This summer, I am interning at Hologic, a Biotech company in San Diego, California. Hologic is a pioneer in Diagnostic Solutions for women’s health, sexual health, cervical health and infectious diseases. These pioneering innovations span cervical cancer screening, STI testing, molecular automation and testing the world’s blood supply. Hologic empowers people to live healthier lives everywhere, every day and continues to build off its long-standing ability to address global, public health needs.
I am part of the marketing department working for the Integrated Health and Automation (IHA) Team. On this team, we focus on developing and commercializing molecular automation and PCR tests to detect and diagnose infectious diseases. My internship project focuses on a new molecular instrument being developed for hospital labs worldwide. This new product will be smaller, quicker and more innovative than its competition and test patients with symptoms related to respiratory (including COVID) and gastrointestinal diseases. Ultimately, this new product offers rapid testing for patients to get the most accurate treatment as quickly as possible.
I have had the opportunity to participate in the upstream (early) marketing process for this new system. This included going through the Voice of Customer (VOC) research that was conducted in focus groups with US, EU, and Canadian customers who have had hands on experience running competitor devices. These customers were prompted with questions about design preferences for the new piece of equipment. I was tasked to review the customer feedback and compile both qualitative and quantitative results, looking for themes that can be shared with the research and development team to ensure they are developing a customer driven product that can displace the competition. My project included breaking down quantitative results and working in Excel to create easily accessible/readable graphs for reference. A finalized VOC report, including all data, will be presented to the research and development team at the end of my internship and will be referenced throughout the design process until the product launch expected in 2028.
In addition to the main VOC project that I was tasked to complete during my internship, I have had various other opportunities that are designed to sharpen my skills as I progress into my senior year and eventually jump into my career. Some of these opportunities include training in various technical skills such as the Qlik database, Excel, DeciBio database, and an app designed to collect competitive intel called Klue. In addition to these technical skill trainings, I had other opportunities including attending the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) conference, taking the Gallup Strength test to learn more about how I can use my natural strengths to succeed in the workplace, and attending a leadership discussion series where influential Hologic employees talk about their career journeys and give advice to young professionals.
My internship experience has given me many unique opportunities to grow my skills and prepare myself best for pursuing a career in a field that I am passionate about. Hologic employees make a huge impact in the world, and I am so lucky that I get to learn from such passionate and hardworking individuals. My IHA team specifically has played a major role in shaping me into the professional I desire to become, and I am so thankful that I got to learn from this team directly. – Jane ‘Birdie’ Kronenberger