Three Co-ops, One Goal: Making a Lasting Impact on Science and Human Health
Kathryn Regan, E ’26, bioengineering, has completed three co-ops in the pharmaceutical industry, accumulating a year and a half of professional experience. She plans to apply those skills toward a PhD, with the goal of making a lasting contribution to the scientific community and human health.
Kathryn Regan recently completed her bachelor’s degree in bioengineering at Northeastern University. Growing up, she gravitated toward math and science but has always loved learning broadly. A particularly inspiring AP Biology teacher in high school sparked an early interest in hands-on problem-solving, and by the time she was applying to college, she had stumbled across bioengineering in a late-night web search. She was immediately drawn in—describing it as “the perfect combination of biology, math, and problem solving, but also applied those subjects to help others, like in drug development.” The more bioengineering courses she took, the deeper her interest grew.
Regan applied to Northeastern as one of her top choices but was waitlisted her freshman year. She began her college career at the University of Connecticut, but found it wasn’t quite the right fit and transferred to Northeastern when the opportunity arose. She admired the strength of the bioengineering program and the hands-on professional experience built into the curriculum through the Co-op Program. Coming from Massachusetts, she also welcomed being closer to home—and closer to Boston, a city she has come to love, green spaces and all.
Co-op Experiences
Regan has completed three co-ops at Northeastern. Her first was at Lonza, a large-scale contract manufacturing organization that produces therapeutics—including vaccines—on behalf of other companies. As an engineering assistant, she worked with bioreactors, large machines used to grow cells that are then harvested for medical treatments. One project she found particularly meaningful was a sustainability initiative focused on reducing water consumption during routine bioreactor cleaning. She experimented with lower-water cleaning protocols and analyzed the results for her supervisor. The co-op gave her a thorough grounding in FDA regulations and good manufacturing practices (GMPs)—knowledge she expects to carry throughout a career in drug development. While the day-to-day work wasn’t quite what she envisioned for herself long-term, it offered valuable perspective on a side of the industry she might not otherwise have seen.
Her second co-op was at Verve Therapeutics, where she worked as a process development intern focused on guide RNA (gRNA). Verve develops genetic therapies targeting cardiovascular disease, including a hereditary condition that causes dangerously elevated LDL—commonly known as “bad” cholesterol—which can lead to stroke and other serious events. The company is developing a one-time therapy to address it. Regan’s role involved validating a small-scale version of an RNA sample used in the therapy, running it through an in-house purification process to confirm it matched results produced by an outside manufacturer. It was her first wet lab experience, and she came away with both technical skills and a new way of thinking—what she describes as a “science brain” that approaches problems through an experimentally minded lens.
Regan presenting at Entrada. Courtesy photo.
Her third co-op was at Entrada Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharma company working on a therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disease that causes progressive muscle weakening. In another lab-based role, Regan’s primary responsibilities included refining a testing method used to support pre-clinical research and running stability tests to evaluate how different components of the drug held up under various storage conditions. The experience allowed her to deepen her experimental technique while building transferable lab skills applicable across settings. She was struck by how significantly the regulatory landscape differed between rare disease and cardiovascular drug development—a distinction that broadened her understanding of the field considerably. Beyond the technical, these three co-ops collectively built softer skills she values just as highly: self-advocacy, time management, and professional confidence.
Role Models and Extracurriculars
Regan highlights several professors who have shaped her time at Northeastern. Assistant Professor Mona Minkara, who taught her Biomolecular Dynamics and Control, stood out for her unwavering support through challenging material and for a teaching style Regan describes as truly unforgettable. She sees Professor Minkara as an inspiration in the field. Teaching Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Affairs Timothy Lannin made a similarly strong impression—bringing genuine enthusiasm to a summer course through live demonstrations and making himself consistently accessible to students. Regan also admires how effectively he balances his wide-ranging responsibilities within the College of Engineering. She also credits Associate Professor Sara Rouhanifard, in whose lab she is currently volunteering as a researcher. Regan describes the lab as welcoming and intellectually stimulating, with Professor Rouhanifard offering thoughtful guidance that made the transition from co-op lab environments to an academic research setting smooth and rewarding.
Regan volunteering with Phi Sigma Roe at the Boston Marathon. Courtesy photo.
Outside the classroom, Regan is a member of Phi Sigma Rho, a STEM-focused sorority. Being surrounded by women on a similar academic and professional trajectory has given her lifelong friendships and a reliable network of support—advice that ranges from coursework to career development. She recently served as the chapter’s treasurer, overseeing financial transactions, supporting philanthropy event planning, and managing chapter scholarships. The role developed her organizational and communication skills while giving her a way to contribute meaningfully to the community she values. She calls the group her “second family.”
Regan has also recently become a licensed personal trainer. An interest in physical fitness that grew throughout her time at Northeastern led her to pursue the certification, and she now works with clients across a wide range of mobility levels, building personalized plans and helping people find enjoyment in movement. She plans to continue personal training part-time after graduation.
Lessons and Plans
As a recent graduate, Regan wants other bioengineering students to know just how broad the major is—and how many directions it can take them, from computational work to drug development and beyond. She encourages students to use the Co-op Program to explore multiple areas rather than committing too early, and to make full use of Northeastern’s resources when searching for opportunities. More broadly, she has come to believe in “becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable—it is necessary for both your personal and professional growth, and it’s exciting to accomplish something you did not know you could do.” She also urges students to reach out widely—to faculty, alumni, industry professionals—because in her experience, that network has been the most reliable source of doors opening.
Since graduation, Regan plans to take a gap year before applying to PhD programs in biochemistry. She intends to return to the biopharma industry afterward, with a focus on research and development—specifically the development of therapeutics for metabolic diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions. Her goal is to use her skills where they can genuinely move the needle: advancing treatments, contributing to the scientific record, and improving human health in ways that outlast any single project or role.