Job shadowing program of the GDCh Division of Medicinal Chemistry

In 2022, the NextGenMedChem group of the GDCh Division of Medicinal Chemistry invited all poster awardees of the Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry conference to a job shadowing event for the first time. Due to the positive response, this offer was included in the permanent event program of the Division ; the organization is usually in the hands of industrial members of the NextGenMedChem group. The event gives young scientists an insight into the day-to-day work of a medicinal chemist in industry.

The 2023 job shadowing event of the GDCh Division of Medicinal Chemistry took place on July 26th and 27th and was hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim (organizer: Christian Kuttruff). All poster awardees of the Frontiers in Medicinal Chemistry conference 2023, Tonia Kirschner (TU Dortmund University), Max Huber (University of Erlangen), Lukas Schneider (University of Zurich), and Josef Braun (TU Munich) were invited to Boehringer Ingelheim's main research site in Biberach an der Riss, Germany. During their visit, the participants gained insights into the daily work of a medicinal chemist and the diverse career paths available in the field. They also had the chance to tour the laboratories at the company, including parallel synthesis and process research facilities. This allowed them to understand how collaborative research project teams operate within the industry. The students appreciated this exceptional experience, which offered a realistic perspective on job profiles in the industry that might otherwise remain unclear before applying for positions outside of academia. The event was deemed a great success, and the NextGenMedChem group plans to continue the job shadowing event with Bayer being the host for 2024.

"I really enjoyed it. There was a great and varied program with presentations, discussion rounds, and (lab) tours. It was fascinating to see how many different experts collaborate in modern drug research, which was beautifully illustrated by the 3D session. It was great that many of you, especially from different areas, took the time for us and answered our questions in a relaxed atmosphere.Overall, the event was a fantastic experience and provided many interesting impressions of how research in medicinal chemistry works in the industry. " (Max Huber, University of Erlangen)

“For me, the most interesting or helpful thing was to see how teams are formed and work together in everyday life, and how the laboratories look (compared to university). And of course, all the tips regarding applications." (Tonia Kirschner, TU Dortmund University)

"The day at Boehringer Ingelheim was very exciting. We gained valuable insights into the work of a medicinal chemist and into Boehringer Ingelheim as a leading pharmaceutical company." (Josef Braun, TU Munich)