Kamonwan (Pear) Fish, PhD
Graduation Year: 2014
Advisor: Longnecker
Current Position: Senior Scientist, AbbVie
Kamonwan (Pear) Fish grew up in Northeastern part of Thailand, about 3 hours from the capital city Bangkok. She graduated from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, before coming to Chicago for graduate school.
What made you want to go to graduate school?
I had a strong interest in a research career and getting a PhD is a logical path.
What brought you to Northwestern and the IGP/DGP?
At the time, I was very interested in infectious disease research, and I interviewed with several graduate programs. I found Northwestern to be the best fit for me, both from personal and research perspectives. I wanted to live in the Midwest, and the location of Feinberg is unmatched. The IGP offers a wide range of research disciplines for students to focus on, which provided me with exposure to different fields during my time there. This exposure has been integral to shaping my career up until today.
What did you study in graduate school?
I studied the roles of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in B cell proliferation and oncogenic transformation under the guidance of Richard Longnecker. While my initial focus was on virology, I broadened my research to include immunology and cancer biology during this time.
Did you do a postdoc? What did you study?
My first postdoc was at the NCI in the Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology studying T cell receptor signaling. Life then took me to Frankfurt, Germany where I did my second postdoc studying proteomic changes induced by a B cell receptor mimic from EBV. This project was also a collaborative effort involving Rich Longnecker’s and Louis Staudt’s groups from NCI.
What was your first job outside of academic research, and how did you get it?
My first industry job was in Immunotoxicology group at Labcorp Drug Development. I had a bit of luck because it was the first industry job I applied to during my second postdoc and an HR representative contacted me the next day. I had few rounds of interviews and got an offer few months later.
What is your current position? Please describe the big picture of your position as well as a bit about the day-to-day.
Currently, I am a Senior Scientist at AbbVie in Oncology Discovery. I am still in a laboratory role, so my day-to-day role is not too different from my graduate school and postdoc days. However, the environment is quite different from academia, especially from a research strategic planning and execution point of view. There are also many more roles in the pharmaceutical industry that contribute to shaping and advancing a given drug development program.
How did Northwestern prepare you for your current career?
The research training I received at NU definitely prepared me for my career today. When I get to work on a new project, it is like starting a thesis project again! However, I do get better (and faster) at planning, managing and executing a project, as I have more experience now than when I was a grad student. Effective scientific communication and presentation are crucial aspects of my current role.
What other experiences brought you to your current position?
I think the IGP provided great training in communicating science to diverse audiences. Effective scientific communication and presentation are crucial aspects of my current role.
What advice would you give to current students interested in pursuing a career similar to yours?
Be open-minded and remain curious! There are many pathways you can go after getting a PhD, and it's important to explore different possibilities. I was initially focused on infectious diseases and now find myself in oncology. Take on opportunities and be adaptable to where your interests may lead you.
Do you have any final advice for graduate students?
Graduate school is a great period to try different things. Use this time to explore, broaden your experiences, and discover what truly interests you. The exploration will not stop the day you earn your degree! There are long and exciting roads ahead. Exploring various fields and experiences can be invaluable for shaping your future career path.