I definitely don't see the fellowship as a substitute for a proper academic training in the sciences. A solid training is important; I have benefited greatly from my academic roots and support (Harvard).
In that context, the fellowship represents a supplement to my academic training, exploring the translational science that lies between basic research and commercialization.
I'm taking a detour from the traditional course of study primarily so that I can spend some of my time working in the aspects of translation that extend beyond the lab. In my biomedical field, that is everything from medical workflow to regulatory affairs to product pipelines to validation studies.
More broadly, I'm doing this exploration in the context of a tractable project that has involved both research and commercialization. It's at the intersection of my scientific interests, and is fueled by a desire to help people in a tangible way. The timing is such that it makes sense for me to dive into it full-time with my existing training.
I'm still learning many things, some in academic research settings and others in commercial settings. The fellowship simply serves to focus my limited time to the intersection of those two areas.
You bet I'll be back in academia after this, but in the meantime, taking a small bite out of cancer seems a worthy detour.
Feel free to shoot me a mail (email in profile) if you're curious.
Comments
2012 Thiel fellow working in science here.
I definitely don't see the fellowship as a substitute for a proper academic training in the sciences. A solid training is important; I have benefited greatly from my academic roots and support (Harvard).
In that context, the fellowship represents a supplement to my academic training, exploring the translational science that lies between basic research and commercialization.
I'm taking a detour from the traditional course of study primarily so that I can spend some of my time working in the aspects of translation that extend beyond the lab. In my biomedical field, that is everything from medical workflow to regulatory affairs to product pipelines to validation studies.
More broadly, I'm doing this exploration in the context of a tractable project that has involved both research and commercialization. It's at the intersection of my scientific interests, and is fueled by a desire to help people in a tangible way. The timing is such that it makes sense for me to dive into it full-time with my existing training.
I'm still learning many things, some in academic research settings and others in commercial settings. The fellowship simply serves to focus my limited time to the intersection of those two areas.
You bet I'll be back in academia after this, but in the meantime, taking a small bite out of cancer seems a worthy detour.
Feel free to shoot me a mail (email in profile) if you're curious.
Quick note - your email is not in your profile(unless I'm missing something)