in my future. I certainly had recognized and prepared mentally for the idea that I may not always be in academia.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
Working both internally and externally with many amazing and talented people with diverse skill sets and learning from all of them.
Q: What are some specific examples of extracurricular activities (outside of research) that you participated in, which helped you get to the position you are at now?
I participated in sports teams, student councils, and took every opportunity I could get to showcase our work (conferences, poster competitions etc).
Q: What are some suggestions for networking?
Join societies and attend career workshops. Reach out to people and learn about the various career options out there! Start doing this very early so that you can maximize your time exploring. LinkedIn is a good resource, and also try reaching out to alumni.
Q: What is one piece of advice you can offer to current graduate students? To current PDFs?
Take some time to recognize what you love doing and what you are good at (these are usually in sync) and develop those capabilities as much as you can. Align these skills to the various career options out there.
Q: What does your perfect Sunday look like?
Perfect Sunday: A picnic with family and friends, which includes BBQ, and a soccer or cricket match :)
