Alabama Stem Council

When I went to Gannet Biochem, I encountered a multitude of jobs in the pharmaceutical industry that all work to make medicines to what we know them to be. I was able to witness first hand production of ingredients used in medicines, such as polyethylene glycol, in order to increase the effectiveness and functionality for various purposes. The interconnectedness of Gannet Biochem demonstrated the importance of not just the hands-on lab work or production, but also the importance of quality assurance and safety regulations that go towards making sure Gannet Biochem’s workers and products are safe and of the best quality. Being able to see chemistry in action that makes an actual impact was really impressive to see. Equipment such as Karl Fisher machines or Centrifuge testing was being used to develop and improve a product that will allow someone to have a medication that could improve their life, so seeing that in person was my favorite part. I want to make these same impacts in my own future and impact someone in the same way Gannet Biochem is, which made this experience extremely beneficial for when I get to be a chemical engineer one day on specifically what I want to do. Being an Alabama Science Officer gave me this opportunity and changed my perspective on what STEM careers can look like. Real people, working with real chemicals, to make a real impact. That is what scientific careers are all about.