Keya Linton enjoyed science in high school, but majored in business at Massachusetts Bay Community College. After earning an associate degree, she transferred to UMass Lowell with the opportunity to combine both disciplines.
Her major, pharmaceutical sciences, marketing and management option, integrates science and business to prepare students for a broad range of careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
To gain work experience, Linton enrolled in the university’s Professional Development Seminar to prepare for and find a six-month co-op experience. It paid off with a co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Norton, Massachusetts.
“My co-op broadened my network, knowledge and experience of working in a Good Manufacturing Practice lab,” says Linton, referring to the guidelines used by manufacturing laboratories to ensure the purity and quality of their products. “I will add this to my résumé and prepare for job-hunting when I graduate.”
In her role as quality control analyst in Alnylan’s chemistry department, Linton was responsible for ensuring the quality and compliance of the company’s RNAi drug product through a variety of testing.
A commuter student from Marlborough, Massachusetts, Linton also works part time. Without a lot of spare time, she says she feels supported on campus.
“The transition to UMass Lowell has been smooth, all thanks to the amazing faculty in health sciences,” she says.
Linton recalls an anatomy professor staying late on campus to help a group of students study for finals.
“Faculty here definitely want students to succeed,” says Linton.