Blending Bioengineering With Business for a Dynamic Career
As the social media coordinator and engagement team manager at the Galante Engineering Business Program, Onn Ye Young, E’24, MS’25, bioengineering, is combining the technical aspects of bioengineering from her classes and co-ops with her business knowledge, opening the doors for a multifaceted career after graduation.
Onn Ye Young is currently pursuing her MS in bioengineering and previously completed her BS in bioengineering, concentrating in systems, synthetic, and computational bioengineering, in May 2024. During her time within the Galante Program, Young has significantly transformed its social media presence as social media coordinator, in addition to managing the engagement team, which drives meaningful engagement initiatives such as mentorship within the program and with industry professionals, as well as promoting program awareness & outreach.
Young is a PlusOne student and is set to graduate with her MS in bioengineering in spring of 2025. For Young, the journey to becoming an engineer has been driven by her passion for science and the practical applications of engineering. “With core sciences, you sometimes have to wait a bit longer to really apply what you’ve learned, but engineering just felt so useful, so fun,” she shares. Bioengineering turned out to be the perfect blend of her interests, merging her love for biology with a desire to help people. After completing her undergraduate degree at Northeastern, she chose to continue her studies in computational bioengineering. Now, as she approaches graduation, she’s also exploring the business side of engineering, thanks in part to her involvement with the Galante Program. With an eye on possibly pursuing an MBA in the future, she wanted to get a taste of business before fully committing. “I’ve always thought that eventually in my career, I’d like to get into management,” she explains. Her interest in interdisciplinary work has always been a major driving force, and she values keeping her options open, wanting to avoid pigeonholing herself into a purely technical career.
Young graduating with her undergraduate degree in Bioengineering in May 2024
Since joining Galante, Young has held multiple roles. Last year, she was the social media coordinator, managing LinkedIn and engaging with the community. “It was fun—my little influencer moment,” she jokes. This year, she stepped up as the engagement team manager while still handling social media. These positions have allowed her to sharpen her leadership and communication skills while working collaboratively with peers. Although her roles have given her a taste of management, Young sees it more as teamwork: “We’re all working together, trying to do something good for the program.”
Reflecting on her time in Galante, Young highlights the diverse experiences of other fellows as one of the most rewarding aspects. “I really only interact in school with other bioengineers, so getting to learn about other people’s majors and how wide a range engineering can be is really cool.” She also appreciates the program’s workshops and speakers. While the topics may not always be directly relevant to her field, she knows there’s always something valuable to learn. Through the program’s events, Young has gained new perspectives on her co-ops and career goals. Her first co-op was at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she worked on the drug product manufacturing science and technology team within the CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) for pharmaceuticals. This experience sparked her interest in process development and the broader biotech industry. Her second co-op was at Dragonfly Therapeutics, where she worked in downstream process development. This hands-on lab experience helped her build a strong technical skill set. This past summer, she also completed an internship at Takeda Pharmaceuticals within Global Quality Compliance. Looking ahead, Young plans to start her career in a technical role, likely in process development within the pharmaceutical industry. However, she’s not ruling out management down the line, especially with the foundation she’s built through Galante.
Young at the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island
Outside of academics and work, Young balances her time with extracurriculars. She was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and attended meetings for AIChE, BMES, and SASE. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Boston’s cultural scene, visiting museums, and trying new restaurants with friends. For students considering the Galante Program or a similar path from engineering to business, Young’s advice is simple: “Keep an open mind. You might start with one idea of what you want, but the more you explore different opportunities, the more you might realize there’s so much else out there that could be a great fit for you.” As she approaches graduation and prepares for life after college, this is exactly the approach she is taking—embracing the intersection of bioengineering and business, confident that her multidisciplinary approach will open doors to a dynamic career.
By Shreya Basireddy
Original Article Source: Galante Engineering Business Program