Ever Heard of Molecular Glue Degraders? Amitkumar Pandey’s Co-op at Monte Rosa Was All About That and More
- Widler Casy
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Amitkumar Pandey
Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter. We are excited to feature Amitkumar Pandey, whose onsite internship at Monte Rosa Therapeutics showcases how resilience, curiosity, and teamwork can shape growth in early-stage drug discovery.
Internship Snapshot
Company: Monte Rosa Therapeutics
Location: Onsite
How It Started:
“I discovered the opportunity through my college’s co-op platform NUWorks. What began as an interest in drug discovery turned into an immersive experience supporting projects in targeted protein degradation.”
A Day in the Life
At Monte Rosa, Amitkumar worked on early drug discovery projects. “I supported research on molecular glue degraders, contributing to efforts in targeted protein degradation.” This exposure gave him a chance to see firsthand how emerging modalities can transform the future of therapeutic development.
Lessons from the Lab
Biggest Learning: “The most important thing I learned was how innovative approaches like molecular glue degraders can open new directions in therapeutic development.”
Best Advice Received: “Experience is not about never making mistakes, but about identifying them early and resolving them efficiently.”
Wish I Had Known: “I wish I had known how steep the learning curve would be when working with advanced techniques like molecular glue degraders, and how rewarding it is once you overcome it.”
Wish I Had Learned: “I wish I had understood earlier how important resilience is when research directions shift unexpectedly.”
Fun Moments and Growth
Most Fun Experience: “The most fun experience was bonding with my team outside of formal work, which made collaboration in the lab more enjoyable and effective.”
Biggest Struggle: “I struggled at first with troubleshooting complex assays, but I learned to break problems into smaller steps and lean on team input, which made problem-solving more efficient.”
Short Story of Growth: “During my internship, one of my experiments repeatedly produced inconsistent results, which was frustrating and made me question my approach. Instead of continuing with the same method, I sought advice from my mentor, broke the process down step by step, and identified small procedural errors that had gone unnoticed. By making adjustments and documenting everything carefully, I was able to get reliable results, which taught me the importance of persistence, asking for help early, and refining my problem-solving skills.”
Behind the Scenes
Who Made It Memorable: “I would credit my mentor for my success during the internship because their guidance helped me navigate technical challenges, stay focused on project goals, and develop confidence in my scientific approach.”
Resource I Wish I Used More: “I wish I had taken greater advantage of networking opportunities across departments to understand more about cross-functional collaboration.”
Advice for Future Interns
Words of Wisdom: “Stay curious, ask questions often, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes, internships are one of the best opportunities to learn by doing.”
What Interns Should Focus On: “Interns should focus on learning core experimental or analytical techniques while understanding how their work connects to broader project goals.”
Additional Advice: “Take ownership of your learning. Don’t just wait for tasks to be assigned, seek opportunities, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect on what each experience is teaching you.”
Rapid Fire
Coffee or Tea: Tea
Meetings: In-person meetings
Mountains or Beaches: Beaches
Closing Thoughts
Amitkumar’s journey at Monte Rosa Therapeutics demonstrates that perseverance, curiosity, and teamwork are at the heart of scientific progress. From troubleshooting complex assays to contributing to the field of molecular glue degraders, his story highlights the value of persistence and mentorship in drug discovery.
His advice to future interns is clear: stay curious, take ownership of your learning, and embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth.
Do you have a story that can inspire the next generation of biotech professionals? Submit your experience to the Biotech Intern Newsletter today.
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 Amitkumar Pandey on LinkedIn to follow his journey in biotech.
Join the Spotlight
Do you have a story that can inspire the next generation of biotech professionals? Submit your experience to the Biotech Intern Newsletter today.
Hiring
Company: immunai
Location: New York
Position: Associate Scientist, Molecular Profiling
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