Leena Smith is a fourth-year Pharmacology and Immunology student at the University of Strathclyde who applied to the Saltire Scholars Programme with a clear sense of curiosity - and uncertainty. Like many students approaching the end of their degree, Leena knew she wanted to gain real-world experience but was still exploring what direction she wanted her career to take and how her interests in science could translate beyond academia.
When she learned about the Saltire Scholars Programme, it stood out as an opportunity to step outside the classroom and into a professional environment where she could contribute meaningfully, challenge herself, and grow both personally and professionally. For Leena, Saltire Scholars represented a chance to test her capabilities in the real world and gain exposure to roles and pathways she hadn’t previously encountered.
As a student with strong interests in both life sciences and business, Leena was particularly drawn to opportunities that sat between the two. This led her to secure an international internship that aligned closely with her ambitions - working at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and impact.
In summer 2025, Leena completed an eight-week internship with Project Insulin, a nonprofit biotech organisation based in Boston, USA, focused on tackling insulin affordability through the development of a low-cost biosimilar. Working as Special Assistant to the Executive Director, Leena was immersed in almost every aspect of the organisation’s work, gaining rare exposure to senior decision-making within an early-stage biotech environment.
Her role combined research, strategy, and communication. Leena supported fundraising efforts through grant research and writing, contributed to outreach and stakeholder engagement, and sat in on regulatory meetings where she learned first-hand about the complex process of bringing a biosimilar product to market. She was also involved in discussions around the recruitment of a Chief Scientific Officer — an experience that gave her insight into leadership decisions at a strategic level and how scientific, regulatory, and commercial considerations come together in practice.
Rather than observing from the sidelines, Leena was trusted to contribute to work that mattered and to play an active role in projects that supported the organisation’s momentum and long-term goals.
Leena was an absolutely spectacular addition to our team. It was so clear working with her that we need to expand our team to include more operations help. I couldn’t have asked for a better Scholar. Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation does a fantastic job at vetting Scholars. Project Insulin has never had a more motivated and qualified summer intern, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience.
For Leena, the impact of the Saltire Scholars experience was both personal and professional. On a personal level, the programme significantly increased her confidence - particularly in professional and networking environments - and helped her find her voice in meetings alongside experienced professionals. Professionally, it strengthened her research, communication, and strategic thinking skills, while broadening her understanding of the range of careers available at the intersection of life sciences and business. Being based in Boston also opened doors to major industry events and networking opportunities, including attendance at the BIO International Convention, where Leena connected with professionals from across the global biotech sector and gained insight into a wide range of career journeys.
This internship pushed me to grow in ways I could never have anticipated. Professionally, I developed stronger research and communication skills, finding my voice in meetings and learning how to navigate professional spaces at an international level. On a personal level, the thing I am particularly proud of is the confidence I built in networking. Before this summer I would have found it daunting to strike up conversations with senior professionals, however by the end, I was not only initiating these conversations, but I was making meaningful connections.
The fully funded nature of the internship removed financial barriers that might otherwise have made an international opportunity impossible, reinforcing the programme’s accessibility and commitment to leveling the playing field.
“Without the Saltire Scholars Programme, I would not have had an amazing eight weeks in Boston… I’ve made friendships I’ll carry with me for a lifetime and experiences and memories that are invaluable.”
Looking back, Leena describes the experience as transformative - not only for the skills and experience gained, but for the clarity it brought to her future ambitions. She now sees possibilities at the intersection of healthcare, innovation, and impact that she may not have previously considered or known existed.
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The Saltire Scholars Programme is Entrepreneurial Scotland's flagship programme designed to find, grow and connect students with the ambition and potential of becoming future leaders for Scotland.