Siddhanth Hejmady’s journey into pharmaceutical sciences started back in Mumbai, where his passion for chemistry and biology led him to pursue pharmacy in undergrad. He describes it as the perfect intersection of both fields: how drugs are made, formulated, and ultimately used to help people. That curiosity grew as he earned a master's degree in pharmaceutics and began working for a pharmaceutical R&D company.

"That experience really confirmed that this is what I want to do," Sid explained. "It pushed me to apply for doctoral programs around the world, and the U.S. was a clear choice because of the opportunities in pharma research."

When researching graduate schools, the University of Iowa kept showing up. It wasn’t just another name on a list — it was a standout. The College of Pharmacy has a long-standing reputation for groundbreaking work in pharmaceutical sciences. For Sid, Iowa quickly moved to the top of his list.

"Even during undergrad, Iowa’s name came up constantly in readings and conversations. A lot of foundational research has come out of here. It was always on my radar," he said.

Now a Ph.D. student in pharmaceutics, Sid is part of a research team working on monoclonal antibodies — specifically trying to predict their behavior in a way that can improve drug stability. The more stable the product, the more efficient the manufacturing process becomes. His team’s findings earned them a provisional patent, and they’re currently working toward a full patent.

"When we realized the impact our research could have, we submitted an invention disclosure to the University of Iowa Research Foundation. That turned into a provisional patent, and now we’re moving forward with even more data and a publication."

Sid is also an Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellow, which he says has completely changed how he thinks about science.

"In the lab, I focus on science and technology. But in the fellowship, I get to talk with business leaders, venture capitalists, and people from other fields. It really made me think differently––about how science becomes a product, and what’s needed to make that transition happen."

That exposure has helped him learn how to frame his research in ways that resonate beyond the scientific community. In a recent bootcamp, he learned how to pitch his work in a 10-slide format — covering everything from market value and business models to the real-world need for the technology.

"It’s one thing to know the science," he said. "It’s another to be able to talk about it in a way that connects with people who aren’t scientists."

His biggest advice to younger students? Don’t limit yourself.

"Try everything. Do the lab work, the events, the side projects — you never know what’s going to help you down the road," Sid said. "I didn’t plan every step, but each experience helped shape where I am now."

As biomanufacturing continues to grow at the University of Iowa and across the country, Sid is hopeful about where the field is headed.

“There’s a lot of attention coming to Iowa right now,” Sid said. “Between biosciences, entrepreneurship, and innovation, I think we’re going to be on the map in a big way.”

From Mumbai to Iowa City, Sid’s journey shows what can happen when curiosity and innovation work together.

The above story was written by Unviersity of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication student Klaudia Lukaszczyk as part of the Chemurgy 2.0 project. Through Chemurgy 2.0, students in the Content Marketing class were tasked to make the field more visible, relatable, and exciting. The goal was to spark student interest and ultimately help retain emerging talent in Iowa after graduation. Learn more about their work here.