My name is Vishnu Sunil and I am a graduate student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at National University of Singapore. I was the Regional Winner in the Student Poster Competition organized by ISPE Singapore. I received an all-expenses paid trip to represent the Singapore Affiliate at the International Student Poster Competition during the ISPE Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. I was also fortunate to receive a US$1,000 Travel Grant from the ISPE Foundation. 

I believe travelling 30 hours from almost the other end of the world was completely worth it. Before the poster exhibitions, I attended the Young Professionals and Students Brunch, where I met my peers and discussed several ideas that I had in mind. The talks by senior members were very useful, as they explained what ISPE is all about. They emphasized that we should use this opportunity not only to gain knowledge about different aspects of the pharma industry, but also interact and network with the industry professionals. It was interesting to hear their opinions on where the industry is heading and how as the young community, we can shape the future of the medtech/pharma industry.

The poster sessions were held in the Exhibit Hall, which was buzzing with people throughout the conference. It was exciting to meet students from all around the world, listening to their wonderful ideas. I had many thought-provoking discussions with fellow participants about their research and mine. 

This conference was very different from those I had attended previously; it was very industry focused and enabled me to meet many of the major organisations. I received positive comments from people who approached me, motivating me to continue working harder. Moreover, it provoked many questions, which previously I had not considered. I vividly remember one particular discussion with Mr. Jorg Zimmerman, where we talked about how we could commercialize my research. He was very aware about the stroke problem that I am working on, hence provided some wonderful advice and told me to keep him posted about my research work.

ISPE organized many networking events both in a formal and informal setting, from the Yard visit to the night at the Reading Market. This allowed me to connect with fellow students and young professionals who have just entered the industry. The job fair was very useful; I actually received two job offers!!! It gave me an idea on what pharma companies need and how best to mold my skillset to address their requirements. I also gained some great advice on companies to approach, which match the job profile that I was seeking.

What did I like most about the experience? Other than meeting many like-minded and smart individuals, it was the judges' evaluations. They mentioned both positive aspects about my presentation and things that I could improve. 

I would like to thank Ms. Kristina for all the help with the arrangements and Ms. Debbie (Kaufmann) for making the students feel comfortable during our stay. It was a great experience and I will be attending the ISPE Annual Meeting 2019.