Padma Narayan PhD, chemical and biological engineering '99
With over two decades guiding research and development efforts at major
chemical and pharmaceutical firms, Padma Narayan (PhD, chemical and biological engineering ’99) has established herself as
a leader who uses innovation to help patients and customers. She currently
heads chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) as Vice President at an
emerging biotech startup, lending her specialized expertise to develop new
medicines.
Early on, Narayan discovered her passion for research while studying
chemical engineering at Villanova University. Seeking opportunities to
blend practical knowledge with academics, she enrolled in Drexel’s chemical
engineering doctoral program.
As she explained, "Drexel, renowned for its undergraduate industrial Co-Op
experience, also had one of the better biomedical research-focused programs
in the area. I thought it would be rewarding to be in a university
maintaining a strong industry-academic collaboration."
Narayan was enthusiastic that she could focus her research on the
intersection of chemical engineering and biomedicine, laying the
foundations for a prolific career.
Following her PhD, Narayan compiled over a decade of experience across
large pharmaceutical and chemical corporations such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Dow Chemical. She later traversed the versatile and
dynamic atmosphere of several startup companies.
Her notable professional accomplishments include developing sustainable
agriculture technologies and a DEI initiative, both at Dow Chemical, and
more recently, successful advancements in women’s health: an oral medicine
for ovarian cancer (Zejula) at Tesaro / GSK, and a two-week oral treatment
for postpartum depression (Zurzuvae) at SAGE Therapeutics. Narayan finds
it inspiring to work on programs addressing critical gaps in women's
health, including Zurzuvae, recognized by Time magazine as one of
the best inventions of 2023.
Reflecting upon these achievements, Narayan emphasized, "No matter where
you are, in college or industry, you are always learning. However, putting
your learnings into solving real-world problems and being motivated by a
purpose is immensely gratifying."
Beyond her career, Narayan makes time for hobbies such as music. After
years of studying classical violin, she now volunteers to play at different
venues and events. She’s also begun experimenting with jazz. The
improvisational and diverse aspects of the genre, she says, parallels
experiences in her engineering career.
“You can't rehearse or memorize everything in engineering,” she said.
“Sometimes you have to improvise on the spot based on what you see and hear
around you, and that’s what jazz is.”
Narayan continues working to widen opportunities for women in STEM,
volunteering in outreach programs and promoting gender equity through
groups like AIChE and Society of Women Engineers since early in her career.
The shift from a one-to-ten female-to-male ratio during her graduate
studies to a more balanced scenario today reflects the progress she's
witnessed. She has also been elected as an AIMBE Fellow and serves on the
Editorial Advisory Board of The Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Narayan remains actively engaged as a Drexel alumna, serving as a member of
Dean Walker’s Alumni Industry Board and on the advisory board for the
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Padma enjoys these
chances to reconnect with today’s Drexel community. By touting Drexel’s
strengths within her networks, she strives to help spur fruitful
collaborations and guide young graduates towards similarly rewarding
trajectories.
“I'm proud to have graduated from Drexel University,” she says. “I believe
helping to foster the connection between Drexel and industrial colleagues –
especially those outside of Pennsylvania – can be mutually beneficial.
Companies can reap the benefits from talent available at Drexel, and
likewise the industrial connections can catalyze new programs at Drexel to
help students with networking and building the future of engineering.”
Learn more about how you can start your career in chemical engineering.