Sérgio Ribeiro, PhD - Principal Scientist
Sérgio Ribeiro, PhD - Principal Scientist Analytical & Process Development at Tigen Pharma
Where are you from, and what is your educational background?
I’m originally from the region of Douro, in the north of Portugal, where I did my university studies in Genetics and Biotechnology. After that, I moved into biomedical research, focusing on molecular biology mechanisms in both cancer cells and in the immune system, first at the University of Coimbra during my master studies and later during my PhD in Lisbon at the Institute of Molecular Medicine (now Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine) in the group of Bruno Silva-Santos. I worked on discovering how our immune cells sense the signals from their surroundings to create a response mechanism in healthy conditions or during cancer.
When did you transition into industry?
After finishing my postdoc at the University of Lausanne, I moved into the industry sector in 2022 by joining Tigen Pharma, a local start-up, where I still work today.
What is your current position, and what do you do?
I'm currently the Principal Scientist in the Analytical and Process Development team. My role involves designing, optimizing, implementing and evaluating analytical methods and technologies to support the manufacturing and characterization of our cancer cell therapies, which are now in clinical trials.
Is your job related to the work you did during your PhD/Posdoc?
My work is closely related to what I did during my PhD and postdoc, still in the field of cancer biology, immunology, and immunotherapy, but it’s more translational than fundamental biology. Rather than focusing on uncovering new biological mechanisms or publishing findings, my efforts now go into manufacturing optimization and ensuring that our personalized therapies are produced efficiently and robustly tested for clinical use. It’s a shift from exploring the unknown to solving practical challenges, but equally stimulating and meaningful.
How did you adapt to the cultural and operational differences between academia and your current role?
The transition from academia was relatively smooth, though there was definitely a learning curve, mainly getting used to the new terminology and countless acronyms used in pharma and GMP settings. For me, working in a start-up really accelerated that process. From the beginning collaborating with clinical, quality, manufacturing, regulatory, and business development teams has taught me a lot and helped me grow well beyond the scientific side of things. It’s been a steep but rewarding learning curve.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
What I enjoy most is the mix of science and strategic discussions. The environment is dynamic and constantly evolving, which makes the work genuinely engaging. While I’m increasingly involved in project management and strategic planning, I still stay closely connected to the science and the day-to-day problem-solving, which I truly enjoy.
What challenges did you face during this career transition ?
The transition from academia to industry was quite natural to me. At the start, I used a lot of my hands-on experience from previous R&D projects, and I started out in the lab where I was productive right away. It felt familiar, like being a fish in water. The company structure was also a big plus, there were clear goals, experienced colleagues, and strong collaboration to drive projects forward.
I also had some challenges, coming from a long academic track, I was seen at first as someone new to the field. It took time to build trust, prove myself, and earn responsibility over tasks and decision-making. That part of the transition requires patience.
I don’t really see it as a career change [starting working in a start-up], it felt more like a natural progression. I am still a scientist applying scientific methodology and technology to real-world problems. I’ve just shifted direction, from exploring questions in fundamental research to solving practical challenges that can directly impact healthcare and patient therapies.
What helped you succeed in your career transition?
What helped me most was staying connected with peers, attending workshops, and joining career events. Talking to others who had made similar transitions helped me understand the career possibilities and gave me assurance to take the next steps.
What advice made the most difference in your professional development?
One piece of advice that helped me, although it may sound like a cliché, is to focus on what you truly enjoy and are passionate about and not stay in your comfort zone. It makes a big difference to be clear about what you’re good at, but also to recognize what doesn’t excite you.
Having a clear idea of where I wanted to be in 5 or 10 years helped me to stay focused. Talking to peers who were already there gave me perspective and helped plan a path forward, even if it may change along the way. And above all, making sure to enjoy the journey.
What can I wish you for the years to come?
Even though I enjoy my work, being in the private sector has given me a clearer view that job security and career growth can be just as uncertain in industry as in academia, even in a country like Switzerland. Whether it’s a big pharma or a small biotech, companies can grow fast, but they can also lay off hundreds of people just as fast due to investment shifts, changing markets, or strategic decisions.
What I hope for in the years to come is a stronger, more stable scientific community, both in academia and research institutions. I hope for more transparent communication and collaboration between the private sector and research institutes, to truly fuel discovery and innovation.
At the same time, I wish for continued investment in the development of new therapies, with a long-term vision that truly prioritizes patient healthcare.
Sérgio Ribeiro’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-t-ribeiro/
