This feature shines a spotlight on two recent BTEC graduates who have begun promising careers in the local biopharmaceutical industry. Both work in technical operations, and they share a love of learning, problem solving and working with others.

Abigail (Abby) Ayers, Technical Operations Engineer

One thing has led to another for Abby Ayers. After completing an internship at Pfizer Inc., Abby Ayers graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and minors in both biomanufacturing and microbiology. That internship led to a full-time position at Pfizer, where she is currently a technical operations engineer at the company’s manufacturing plant in Sanford, N.C.

In her technical transfer work, she focuses on “turning the small-scale science into a scaled-up manufacturing process.” During manufacturing campaigns, she is on the production floor, identifying areas for improvement and answering operators’ questions. “It’s very hands-on [work], and I’m always learning new things,” she says. At other times, Abby can be found authoring manufacturing documentation (“think batch records and sample plans”) and analyzing production data.

What does she enjoy about her current position? “[M]y favorite aspect is the satisfaction I get when a manufacturing process I helped design is successful,” Abby says. She also appreciates the collaboration between the process engineers, automation engineers and bioprocess technicians. “I’m always meeting new people and learning new ways to approach problems — it’s all incredibly fulfilling.”

When asked for advice to a new graduate beginning a career in the biopharma industry, Abby stresses the importance of keeping an open mind and networking. She notes that, in her experience, “the biotech industry is driven by collaborative approaches to problem solving, and being able to get along with your collaborators makes the world of a difference.”

Savannah Bass, Associate Specialist Engineer

A 2024 NC State graduate with a major in biochemical and molecular engineering and a biomanufacturing minor, Savannah Bass likes a challenge.

An associate specialist engineer in Drug Product Technical Operations at Merck in Raleigh, she’s never quite sure what her day will hold when she arrives on the job. Working in a start-up facility for a new vaccine being developed, her time may be spent tackling a variety of tasks — from assisting operators, providing training on equipment and supporting activities happening on the production floor to writing reports and documentation.

“I really enjoy working in technical operations,” Savannah says, and a favorite part of her job is working with others. She finds “the moment we figure out a problem” especially rewarding. Another special aspect of her position is “AIMy,” Savannah’s name for the automated inspection machine for which she is responsible and has authored some of the coding used to control its operation. “I love the inspection machine,” she says.

In addition to her position at Merck, Savannah is also a part-time student in Arizona State University’s online master’s program in engineering and industrial management. Now completing her first semester, she believes her exposure to project management, finance, Lean Six Sigma and other topics will broaden her experience. She is also the co-lead for Merck’s recruiting efforts at NC State and recently represented the company at BTEC’s fall career fair.

When asked about her experiences at BTEC, Savannah said that she appreciated the care and interest shown by all her instructors and “every class applies” to her work. She found her experience as an undergraduate research assistant in Driss Elhanafi’s lab at BTEC to be particularly valuable. “Watching him walk through the problem-solving process and watching the way that he led the lab was really helpful.”

Her advice to new graduates: “When you start a job, try out everything. Be willing to get your hands dirty. Be a part of everything.” Savannah deliberately seeks out opportunities to learn. “I ask all the questions that I can,” she says, and has asked to shadow others as they carried out their job responsibilities. She also participates in one of Merck’s employee research business groups, which provides another opportunity to network and learn from others.