At Moderna, Dr. Ankita Gurusankar learned how Medical Affairs Operations shapes scientific strategy.

Widler Casy
Sep 14
4 min read

"Our mission is to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines." — "***Our mission is to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines.***"

Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Dr Ankita Gurusankar

Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter. Today, we are excited to feature Dr. Ankita Gurusankar, whose on-site internship at Moderna demonstrates how operational excellence, scientific rigor, and mentorship can transform an internship into a career-defining experience.

Internship Snapshothttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ankita-iyer/

Company: Moderna

Location: On-site

How It Started: “I discovered the opportunity through LinkedIn. What began as an interest in exploring Medical Affairs Operations soon became an eye-opening journey into how operational processes underpin compliance, strategy, and scientific credibility at a leading biotech company.”

A Day in the Life

During her Medical Affairs Operations internship, Dr. Gurusankar gained firsthand experience in activities that ensure the scientific and regulatory integrity of medical engagements. She supported fair market value (FMV) assessments, contract management, and vendor oversight, and contributed to advisory board logistics, KOL engagement tracking, and congress planning.

This role revealed how operational tasks are more than administrative. They are critical mechanisms to uphold compliance with global regulatory frameworks (FDA, EMA, and ICH) while enabling timely, evidence-based communication with healthcare professionals.

Lessons from the Lab

Biggest Learning: “The most important thing I learned during my internship was how integral Medical Affairs is in bridging scientific evidence with real-world clinical practice. Strategic operations like HCP engagements, FMV assessments, and compliant contracting workflows are not just administrative. They are levers that ensure responsible, effective, and compliant exchange of medical insights.”

Best Advice Received: “The best advice I received was to always prioritize why a process exists before focusing on how to execute it. Compliance steps in Medical Affairs are not boxes to check but safeguards that protect scientific credibility and patient trust.”

Wish I Had Known: “One thing I wish I knew before starting was just how integral Medical Affairs Operations is to shaping the broader scientific strategy of a company. Every task whether contracts, FMV assessments, or vendor coordination has direct implications for compliance, scientific exchange, and regulatory trust.”

Wish I Had Learned: “One thing I wish I had gained more exposure to was the upstream strategy behind medical plans. I would have liked to see how evidence-generation priorities are set and how clinical unmet needs and regulatory requirements drive medical operations.”

Fun Moments and Growth

Most Fun Experience: “The most fun experience was supporting the planning and execution of a major medical congress. Seeing months of operational work come together in a live scientific setting was incredibly rewarding. Watching how advisory board insights and KOL engagements tied directly into the congress agenda gave me a front-row seat to the real-world impact of Medical Affairs.”

Biggest Struggle: “One struggle I faced was understanding the fine balance between scientific exchange and regulatory compliance. Early on, I worried about where the line was drawn between sharing valuable insights and remaining strictly non-promotional. Through mentorship and exposure to processes like advisory boards and MLR review, I learned that Medical Affairs requires both scientific knowledge and an ethical responsibility to protect credibility.”

Behind the Scenes

Who Made It Memorable: “I would credit my Vice President and manager most for my success. She consistently connected day-to-day projects to the broader strategic picture and combined mentorship with leadership. Her guidance taught me that the best leaders not only challenge their teams to think critically but also inspire, empower, and elevate those around them.”

Resource I Wish I Used More: “If I had the chance, I would have explored more resources that gave visibility into how strategic medical plans are formed. Understanding that bigger picture earlier would have helped me connect operations more directly to strategy.”

Advice for Future Interns

Words of Wisdom: “Treat your internship as more than just a temporary role. See it as a laboratory for growth. Ask why each process matters, seek feedback, take on stretch projects, and build relationships. Curiosity and initiative will help you leave not just with tasks completed, but with skills, insights, and connections that accelerate your career.”

What Interns Should Focus On: “Learning. Every task, no matter how small, connects back to the credibility of scientific exchange and regulatory trust. Approach it with curiosity.”

Closing Thoughts

Dr Gurusankar’s internship at Moderna is a powerful reminder that Medical Affairs is not simply about operations. It is about ensuring scientific integrity, regulatory compliance, and meaningful engagement with the medical community. From congress planning to cross-functional collaboration, her experience highlights how operational excellence is the backbone of responsible scientific exchange.

Do you have a story that can inspire the next generation of biotech professionals? Submit your experience to the Biotech Intern Newsletter today.

Connect with Dr. Ankita Gurusankar on LinkedIn to follow her journey in biotech.