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  1. About FDA

Vivek Shukla, Ph.D., Toxicologist

-Vivek Shukla, Ph.D., Toxicologist

Vivek Shukla, Ph.D., Toxicologist

How did your career begin at FDA?

I’ve spent about 26 fruitful years doing bench work in a variety of scientific fields. And while I’ve loved doing that type of research and forming collaborative connections in the research field, I wanted to see how this benchwork is implemented into regulatory field. I was eager to learn about how bench experiences translated into policies that directly apply to protection of public health.

What do you value most about working at FDA?

Because of its regulatory nature, research conducted at FDA is different from that of working in academia or in industry. In academia, scientists are motivated by achieving novel discoveries, which is very personally rewarding. Within industry, most of the focus is on helping to craft profitable and marketable products. At FDA, the work is focused on assuring protection of public health. We use the wealth of scientific knowledge available to provide science-based decisions for the protection of public health.

What are you most proud of in terms of your work at FDA?

The number of dedicated collaboration and cooperation among staff surprised me the most at FDA. The first couple of months after I joined, I was truly in awe with how helpful people were of me getting acclimated to this new working environment. Staff at FDA is also an incredibly diverse, with different educational and scientific backgrounds, to make tobacco-related death and disease part of our past, not of our future. It is the norm to share data and ideas; the work environment is very team oriented.  It is immensely satisfying to collaborate with such talented people for such meaningful cause.

What advice would you give to an FDA job seeker?

Be patient, determined, and keep applying! Don’t send your resume blindly to all openings at FDA. Carefully go through each job listing and think meaningfully about your suitability to the advertised position. Please don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an opportunity to be interviewed or are not short-listed for the position. Just keep networking with FDA staff through conferences, job fairs, or social media to help in fulfilling your dreams of working at the FDA!

When you're not at work, what is your favorite way to unwind?

My favorite way to unwind is to listen calming music and going for a walk.

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