MSU chemistry doctoral student gains biotech experience at Biogen
STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University doctoral student Taofiq Abdulraheem deepened his understanding of chemistry’s real-world impact this summer through an internship at Biogen in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, where he gained firsthand experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Abdulraheem worked as a quality control intern where he researched liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods for analyzing antisense oligonucleotides—short strands of synthetic DNA designed to target and block specific genetic messages. The experience, he said, provided valuable insight into how his academic training translates to real-world applications.
“The technical skills I’ve gained in operating mass spectrometers and liquid chromatography instruments, and interpreting their data, were very useful,” Abdulraheem said. “Also, the presentation skills I’ve developed at MSU were crucial in effectively communicating my results to my team.”
He said the internship strengthened his commitment to a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology field.
“This experience, along with my research in analytical chemistry, motivates me to pursue a career where I can work across departments—quality control, quality assurance and manufacturing—to ensure product quality and patient safety,” he said. “The most valuable takeaway for me is the inseparability of scientific rigor and ethical responsibility. Every test result carries weight—not only for the product’s release but also for patient safety and public trust.”
His advisor, Amanda Patrick, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Chemistry, said Abdulraheem’s success reflects the broad applicability of the university’s chemistry program.
“While his dissertation research is focused on basic science, the skills and knowledge learned in his graduate program set him up to be successful in this industrial position,” Patrick said. “This underscores the employability and versatility of a chemistry degree.”
Last summer, Abdulraheem was selected to attend the prestigious Leadership Development Academy, part of the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists. Launched in 2024 by the American Society for Microbiology with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Leadership Development Academy offered intensive training aimed at empowering senior-level graduate students and early-career postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups in STEM.
Abdulraheem earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and plans to graduate from MSU with his Ph.D. in March 2026.
For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Chemistry, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.chemistry.msstate.edu.
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