An Interview with Priyanka Joshi, Associate Scientist in Analytical Development
Introduction
Cancer remains one of the world’s greatest healthcare challenges, driving scientists to develop more effective and precise treatment approaches. Among the most promising innovations are cell therapies, which harness the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Behind these advances are scientists working to ensure these therapies are accurately characterized, consistently manufactured, and supported by robust analytical methods before they reach patients.Priyanka Joshi is an Associate Scientist in Analytical Development with experience supporting the development of multiple cell therapy programs, including CAR-T, CAR-NK, γδ T-cell, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies.In this interview, Priyanka shares the personal experiences that inspired her career, discusses the importance of analytical development in cell therapy, and reflects on the future of cancer treatment.
In Summary
- Inspired to pursue cancer research after losing a close family member to cancer at the age of six.
- Shares her journey from a small town in India to becoming an Associate Scientist in the United States.
- Discusses analytical development and its role in advancing innovative cell therapies.
- Explains cell therapy in simple terms for a broader audience.
- Offers advice for aspiring scientists and women pursuing careers in STEM.
Saurabh: Your journey into cancer research began with a deeply personal experience. Can you tell us about that?
Priyanka: I had an aunt who was like a mother to me, and she was diagnosed with cancer when I was six years old. I saw what she went through. Chemotherapy completely changed not just her life but also our entire family. Even as a child, I kept wondering why, despite so much research, there still wasn’t a cure and why the available treatments took such a tremendous toll on patients and their families. That experience inspired me to dedicate my life to cancer research. Today, I am grateful to work in the field of cell therapy, which has shown remarkable promise in treating certain cancers while potentially reducing some of the burden associated with conventional treatments. Although there are still challenges to overcome, I feel fortunate to contribute to analytical development, an area that plays a critical role in advancing these therapies toward patients.
Saurabh: Tell us about your childhood and growing up in Mahad, India.
Priyanka: I grew up in a small town called Mahad, located at the foothills of Fort Raigad in Maharashtra, India, surrounded by beautiful nature and rich history. From a young age, I was always curious and constantly asked ‘why’ about everything I saw, especially things related to biology. Looking back, I think that curiosity naturally led me toward science because science is all about understanding how things work.
Saurabh: What did your educational journey look like after completing your bachelor’s degree?
Priyanka: After completing my Bachelor of Technology in Chemical Engineering, I moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, along with a graduate certificate in Nanomedicine. During my studies, I became interested in targeted drug delivery and worked on synthesizing and characterizing nanoparticles to better understand how they could improve the delivery of therapeutics to tumors. I also worked as a Research Assistant developing molecular biosensors for diseases including COVID-19 and neurodegenerative disorders, which further strengthened my interest in translational biomedical research.
Saurabh: How has your professional journey evolved since then?
Priyanka: I began my career at SQZ Biotechnologies, where I supported analytical testing for cell therapy products and gained experience with a variety of analytical techniques. I later joined Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where I contributed to analytical development across multiple cell therapy programs, including CAR-T, CAR-NK, and γδ T-cell therapies. Today, I am an Associate Scientist at Obsidian Therapeutics, where I support the analytical development of an autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for solid tumors. What I enjoy most about analytical development is solving scientific problems and building assays that generate reliable data to support critical development decisions.
Saurabh: Many people have heard of chemotherapy, but fewer understand cell therapy. How would you explain it to someone without a scientific background?
Priyanka: I like to describe cell therapy as using the body’s own immune cells to fight cancer. In some cell therapies, immune cells are collected from a patient, enhanced or modified in the laboratory so they can better recognize cancer cells, and then returned to the patient. These cells are designed to help the immune system identify and attack cancer more effectively. It is an exciting and rapidly evolving area of medicine that has already changed the lives of many patients.
Saurabh: Why should people outside the scientific community care about the work you do?
Priyanka: Cancer affects not only patients but also entire families emotionally, mentally, and financially. It can impact anyone. Research into innovative therapies such as cell therapy offers hope for improving treatment options and outcomes. Knowing that my work contributes, even in a small way, to advancing these therapies is what makes it meaningful.
Saurabh: What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
Priyanka Joshi: One of the most rewarding aspects of my career has been seeing programs that I supported receive FDA clearance to enter clinical trials. The company I currently work for also has active clinical trials underway. Knowing that work performed in the laboratory contributes to therapies being evaluated for patients is incredibly meaningful and motivates me every day.
Saurabh: You have also been invited to review scientific manuscripts and serve on editorial boards. What does that recognition mean to you?
Priyanka: It means a great deal to me. It tells me that my scientific experience is valued by others in the field. It also gives me the opportunity to stay current with new discoveries while contributing to maintaining the quality of scientific literature. I consider it both an honor and a learning opportunity.
Saurabh: What advice would you give to aspiring scientists, particularly women and international students hoping to build careers in STEM?
Priyanka: Don’t be afraid to share your ideas. Every idea has the potential to solve a problem. Take opportunities even when they seem challenging, because you often discover your abilities by stepping outside your comfort zone. Finally, don’t be discouraged by experimental failures. Every experiment, whether successful or not, teaches you something valuable and helps you grow as a scientist.
Saurabh: Looking ahead, what do you hope your work will contribute to over the next several years?
Priyanka: I hope to see more patients benefit from innovative cell therapies, including treatments for solid tumors. More broadly, I hope we reach a point where hearing the word ‘cancer’ no longer immediately fills people with fear, but instead gives them confidence that effective treatment options continue to improve through scientific innovation.
Saurabh: What continues to motivate you on difficult days?
Priyanka: The memory of losing my aunt to cancer remains my greatest motivation. Every time I hear about another patient or family facing this disease, I am reminded why I chose this career. That childhood promise continues to inspire me to contribute to developing better therapies for patients around the world.
About Priyanka Joshi
Priyanka Ajit Joshi is an Associate Scientist in Analytical Development with expertise in cell therapy analytics. She specializes in potency assay development, flow cytometry, immune profiling, and product characterization, supporting the development of next-generation cell therapies. Through her work, she helps establish robust analytical strategies that enable product development, strengthen manufacturing processes, and support regulatory submissions. Passionate about translating scientific innovation into impactful therapies, Priyanka is committed to advancing analytical excellence to improve patient outcomes.
