Sanofi Pasteur's Jim Tartaglia Encourages Undergrads at Student Research Poster Conference

Sanofi Pasteur Vice President for New Vaccines R&D, Jim Tartaglia, PhD, was the guest speaker at the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg for the Undergraduate Research Council-PA’s 15th annual poster conference. The educational event allows the undergraduate students enrolled in Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities to showcase their research talents to the Commonwealth’s key decision-makers; all fields of research are encouraged.

Pennsylvania is the only comprehensive U.S. location for Sanofi Pasteur Inc., housing commercial operations, research & development and industrial affairs activities.

Dr. Tartaglia encouraged the undergraduate researchers to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, have a passion for building something, be willing to push yourself to achieve big goals, challenge the status quo, take calculated risks, be optimistic, have a multi-disciplinary mindset and execute.

“The current inter-dependence of different fields to address science has brought on a convergence of technologies,” Tartaglia explained. “We now work in global, multi-disciplinary teams. The old idea of a scientist working independently is no longer the case. Today’s research papers sometimes have up to 20 authors; years ago, that was not the case. Science is not done in isolation.”

Following Jim’s address, the students and their poster displays were visited by the judges for two hours. The undergrads from Pennsylvania were also encouraged to meet with their state legislators to discuss topics important to them and society. For more information, please visit http://www.pasen.gov/URCPA/index.htm.