"Potential Discovery" of a Career Path in Biotech After Completing a Co-op at Keros Therapeutics: All about Sakshi Contractor’s Unique Experience
- Widler Casy
- Aug 16
- 3 min read
Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Sakshi Contractor
Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter. Today, we are excited to feature Sakshi Contractor, whose on-site internship at Keros Therapeutics offers a deep dive into the dynamic and challenging world of biotherapeutics. From establishing stable cell lines to running complex analytical assays, Sakshi’s co-op journey reflects how curiosity, persistence, and mentorship can shape both technical skills and personal growth.
Internship Snapshot
Company: Keros Therapeutics
Location: On-site
How It Started: Found through a job posting on LinkedIn
A Day in the Life
During her co-op, Sakshi spent her time “diving into the biotherapeutics pipeline, from establishing stable cell lines and scaling up CHO cultures to purifying proteins on AKTA systems and running SEC, SPR on Biacore systems, and BLI Octet assays to assess the purity, quality and activity of multiple recombinant proteins.” It was a role that blended precision, troubleshooting, and scientific exploration, where every day brought new opportunities to problem-solve and innovate.
Lessons from the Lab
Biggest Learning: “Most important takeaway from this experience is that in research, failure isn’t a setback, it’s data. Every unexpected result is part of the process that helps refine your hypothesis and move science forward.”
Best Advice Received: “I was told that consistency matters more than perfection, errors are inevitable, but they often guide innovation. Communicate more effectively.”
Wish I Had Known: “Being comfortable with uncertainty and communicating more effectively.”
Wish I Had Learned: “I wish I had gotten the chance to work with bioreactors, it’s a critical scale-up step I’m excited to learn more about moving forward.”
Fun Moments and Growth
Most Fun Experience: “Optimizing His-tag and reverse-phase chromatography workflows was one of the most intellectually stimulating aspects of my co-op, equal parts fun and nerve-wracking, but incredibly satisfying when it finally worked.”
Biggest Struggle: “One struggle I faced during my internship was the final endpoint of my project was not positive data, even after optimizing purification protocols and developing analytical methods like Western blot and Jess Western. It taught me that research isn’t always about reaching the finish line and every challenge lays groundwork for future discovery.”
Behind the Scenes
Resource I Wish I Used More: “While I made the most of the hands-on opportunities available, like shadowing in-vivo bone marrow isolation and tissue extraction, I do wish I had more time to explore the regulatory side of biotherapeutic development. That said, I did enroll in a class on cGMP statuses and regulations alongside my co-op, which gave me a solid foundation and helped me appreciate how critical compliance is in bringing therapies to market.”
Who Made It Memorable: “I owe much of my success to my manager, whose guidance, patience, and support created an environment where I could learn, take risks, and thrive. Her mentorship left a lasting impact on both my technical and personal development.”
Advice for Future Interns
Words of Wisdom: “Take every experience, good or bad, as a chance to learn.”
What Interns Should Focus On: “Lean into the hard tasks, because growth happens outside your comfort zone.”
Rapid-Fire Favorites
Coffee or Tea? Tea
Online or In-Person Meetings? In-person meetings
Mountains or Beaches? Mountains
Closing Thoughts
Sakshi’s internship at Keros Therapeutics is a testament to how embracing challenges, seeking feedback, and staying open to learning can shape a successful career start in biotechnology. From mastering advanced lab techniques to appreciating the value of regulatory knowledge, her experience reminds us that every moment in the lab, whether it feels like a win or a setback, adds to a growing foundation of expertise.
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 Sakshi Contractor on LinkedIn to follow her journey in biotech.
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