Bend+Research

Bend research lab The field trip outside of the lab was a very enjoyable and informative experience. I am very glad that we were able to partake in this tour that allowed us as students to see in real life the applications of the experimental and didactic knowledge that we are working so hard to master. There were three things that really stood out in my mind from this experience. The sheer size of the operation. The scope of actual research that is being performed there. And the people and their qualifications that make the operation so successful.

I was very surprised to find out the size of the facility in Tumalo. The building is a sprawling labyrinth of corridors and laboratories. To see the front facade gives you no concept for how much area the building actually covers. And still every corner of every lab is still filled almost to completion with equipment and supplies. I had no idea that the company had two other buildings in the industrial area in north east bend. The buildings are equally impressive from the outward facade however the feel inside I would speculate is much more of an industrial feel. I have not been to BRPPD, but at Corporate Place there is a more industrial feel, just like you imagine. It's a nice facility with offices and all, but it's basically a pole-barn style factory floor, although with cool sciencey shiny instruments being engineered and tested inside.

Learning about what the company actually produces was fascinating. I had no idea prior to our tour of what went on behind the rural home facade. For all I knew they could have been doing mad science and torturing monkeys. I was impressed that they do so many different types of science there. I was impressed with the diversity of fields of research. And I was very surprised that they really perform such a focused small little piece of research in very specific niches of a much larger scientific process. Their special focus serves as a reminder to me of how big and complicated the pharmaceutical industry is. If there are opportunities for what seems like such a focused specialization, that's an indication the larger enterprise is enormous.

The people were wonderful. I am sure there were some whom were annoyed at our intrusion however the ones who I had contact with were very informative and gracious. The different levels of education represented from BS MS and PhD surprised me. Many job opportunities were afforded those with a BS and that fills my little heart with hope for the education that I am pursuing even if my goal is in a different field. Even though my knowledge in the realm of chemistry is lackluster other areas I perform mush stronger and maybe if my career dream doesn’t pan out then there is hope for finding work in an equally challenging and rewarding field. The "hard sciences" are one area where there are opportunities for people with Bachelor degrees. I am a fan of other disciplines, too, but I think it's pretty well known that a B.S. in psychology, or literature, is less connected with real job opportunities.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.