Now… how do I start this story? Right now, I’m almost at the end of the 3rd year of my PhD, trying to work as much as I can to get all the data needed. One thing that seems to be missing is my secondment! Well, let’s go back in time a bit to winter 2022, where we planned the documents, visa, sponsor for visa, etc. etc. and it really took a lot of time! Thankfully my supervisors were supportive throughout the whole process. It finally came to fruition around November 2023, when my J-1 visa was approved, so it was time to plan the trip and accommodation.
I was excited to visit the USA, a place I had never really been able to imagine setting foot in. It had always felt like a faraway land somewhere on the other side of the world (in Indonesia, we have 11 to 12 hours’ time difference to the east coast of the USA, so, literally the other side…)
Beautiful Hawk Rise Sanctuary in Rahway, NJ
At a glance, my first impression of the USA was: size matters here. They have huge roads, huge trucks, huge flags, and huge food portions! For the food part I can’t complain, yet for the roads, it is not so easy to travel on foot. Good thing that I found a place close to the worksite and grocery stores! Having grown up in a large city, Rahway felt closer to home vibes, with the bonus of some nature scenery.
Speaking of something huge, Merck Rahway campus is a large site, too! Hosting both production sites and Merck Research Laboratory, this site was designed so people would feel more like a university campus, thus attracting college graduates. It took me a while to get used to getting around the site, but it felt like a great place to work. Getting to work together with the Biopharm team and meeting senior scientists and postdocs were very valuable experiences for me. Learning about current research updates in Big Pharma industries is also very important if you want to keep up with relevant research and solutions from an academic point of view.
While in the US, I had the chance to visit all kinds of conferences in different states. I went to New York University campus where they hosted the North Atlantic Microscopy Society meeting, and learned a lot about current efforts for 3D particle tracking and resolution improvement. On another occasion, I went to the US Pharmacopeia (USP) offices in Maryland for a unique conference more focused on regulatory perspectives about the Global Bioequivalence Harmonization Initiative run by the US FDA and EU EMA. Finally, I was able to present my work at the National Biotech Conference organized by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Luckily, the conference was in San Francisco, so I got to explore the infamous bay area.
Four months passed by so quickly. Just when I had gotten used to all of the routines and new know-how, it was time to part ways and return back to Uppsala. I will miss the Biopharm team at Merck, a really warm and seriously cool group with interdisciplinary backgrounds and who are very supportive of one another.
Looking forward to the final year, please stay tuned!
Marco Tjakra
Mandatory tourist photo with Lady Liberty
Central Park with NYC skyscrapers
Birthplace of Hip-hop, 1520 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY
First row at my first American Football game!
My spirit animal on San Francisco pier
Marco & Filippos at MSD entrance