Harbani Kaur Malik-Chaudhry, PhD •  Protein Engineer

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I am a

PROTEIN ENGINEER

Harbani Kaur Malik-Chaudhry, PhD

Presented by AMGEN foundation
MY PATH

How I became a rollerblader, humanitarian, and protein engineer.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • Sikhism

    From community service to standing up for rights, I am motivated by the core values of my faith.

  • My Parents

    I was raised by hard workers who instilled confidence in me and a strong drive to be self-sufficient.

  • Rollerblading

    I find joy in rollerblading, but it also helped me develop discipline, competitive skills, and motivation to push myself.

  • Family Health

    Several of my family members have been impacted by cancer, which motivates me to be part of the solution.

Not everyone took me seriously along the way.

As a religious, gender, and ethnic minority in my field in the US, I’ve been in professional settings where I was underestimated or even ignored. It’s heartbreaking, but I’ve learned that confiding in and embracing support from others helps keep my spirits high as we work towards change.

Major Milestones

Internship During College

I traveled to the Bay Area, California during college in India to do an internship at a biotech company. This was my first hands-on experience of the fascinating world of biotechnology.

PhD at UC Riverside

I decided to move to the US in pursuit of my masters degree but ended up choosing to do a PhD and dive more into research.

Worked on a promising new medicine

One of my first jobs led me to work on a drug that later entered into clinical trials for potential future approval by the FDA. Moments like these are rare in biotech, so this was a very inspiring experience.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Networking is amazing.

    I am so grateful for the relationships I built along the way, and I’ve learned that investing in people and building bridges can be a powerful tool for your career, whether with mentors, peers, or juniors. You never know how you’ll be able to help each other.

  • Lab work is very different than science class.

    Working in a lab is much more about exploration and problem solving than it is about memorization. Lab science and engineering is often hands-on and collaborative.

  • Being bold is a strength.

    Throughout my career, I’ve been bold in my decisions, in the questions I ask, and in my expectations. Being willing to take up space and put myself out there has been a major asset in my career.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Stephanie Singleton

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