Sarada Giridharan
Fall 2024 Dean’s Excellence Merit Scholarship Recipient
It is up to you to take on the challenge headfirst and make the most of it.
About Sarada
Sarada is from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Before coming to Georgetown Biomedical Graduate Education, she earned a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Dr. M.G.R Educational and Research Institute in Chennai.
How do you hope your graduate studies will build on what you learned as an undergraduate?
This master’s course will help me deepen my understanding of bioinformatics – a dry-lab area that complements my background in wet-lab research – and equip me to tackle complex biological problems. I am particularly drawn to the program’s application- and project-based approach, which will greatly enhance my practical abilities in various bioinformatics tools and techniques.
The most compelling part of the program that will truly help me establish a good career in the industry is its internship component. A solid 3-month experience in a lab or a company will not only enrich my real-world exposure, but also help me transition to the industry with a solid experience, allowing me to have a competitive edge over my peers.
What led you to pursue graduate studies?
I completed my undergraduate program in biotechnology and while my course consisted largely of wet-lab work, I was more fascinated with the analysis part of research and understood that involves a bit of programming and a lot of data analysis in a biological setting.
So, I kicked off my bioinformatics exploration with the task of preparing for a poster presentation where we had to conduct an in-depth study on a topic of interest and present it to a group of esteemed academic professionals. This experience led me to explore the possibility of pursuing bioinformatics as a field of graduate study, and a couple of projects helped me gain a bit of initial exposure to this world.
What do you want to do after earning your degree?
My immediate goal is to work as a bioinformatician in the industry after earning my master’s from Georgetown.
This exposure will help me to understand the current methodologies and innovations shaping the biotechnology and the bioinformatics industry. It will allow me to get firsthand experience in the nature of the industry, significantly enhancing my ability to contribute effectively to cutting-edge solutions.
My long-term goal would be to pursue an MBA where my practical experience will serve as a vital steppingstone. It will pave the way to a path where I can not only advance innovations in the industry, but also bring them to the forefront, translating remarkable breakthroughs into greater and more meaningful successes.
What advice would you give to future BGE students?
The Georgetown M.S. in Bioinformatics program is only one year long! It is very packed, but also surprises you with many little joys along the way. The professors are truly wonderful. It is up to you to take on the challenge headfirst and make the most of it. But having said that, do not forget to explore D.C. and the neighboring states to make the most of your stay here. It is incredibly fulfilling and can be very relaxing to visit the waterfront or the museums once in a while, especially after a long week of assignments and quizzes. Take advantage of the numerous free-food events and the farmers market that occurs weekly – the food is a delight!
I will also encourage you to form a strong bond with your fellow classmates – you will be grateful for their support during assignments when waiting for an email can take too long.