Dr. Adhi Sikand

Biotech Connection Los Angeles was founded in 2014 by Dr. Katrina Choe and Dr. Stefanie Volland. Today, a decade later, it has grown into an impactful organization of 20-30 graduate students and postdocs that continues to promote and foster the growth of Los Angeles as a biotech hub. BCLA now includes a network of over 8000 students and professionals, a Consulting team, and produces the podcast Inside Biotech. To celebrate a decade of educating, connecting, and inspiring, we are checking in with previous Presidents of BCLA to ask them about their time in leadership and their perspective on BCLA’s impact in Los Angeles.

This week, we interviewed Adhi Sikand who served as BCLA President from 2020 through 2021. Adhi earned his PhD from the University of Southern California in 2021. His journey with BCLA began in 2016, hoping to become more involved in student organizations and expand his network in Los Angeles.

By the time of his presidency in 2020, Adhi was focused on consulting in his own career journey and saw the opportunity to bring consulting under the umbrella of BCLA. “The pandemic gave me more time,” Adhi says, allowing him to get the word out and virtually connect with others enthusiastic about the prospect of a consulting group. As Adhi transitioned out of the presidency, he hoped that the consulting group would be able to find “[a team] that would create and connect with people” and continue to move this subdivision of BCLA forward. Currently, BCLA’s Consulting Team is made up of six graduate students from multiple research institutions in Los Angeles with diverse areas of expertise who support local companies via consulting services and solutions.

Although his presidency stretched over the COVID-19 pandemic, Adhi mentions the dedication of both BCLA members and the LA biotech space to expanding the community. BCLA was growing; more individuals and companies wanted to participate in mixers and events were well attended. The opportunity for virtual events allowed for panels with individuals outside of Los Angeles, increasing the opportunity for further career exploration. Since its creation, BCLA has strived to be an organization that opens doors to a wide variety of career opportunities and fosters a strong biotech community in Los Angeles.

Organizations like BCLA continue to focus on developing networks within the Southern California biotech community. Adhi’s time at BCLA also allowed for the development of professional social skills - commonly referred to as “soft skills”- like interpersonal communication. “Time in the lab can be isolating,” says Adhi, a feeling many PhD and postdocs share, “half the challenge is just showing up [to events].” Adhi’s journey highlights the importance of student organizations that focus on career advancement options for PhDs and postdocs, outside of the wide range of groups that center on undergraduate students. There are so many options available to “be much more than a scientist with a science degree,” Adhi says.