Director of Clinical Operations Turns Discoveries into Real Tools

Name: Roberta Gatta

PhD: Molecular Bacteriology, University of Gdansk, 2024

What is your current job?

I am the Director of Clinical Operations for Oncoswab in San Francisco, California.

For my job, I lead clinical trials, interact with investors, build partnerships with research institutions, and write grants.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love knowing that the work we do can directly improve people’s lives. I love bridging science and medicine—taking ideas from the lab and turning them into practical tools that help doctors detect cancer earlier and more easily.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Persistence. Research rarely goes as planned, and I learned how to stay focused, adapt, and keep pushing forward despite setbacks.

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I participated in EU-organized courses aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among researchers. These programs emphasized innovation, strategic thinking, and the translation of scientific ideas into real-world applications.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

I met the founders of OncoSwab at the EU TalentON, a competition for top scientists in EU.

PhD graduate ➡️ Business Analyst in VC ➡️ Director of clinical research

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Start by learning the basics of finance and entrepreneurship. Understanding how to manage a budget, pitch an idea, and build a sustainable business is just as important as the science.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

At first, deciding not to pursue a career in academia made me feel guilty—I had invested so much time in research and was surrounded by people who followed that path. But over time, I realized that I could make just as much, if not more, of an impact outside academia.

Now I work on turning scientific discoveries into real tools that help patients, and that feels deeply meaningful. In the end, it was the right decision for me.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Go for it. Leaving academia is not a one way door. You can always return, but stepping out can lead to bigger impact, faster growth, and unexpected opportunities.

Your PhD gave you the tools. Now use them boldly.

And for those interested, what was your main area of research?

I explored how bacteria “talk” and work together—sharing signals, resources, and even defenses—so they can survive and outcompete other microbes. Tackling that project was tricky, so I honed problem‑solving and project‑management skills alongside the lab work. Now, as the clinical trial coordinator at OncoSwab, I design and run patient studies.