What Rachana Learned at Blueprint Medicines: Advice That Stuck and More

"We seek to alleviate human suffering with life-changing medicines."

Biotech Intern Newsletter: Spotlight on Rachana R. Doraiswamy

Welcome to this edition of the Biotech Intern Newsletter! Today, we are thrilled to spotlight Rachana R. Doraiswamy, whose on-site internship at Blueprint Medicines provides a deep dive into assay development, patient-centered research, and the everyday challenges and triumphs of a biotech intern. Rachana’s story is a powerful reminder of how determination, teamwork, and honest communication can drive success in the fast-evolving world of biotechnology.

Internship Snapshot

Company: Blueprint Medicines

Location: On-site

How It Started: Found through Northeastern University Works Portal

A Day in the Life

During her internship, Rachana worked on high-throughput assays for small molecule structural studies, engineered stable cell lines using viral transduction, and performed quantitative analysis of compounds. Her work contributed to the development of precision therapies for cancer and hematologic disorders—all within a collaborative and innovation-driven environment.

Lessons from the Lab

Biggest Learning: Rachana shares, “I learned the importance of patients and understood the bridge between research and clinical.” Her experience showed her how scientific discovery directly translates into improving lives.

Best Advice Received: “The best advice I received was to express what I feel and communicate with my seniors in a lab environment. Fostering team engagement and collaboration made all the difference.”

Wish I Knew Before Starting: “I wish I had researched more about the current projects before starting the internship. It would have helped me hit the ground running.”

Wish I Had Learned: “I wish I had gained a better understanding of the translational challenges in drug discovery and development, and the regulatory pathways involved in bringing a drug to market.”

Fun Moments and Challenges

Most Fun Experience: Rachana’s highlight? “I received the opportunity to present my project in front of the company and receive feedback. It helped me recognize my strengths and areas for growth.”

Biggest Struggle: Balancing daily lab responsibilities while preparing for her final presentation was no easy feat. “Every experiment had its successes and failures. But I never stopped trying, and I gave my best to each outcome.”

Behind the Scenes

Resources Wished She’d Used: “I wish I had taken advantage of the Journal Club and Clinical Research Reports for current market drugs. They would have enhanced my perspective.”

Who Made It Memorable? “My manager. He believed in me and taught me some of life’s best lessons.”

Advice for Future Interns

Words of Wisdom: “Experience or no experience, be honest with your manager and your team. Engage with everyone, network, and build connections. Continue putting in effort day and night, and discover your passion through this journey. Internships are the best way to do it.”

What Interns Should Focus On: “Enhancing technical skills is important—but don’t forget about power skills like communication, engagement, team management, and presentation skills.”

Turning Setbacks into Opportunities

Rachana shares a defining moment from her internship:

“I faced a time-sensitive project where experimental challenges threatened my ability to deliver results for a final presentation. I proactively communicated with my manager and colleagues to troubleshoot the assay, leveraging their perspectives to improve my approach. This experience reinforced the importance of not just possessing technical skills like those listed in my resume (e.g., AlphaLISA, cell culture), but also knowing how to apply them strategically for effective problem-solving and project success.”

Rapid-Fire Favorites

Coffee or Tea? Coffee

Online Meetings or In-Person? In-person meetings

Mountains or Beaches? Beaches

Closing Thoughts

Rachana’s internship journey at Blueprint Medicines is a masterclass in perseverance, adaptability, and the power of communication. Her story illustrates how even the toughest challenges can become the foundation for growth and how a supportive team can make all the difference.

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 Rachana R. Doraiswamy on LinkedIn for more insights and advice.