Students interested in a career in the pharmaceutical industry will have an opportunity to learn the ins and outs about everything from research opportunities to the emerging field of informatics at this year's PharmFest on April 30.

The daylong event begins with check-in at 8:30 a.m. in Memorial Auditorium. (Click here to pre-register for the event.)

"PharmFest offers students, faculty and the community an opportunity to explore and probe directions being taken by the pharmaceutical industry, and the growing links between the industry and academia," said Robert Prezant, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. "It allows our students to meet major players in pharmaceutical research and business, and discuss the industry with high-level executives and others who have deep insight into all aspects of the field."

A panel discussion moderated by William Healey, executive vice president of the HealthCare Institute, features alumnus Ronald Califre '72, senior vice president of Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation; Peter Clemens, vice president of Health Care Systems, Becton Dickenson; and Sylvia Liu, worldwide vice president of Research and Development, Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company.

Afternoon workshops include "Careers in Research," "Informatics," "Science of the Industry," "Business of the Industry," "Interview 101" and "Educational Paths." Concurrent sessions will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and again from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in rooms on the fourth floor of the Student Center. Montclair State faculty and representatives from various pharmaceutical companies, including Merck, Pfizer and Aventis, will lead the discussions.

Alan Oppenheim, dean of the School of Business, said more than science majors are looking forward to the event. "At least 80 percent of the people in this industry do not wear lab coats," he said referring to job opportunities beyond research and development. "The pharmaceutical industry is as much business as it is science, especially in New Jersey where so many companies are headquartered."

New to this year's program is the session on Educational Paths. "We learned from the student evaluations from last year's PharmFest that they are interested in finding out what education they need beyond the undergraduate level," said Carolyn Jones, director of Career Development.

A popular portion of the event is the Career Expo, at which representatives from pharmaceutical employers are available to discuss career opportunities and take resumes from interested students. "The pharmaceutical industry is one of the biggest employers in the state," Jones said. "Despite a tough economy, there are still job opportunities available." The Career Expo will take place in the Student Center, Ballroom B.

More than 500 high schools have been invited to PharmFest and organizers are expecting approximately 1,000 participants that include students, faculty and staff; administrators and students of co-sponsoring institutions, and members of the surrounding communities.

PharmFest is sponsored by the College of Science and Mathematics, the School of Business and the Career Development Center in conjunction with the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.

"This year we're exceptionally pleased to have PharmFest recognized as an important event that boasts co-sponsors from surrounding institutions of higher learning and from many pharmaceutical companies," Prezant said.

Pharmaceutical co-sponsors include Berlex, Merck, Novartis, Organon, Sankyo Pharma, Schering-Plough and Wyeth. Higher education co-sponsors are New Jersey City University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Essex County College and Passaic County College.

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