As part of its ongoing efforts to support career development for early-career researchers, the CiRA Research Promoting Office hosted the ninth installment of its Career GPS seminar series on September 9, featuring guest speakers from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The event aimed to illuminate the diverse career opportunities available within the pharmaceutical sector and provide insights into transitioning from academia to industry.

Yuichiro Shimizu, Senior Manager of the Research Support Department at Chugai, opened the seminar with an overview of its corporate philosophy and its strategic focus on therapeutic research and development. He highlighted the company's commitment to innovation and patient-centric healthcare, as well as its collaborative relationship with Roche Pharmaceuticals, a Swiss multinational healthcare company.

Following this, Fumiaki Ihara, Research Scientist in the Biological Technology Department at Chugai, shared his personal journey navigating between academia and industry. His talk offered a candid look into the decision-making process, challenges, and growth opportunities that shaped his career path.

Both speakers emphasized the importance of acquiring a broad range of skills and experiences throughout one's professional journey. Their presentations sparked a lively Q&A session, with over 30 attendees—primarily graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from CiRA and other life science departments at Kyoto University—engaging in discussions around work-life balance, career development, and what employers look for in candidates.

After the seminar, many participants took the opportunity to speak directly with Shimizu and Ihara, seeking advice and perspectives on building successful careers in the pharmaceutical industry.

Both guest speakers inspired attendees to envision and pursue the limitless career possibilities within the pharmaceutical industry.