{"681166":{"#nid":"681166","#data":{"type":"news","title":"The Scientific Method of Success","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIs there a tried-and-true formula to drive achievement in the corporate world? For many College of Sciences alumni, the surprising answer lies in science fundamentals\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;particularly the scientific method.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWe spoke to three alumni about the benefits of applying a scientific approach to business.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ENavigating the Startup Landscape\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThomas Kim\u003C\/strong\u003E graduated from Georgia Tech in 1992 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in chemistry, intending to pursue a career in academia. Instead, after earning a master\u2019s in biochemistry and a law degree, then working as a biotech attorney, he is now president and CEO of two life science startups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe entire startup company process can be construed as an exercise in the scientific method,\u201d says Kim. \u201cIn the early stage, you start with\u0026nbsp;preclinical data and a thesis on how that translates to human disease. Next, you pressure test everything.\u0026nbsp;Depending on confidence in your results, you continue to invest and move the program forward to translate your initial idea into a potential human therapeutic, or you pivot to a different application or drug in the pipeline.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne of his current companies, Epivario aims to develop treatments for preventing relapse in drug and alcohol addiction and PTSD.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe\u2019re in the preclinical development stage, requiring constant testing \u2013 and retesting.\u0026nbsp;It\u2019s an arduous, ongoing task where not everything works the first time \u2013 or the 50th.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the fast-moving start-up world, decisions must be made quickly and, most importantly, accurately to stay ahead of the competition. Kim points to a background in the scientific method as foundational to making crucial business decisions. \u201cWhether you\u2019re responsible for research and development or company strategy, it\u2019s a key skill to take deep analysis and translate it into quality decision making.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOn a broader level, Kim admits he sees his work more as a mission than a job.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI feel fortunate to work in a field where our efforts can improve human lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Lab to Leadership\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter graduating with a bachelor\u2019s degree in microbiology from Washington State University,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMaureen Metcalfe\u003C\/strong\u003E (M.S. BIO 2014) scored her dream job as a CDC electron microscopist in 2007, then enrolled part-time at Georgia Tech to earn a master\u2019s in biology. As part of her master\u2019s requirements, she also conducted research in\u0026nbsp;Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EIngeborg Schmidt-Krey\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Elaboratory, where she attempted to create conditions to crystallize a protein involved in Alzheimer\u0027s pathogenesis. Between her full-time job, academic studies, and work in the laboratory, she averaged more than 70 hours of work each week.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI lived the scientific method \u2013\u0026nbsp;especially the test your hypothesis part,\u201d says Metcalfe. \u201cOver four years, I had 600 failures.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThose failures taught her resilience and time management \u2013 skills vital to her current consulting career.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s more ingrained than step by step, but almost every time there is a problem on a client project, I rely on certain aspects of the scientific method,\u201d says Metcalfe. \u0022I first observe, research, and analyze the data, re-tool if necessary, and then apply that data to make an informed recommendation to the client.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOver the years, the perseverance she developed in the laboratory has helped her push on to complete complicated client projects.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI think the scientific process and what it gives us is unique,\u201d says Metcalfe. \u201cScience gives you the skill set to keep asking questions and not accept a failure or setback.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMetcalfe can even apply aspects of her career trajectory to principles inherent in the scientific method.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cBuilding on what you learn and changing course is inherent in the scientific method. I realized I wanted different challenges in my life, and I left a career in government to find them. Taking my science degree into new work situations has been very gratifying. The foundation I built in science serves me well in the challenging, fast-paced, and exciting world of consulting.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBuilding Career Success\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA night out with friends upended and redirected\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EChrista Sobon\u2019s\u003C\/strong\u003E carefully constructed career plans. After earning psychology and history degrees with a minor in French from Emory University, Sobon, (M.S. PSY 1996) came to Georgia Tech to build a career in academia. Those plans changed when she talked to a friend\u2019s wife at a party who told her that Accenture liked to hire smart people who could solve problems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter two years at Tech in a quantitative program focused on methodology and research seeped in the scientific method, Sobon was confident of her problem-solving abilities. Forgoing academia, she accepted a job at Accenture and has spent more than 29 years leading programs that drive business success at companies including All Connect, Netspend, and Jabian Consulting. Currently, she is operations management senior director at Cox Automotive.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve been able to use elements of the scientific method in every place I\u2019ve worked,\u201d says Sobon. \u201cThe scientific method equips you with critical thinking skills and promotes a methodical approach to tackling challenges that works well in the corporate world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs a program manager for most of her career, she cites forming a hypothesis and analyzing the data as the most critical steps when figuring out how to get a product to market.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe gather data in terms of understanding the customer pain points, then form the hypothesis (or in our case a new product) designed to solve that particular problem. When we believe we have a workable solution, we bring that product to market,\u201d says Sobon.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe explains that they rarely stick the landing on the first try.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve led teams where we were convinced the customer would love our product\u2026when the customer did NOT love our product, we would then refine, test in the market again, and continue to iterate until we launched a successful product \u2013 basically a mini-version of the scientific method.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESobon is a strong believer in a scientific education \u2013 and Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe rigor that you learn at Georgia Tech about approaching problem-solving through the scientific method has so many applications. These skills are transferable across a variety of fields and enable individuals to analyze complex problems, develop innovative solutions, and make data-driven decisions, all of which are essential in business today.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom biotech startups to consulting and corporate leadership, three College of Sciences alumni share how applying the scientific method encourages career growth and business success.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"From biotech startups to consulting and corporate leadership, three College of Sciences alumni share how applying the scientific method encourages career growth and business success."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-03-14 18:57:42","changed_gmt":"2025-03-17 19:31:22","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-03-14T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-03-14T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"676566":{"id":"676566","type":"image","title":"Thomas Kim, Maureen Metcalfe, and Christa Sobon explain how they leverage the scientific method to fuel career success.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThomas Kim, Maureen Metcalfe, and Christa Sobon explain how they leverage the scientific method to fuel career success.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1742233258","gmt_created":"2025-03-17 17:40:58","changed":"1742233828","gmt_changed":"2025-03-17 17:50:28","alt":"Three headshots of a man and two women","file":{"fid":"260371","name":"Scientific-method-alumni.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-method-alumni.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-method-alumni.png","mime":"image\/png","size":2996570,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-method-alumni.png?itok=kSaKxDnu"}},"676567":{"id":"676567","type":"image","title":"Steps of the Scientific Method","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESteps of the Scientific Method\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1742233362","gmt_created":"2025-03-17 17:42:42","changed":"1742233362","gmt_changed":"2025-03-17 17:42:42","alt":"Chart depicting the steps of the Scientific Method","file":{"fid":"260372","name":"Scientific-Method-Graphic.001--1-.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-Method-Graphic.001--1-.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-Method-Graphic.001--1-.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1157722,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/17\/Scientific-Method-Graphic.001--1-.png?itok=yVI5Awgo"}}},"media_ids":["676566","676567"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/advisory-board","title":"College of Sciences Advisory Board"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"506","name":"alumni"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, Writer\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}