Caroline Mugambwa
“It is important that you understand your worth and keep your standards high, regardless of who is trying to tell you that you don’t belong in the room.”
I am training in Olympic weightlifting. I enjoy mentoring and supporting other students. I’ve been playing the piano for over 15 years. I was often left out and told I didn’t belong. I use cellular biology to investigate the power of epigenetic based medicines. I am a cell engineer.
I work in a science lab at a biotech company and used to work in a crossfit gym. Both of which give me a chance to support people’s health. The lab I work in looks a lot like the ones you see in the movies: lots of microscopes, petri dishes, and test tubes. As a research associate at Chroma Medicine, I work on advancing our epigenetic-editing based-platform to address various unmet medical needs in the clinic. In this setting , it is important to be informed, prepared, and in control of how different tools work and could impact you. The longer I work in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, the more I recognize how critical it is for consumers to know their rights and how things work, so my next step is to pursue a career in law with an emphasis in healthcare.
I strongly believe in people’s right to take ownership of their health, whether through medical or technological advancements, or more straightforward things like exercising. Biotech companies are quickly changing our understanding of what’s possible in healthcare. While it’s incredible to see exciting innovations and treatments emerging to support human health, it’s also important to bring the public into the process as much as possible. I want to focus my career on both supporting these advancements and ensuring that they are made with compassion and a human-centered mindset.
My parents are immigrants from Uganda. As a kid, I was very shy and mostly hung out with my brother or around my teachers. I loved science and math, although I really struggled with English classes. In high school, I was offered a unique opportunity to intern at a pharmaceutical company, which had a huge impact on my career journey. I worked hard throughout the summers after my sophomore and junior year of high school, yet as I got older, I felt the rigor of my experiences were dismissed because of the way that I look. Despite the challenges, I have successfully obtained a degree in bioengineering from Northeastern University.
My work ethic played a big role in getting through college, where I always had 2 jobs and a full course load. Throughout my life, I chose perseverance in the face of hardship. From being repeatedly told that I would not succeed in this field, to facing a heartbreaking family tragedy back home in Uganda, to suffering a bad knee injury, these experiences made me realize that I was much stronger than I had imagined. They also made me realize how important it is for us to support and protect each other. I’m deeply grateful for the people who showed me kindness along my path, and I hope to be that person for others. I look forward to helping people to lead healthier lives, whether it’s by working to bring novel therapeutics to the clinic with cell engineering, getting people in shape, or ensuring people’s needs are centered and thriving as new innovations in healthcare continue to emerge.
I love to read, especially fictional stories inspired by history. I also love everything about interior decorating and get a lot of satisfaction from making my apartment look beautiful. I love being active. I spent 14 years as a ballerina, switched to taekwondo and now I train in Olympic Weightlifting. I spend most of my time with my headphones on, so on any given day, you’ll probably find me listening to music and hanging out with my cat, Midnight.
Despite being pretty athletic, I suffered an irreversible knee injury during the end of college. I had to delay my graduation, but still managed to juggle work, grades, and grad school applications while I recovered from surgery. Since then, I’ve found ways to stay active despite my injury.
Careers in biotechnology are attainable for anyone, no matter what you look like or what others tell you. If you are dedicated, enthusiastic, and not afraid to make mistakes, nothing can stand in your way. If someone tells you that you don’t belong in the room, don’t let that stop you. Focus on building your skills through opportunities like internships and making connections with the people who do believe in you.
