Levon Markosyan

For Levon Markosyan, a summer internship in Armenia offered more than just professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry — it was a way to foster a connection with his cultural roots.

The pharmaceutical sciences major secured the internship through the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Global Leadership Program. The initiative hosts high-achieving university students of Armenian descent who display strong leadership characteristics. 

Markosyan worked for six weeks at PharmaTech, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company based in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia. 

"I was entrusted with real responsibilities that gave me a firsthand understanding of how a pharmaceutical company functions on an international scale and given an intimate look at many things that are crucial to operations,” says Markosyan, a Newton native. “I learned how to navigate professional environments where precision and accountability are non-negotiable.”

He worked alongside quality assurance professionals to ensure adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), helped draft data protection protocols to meet evolving regulatory standards and assisted in developing cold storage validation procedures — tasks that placed him at the intersection of compliance, innovation and operational efficiency.

Markosyan started at UMass Lowell as a computer science major. During his first year, he realized that he was more interested in a combination of science and business and their impact on people. 

“The pharmaceutical sciences marketing and management option offers me a diverse set of skills that will allow me to pursue any direction I choose in the pharmaceutical industry,” says Markosyan. “And, best of all, I can be engaged in work that's intellectually challenging and socially meaningful.”

Beyond the workplace, the AGBU Global Leadership Program offered opportunities for students to engage with Armenian culture. Markosyan took part in guided historical tours, excursions into rural communities and leadership seminars.

"AGBU made sure that in addition to working, we were getting exposed to the life and culture in Armenia while making friends that will last a lifetime," he says. "From the people I met to the places I visited and all the history I was exposed to along the way, I left with a deeper sense of pride in Armenia's heritage and a better understanding of where the country is headed."