Spending time in industry during my PhD has always been something I wanted to do, and this was made possible through Digital Life Norway and Authera. This turned out to be the perfect opportunity for me.
Authera is a pre-clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutic antibodies. As a spinout from the University of Oslo, the company combines deep academic experience with a cutting-edge biotechnology in a fast-paced start-up environment. This unique mix made my time at Authera both exiting and inspiring.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this internship was getting to work directly on a project aimed at developing new therapeutic antibodies. I got to see how new ideas move from early research in the laboratory to real world application and feel like my contribution was meaningful.
Beyond the lab, I got to know the incredible team working at Authera, which was not only highly skilled but also incredibly supportive and motivating. The great companionship made it easy to brainstorm ideas together, ask for support, and develop both as a team and individually. All small victories in the lab and the company were celebrated with great coffee, snacks, or a beer.
The vibrant start-up environment at the Forskningsparken in Oslo and the sharelab incubator allowed me to meet other start-up companies and the people behind them. It was truly inspiring to see the dedication and hard work that biotech start-ups in Norway put in every day.
This internship gave me a valuable insight into what working in industry looks like and made my decision on perusing a career in industry more confident. For any PhD student considering an industry internship-Do it! Its an opportunity to see you research field from a new angle, build your network, and gain skills that will be valuable no matter what career path you choose.
And to the people at DLN and Authera- Thank you!