Careers
Hello. Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do at Vetter at the moment?
Hello, I'd love to. I'm Jacqueline Son-Mi, but everyone calls me Son-Mi. I am from Hamburg, where I just completed my bachelor’s degree in biology. I will start my master's degree in September. In order to bridge the time until then, I started an internship with Vetter in March and work here in microbiology. In doing this, I accompany the team leader and learn how leaders work here. I'll be here for six months.
What type of internship are you completing and in which specialty?
It is a voluntary internship and, as I said, in microbiology. It deals with the smallest living things, i.e., bacteria, viruses and fungi. Of course, this plays a major role in medicine and pharmacies.
How did you become aware of Vetter in the far north and why did you choose Vetter?
Really, I just looked for pharmaceutical and biotech companies there were in Germany. Of the interviews I had, I liked Vetter the best. And because I'm not committed to Hamburg, it went really well. The overall package was just the best fit, because the distance to Hamburg doesn't matter so much. And now I am looking forward to summer here on Lake Constance.
What interests should someone have when working in this area?
Basically, of course, a fundamental interest in biology. It doesn't hurt if you already have some practical experience. You should already know what sterile and clean working means. And: In this case, every step must be accurately documented, and you should also be aware of this in advance.
What are your experiences during your internship – what were the biggest challenges?
The visit from the FDA was, of course, a challenge for the whole team. The FDA is the Food and Drug Administration of the United States, so their visits are correspondingly important! For this, I was positively surprised that everyone was working so well together as a team, particularly in this situation. This is, after all, an exceptional situation that puts pressure on everyone. But it was like a well-oiled machine, and I thought it was very nice to see.
A challenge in microbiology is the different test areas – there are many specific tests and things to look out for. Getting involved is really challenging.
Jacqueline Son-Mi, Intern
What does that mean in concrete terms? What does a typical workday look like for you?
I start no later than 7 AM, check emails first and then see what the team coordinators or team leaders have, where I can support them. I also have my own tasks. And if there's a need, e.g., in the preparation of materials, I'll help out. So there’s no “one” workday, it’s always exciting.
Do you use the Vetter offers for interns (e.g., the public transport allowance, the EGYM Wellpass, Vetter Network)? If so, which one?
At Good Habitz, I have already completed one or the other course. This is an online learning platform. Now I have also signed up to the EGYM Wellpass. I also use the Mobi, which is a collective taxi that can be requested via the TWS app. This will pick you up and then take you to Schützenstraße.