When BMS acquired RayzeBio in 2024, our product pipeline expanded to include radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs), an innovative approach to cancer treatment that aims to deliver radioisotopes directly to cancer cells while seeking to spare healthy cells and minimizing side effects.
Having RPTs in our portfolio also expanded possibilities for professionals with experience in radiopharmaceuticals or small molecules to join RayzeBio’s fast-growing teams at its headquarters in San Diego and new manufacturing site in Indianapolis.
This opportunity to be part of our talented, high-achieving teams united by a common mission led Leah Gajecki, Scientist I, Radiochemistry, and Christopher (Chris) Nikodem, Senior Director, Engineering to relocate from the East Coast to San Diego and Indianapolis, respectively. Learn about the career paths that led them there, and how radiopharmaceuticals can open new career possibilities for people with diverse professional backgrounds.
Finding a Path to Her Passion
Leah’s path to RayzeBio, where she was hired in September 2024, began with a PhD in inorganic chemistry followed by postdoc positions at Brookhaven National Lab and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Leah’s postdoc experiences helped her find her passion. “As I found out more about radiopharmaceuticals and how we can use inorganic chemistry to help make these novel therapeutics and solve these problems, I knew I wanted to keep doing this for the rest of my career.” So when she found an opening at RayzeBio in San Diego, a cross-country move from New York City was no obstacle.
From Military Service to the Forefront of Drug Development Technology
When he joined RayzeBio in August 2024, Chris brought a diverse range of experience that included five years in the Navy. “During our first deployment I found my interest in engineering and maintenance, and that's carried me through my career,” said Chris. His Navy service was followed by positions at several pharmaceutical companies, a combination he credits for leading him to his current role.
The chance to work at the cutting edge of science was a strong draw. “Radiopharmaceuticals are at the forefront of technology. That has really excited me to be here,” he added.
Chris also described a supportive environment for former service members looking to translate their military skills to civilian jobs, noting that “veteran recruiting for BMS is a priority. There is a veterans’ network here with mentorship programs to help you see where your skills align, and speak with someone that has lived through that process themselves.”
Discovering an Accelerated Path to Progress
Leah describes her transition from academia to industry as “a huge eye-opener”—and one that confirmed her career choice. “In academia you work on one drug, one pipeline, and it takes a couple of years. But at RayzeBio, we have this amazing team pushing through a robust discovery and development portfolio at the same time. It’s been impressive to see how efficient everything is and how quickly everything moves,” she said.
Chris was also surprised at the speed of progress at the Indianapolis site. “I worked for a few other large organizations where we had a lot more bureaucracy and decisions were made several levels up. Here, we’re able to have an impact on a lot of things at the plant and create impact at every level,” he said.
Doing Meaningful Work in a Culture of Connection
Both Leah and Chris describe the culture at RayzeBio as collaborative, open, and welcoming. “At the San Diego site, everyone’s very accessible. Our president, Ben [Hickey], knows everyone by name and makes time for all the employees. Everyone's on the same playing field,” Leah said.
They also see the power of the personal connections employees have to RayzeBio’s mission. “I think everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, whether it’s a loved one who’s been diagnosed or they’ve lost family or friends to the disease,” said Leah. “For me, any way I can use chemistry to help people is great. It’s my passion, and I can also feel good because I know that everything we do at this company is for the patients.”
A Growth Opportunity for Diverse Disciplines
For Leah, the multidisciplinary nature of RayzeBio’s work is a growth driver for its people and products. “Radiopharmaceuticals is a newer field, so most people don’t know much about it. I feel that a lot of people who thrive here aren’t radiochemists. We also need chemists, we need biologists,” said Leah. What’s really important, she noted, is that “they’re interested in learning about the field, they want to know more and learn more.”
Chris has a similar viewpoint. “We have so many departments: radiochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, all forms of engineering. We’re always looking for people who are experienced in the FDA or CFR part 11. These are all very valuable skills to help us get to commercialization,” he explained. “Each day brings a new challenge, and we’re always looking for good people to help us overcome those challenges.”
Building a Bright Future for Transforming Patients’ Lives
Leah and Chris both see a bright future ahead for RayzeBio and the radiopharmaceuticals industry. “The therapies and theranostic drugs [radioactive compounds that combine imaging and treatment] are really taking off. This makes it a very exciting field to get into now,” said Leah.
Chris described it as “the true next wave of technology.” There is a lot of investment in radiopharma overall, and that’s going to create a lot of good opportunities. RayzeBio has the goal of being the number one radiopharmaceutical company in the world, and my goal is to help us get there.”
