How Shreya Adisesha Made Waves in HR as an HR Intern at Wave Life Sciences

Widler Casy
6 days ago
4 min read

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Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Shreya Adisesha

Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter. Today, we’re excited to spotlight Shreya Adisesha, whose on-site internship at Wave Life Sciences highlights how impactful non-lab roles can be in biotech and how collaboration, initiative, and people-first thinking drive company success.

Internship Snapshot

Company: Wave Life Sciences

Location: On-site

How It Started: “I found out about the internship through LinkedIn.”

At Wave Life Sciences, Shreya worked within HR Operations, playing a key role in scaling and supporting a growing biotech organization.

A Day in the Life

Shreya describes her internship in one sentence as: “Driving HR operations transformation by developing strategic roadmaps, building employee-facing platforms, implementing process automations, and leading engagement initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency and supported company expansion.”

While not directly involved in bench science, her work supported the people behind the science, an essential component of any successful biotech company.

Lessons from the Experience

Biggest Learning: “Working in HR, I'm not directly involved in the science, but I learned that my role is just as important. It’s about supporting the people who are.”

What stood out most to Shreya was Wave’s collaborative culture:

“Teams genuinely help each other, and it reinforced something I’ll carry forward. Companies thrive when collaboration isn’t just encouraged, it’s lived. Everyone has a role to play, and the best work happens when we’re all pulling together.”

Best Advice Received

One of the most impactful lessons came from leadership: “The best advice came from our SVP of People and Culture. Everyone brings unique strengths, and there’s real value in recognizing what you’re naturally good at. Instead of constantly chasing new skills, focus on honing the talents you already have.” This advice reshaped how Shreya thinks about growth, prioritizing depth just as much as breadth.

Wish I Had Known

“I wish I’d known how to handle uncertainty better.” Shreya shared that early on, she put pressure on herself to have everything figured out: “I learned that things unfold at their own pace. You can prepare, not predict. Embracing that sooner would have made a big difference.”

Wish I Had Learned Earlier

Although her experience was flexible and rich with opportunity, Shreya reflected: “If anything, I wish I’d jumped into those opportunities earlier instead of waiting until the second half of my co-op.” A reminder that timing matters and initiative matters even more.

Fun Moments and Connection

Most Fun Experience: “The most fun part was connecting with people and building my network.” Wave’s events made relationship-building natural: “It made building relationships feel natural rather than transactional.”

Biggest Struggle and the Lesson

Early on, Shreya stayed within her assigned tasks: “At first, I stuck to what was assigned to me and didn’t venture much beyond that.” But she knew growth required more: “So I started taking initiative, volunteering for projects, shadowing people, and getting as involved as possible.”

The takeaway? “You get out what you put in, and staying passive will only limit you.”

Behind the Scenes

Resources That Made a Difference: “I made it a priority to tap into available resources, especially the mentorship from my manager and SVP.” Their guidance helped her think more strategically and reframe complex problems.

Who Made It Possible: “I’d credit the HR Ops team. They created an environment where I felt genuinely supported, celebrating my wins and helping me learn from mistakes.” That psychological safety gave her the confidence to take risks and grow.

Advice for Future Interns

Words of Wisdom: “Don’t wait to figure out your niche. HR is incredibly broad, so actively seek out projects across different areas, recruiting, analytics, employee relations, etc.”

What Interns Should Focus On: “Be a sponge. Ask questions, seek feedback, and learn the ‘why’ behind decisions. Network authentically, not transactionally.” She also encourages interns to reflect deeply: “Think about what kind of work energizes you and what impact you want to have.”

A Defining Story

In her very first week, Shreya was tasked with creating a multi-year HR Ops roadmap, an ambitious ask for any intern. “I gathered tons of information but struggled to organize it into something strategic.”

After several failed drafts, she turned to her team: “Those conversations transformed scattered data into a clear, actionable roadmap.” A powerful lesson in asking for help and prioritizing what truly matters.

Rapid Fire

Coffee or Tea: Coffee
Meetings: In-person
Mountains or Beaches: Beaches

Closing Thoughts

Shreya Adisesha’s internship at Wave Life Sciences is a testament to the impact interns can make when they step outside their comfort zones, lean into collaboration, and take ownership of their growth. Her story reminds us that biotech success depends not only on scientific breakthroughs, but also on the people and systems that support them.

Connect with Shreya Adisesha, on LinkedIn to follow her journey in biotech.