Hi, my name is…

…Jameil and I’m working on my master's degree in process systems engineering at Technische Universität Dortmund (TUD). I’m currently completing an internship in Process Research and Development at Roche as part of the RiSM (Roche Internship Small Molecules) programme. I hold a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the National Institute of Technology in Calicut, India, and worked as a process engineer before. A couple of weeks into my third semester at TUD, one of my professors showed me an advertisement for the RiSM programme. I applied with the intention of acquiring insights into engineering in the pharmaceutical industry. In my leisure time, I enjoy reading books or playing football with friends.

My typical day at work is…

…to sum it up in one word: interesting. The RiSM programme gives students the opportunity to gain work experience in the pharmaceutical industry. The programme has helped me bolster my knowledge by simply giving me the chance to work and interact with industry experts. My current work as an intern in Process Research and Development involves using software modelling tools to simulate the tablet manufacturing process. My responsibilities include comprehending the models used to describe unit operations and fitting experimental data to represent the real process. My work doesn’t limit me to just using software tools, however; it also gives me ample opportunities to study the latest working equipment as well, which is quite exciting.​​​​​​​

The location I’m working at is…

…Basel, Switzerland. The office building is right on the banks of the River Rhine, so the views are great. The riverside is an ideal place to sit back and relax during the weekends as well. Basel is known for its many internationally acclaimed museums and offers a wide variety of cultural events throughout the year.

My work helps Roche to …

…make the drug development process more efficient and reduce the number of experiments needed to design the process by relying on software modelling tools (at least that’s the idea and what I’m aiming to achieve).
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Roche as an employer is…

…impressive and makes one feel really valued as an employee. Roche in Basel/Kaiseraugst is a very multicultural and diverse company with employees from all over the world. The people who work here are what make this company great. The working environment at Roche can be described as collaborative and open. Everyone’s really helpful and takes time to share knowledge and participate in meaningful discussions. Roche organises several events as well that are fun and a great way to meet new people.​​​​​​​

Compared to my experience at university, science at Roche is…

…a contrast in the sense that one acquires theoretical knowledge of basic engineering at university and Roche is the appropriate place to put this knowledge into practice. And that is quite a gratifying experience. There’s also a larger sense of satisfaction knowing that the work you’re doing impacts the lives of patients worldwide.

The RiSM programme helps me to develop because…

…it has given me this extraordinary opportunity to work with highly knowledgeable colleagues who have helped me develop my scientific thinking. I’ve also had the chance to attend various presentations that have educated me about the kind of work people do at Roche. The programme has also given me first-hand experience of how a huge organisation such as Roche functions.

I would advise people who are interested in RiSM programme to…

…just apply. You certainly have a lot to gain and nothing to lose if you’re accepted into the RiSM programme. The internship will give you wide-ranging experience in science and culture.

So feel free to visit our RiSM programme website for more information!