By Alicia Tran

Graphic design by Raymond Zhang

“I was always really interested in science and understanding the pathogenesis of diseases,” recalls Aravin, reflecting on the roots of his academic journey. “I thought doing a PhD would be a good way to develop skills in that area—and eventually work in industry.” This curiosity became a driving force behind a journey that has taken Aravin from the lab benches of St. Michael’s Hospital to a career at the intersection of science, strategy, and communication.

Choosing where to pursue a PhD was a pivotal decision. For Aravin, the Institute of Medical Science (IMS) stood out because of its research diversity in both basic science and clinical research. “IMS has so many different research programs—cancer, cardiovascular disease, psychiatry, and neuroscience,” he explains. As he navigated possible research avenues, he was drawn to the field of chronic disease and the work being conducted by Dr. Philip Marsden at St. Michael’s Hospital. Under Dr. Marsden’s mentorship, Aravin delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of arteries, veins, and capillaries.¹ His doctoral research focused on how these cells respond to stress in ways that mirror human blood flow. The experience didn’t just sharpen his technical skills—it helped shape how he solves problems and approaches collaboration across disciplines in his current work.

As his PhD progressed, Aravin began to think about what would come next. Like many graduate students, he admits that during the early days, he did not know what he wanted to do. While he once considered becoming a professor or working in pharmaceuticals, he was drawn to science communications—a field that combined his interest in research with the opportunity to collaborate with clinicians and industry professionals. “I never thought I would be in scientific communications—I was more curious about the business side of science at the time,” Aravin remarks. However, his growing curiosity of the field eventually led him toward a path he hadn’t initially considered. 

Today, Aravin works as a Science Communications Specialist at Boston Scientific, a role that blends scientific knowledge with strategic impact. One of his favourite aspects of this role is tactically piecing together data and evidence as a story, while ensuring it aligns with the goals of the company. In many ways, this role fosters Aravin’s entrepreneurial spirit—shaping how scientific work is understood and how it can be best communicated to different stakeholders.

Aravin helps translate complex research findings into engaging narratives for various audiences including healthcare professionals, scientists, and internal teams. Aravin mentions that this is accomplished by wearing different hats and adapting to each group’s priorities: clinicians want to understand how data affects patients and their workflow, marketing teams focus on how findings support the company’s strategy and values, and research and development teams emphasize device performance and operator needs. Aravin also highlighted that evidence is at the foundation of science communications, providing a comprehensive picture that allows him to communicate data in a way that fulfills the goals of each team. Together, his ability to adapt his evidence-based communication style to varying audiences has become a key strength to enhance understanding and engagement. 

One recent project that Aravin is proud of was contributing to a pre-clinical study comparing the company’s cardiac device to a competitor product. He played a key role in planning and executing experiments, analyzing data, and working on the full manuscript, which earned recognition from colleagues and leadership teams. “What made that project special was the collaborative effort,” he says. “It involved people from engineering, marketing, legal, and other departments. Seeing how their input shaped the outcome was rewarding.” This experience reinforced the value of collaboration across disciplines to drive scientific innovation. 

Despite common misconceptions, the field of science communications isn’t confined to a desk. Aravin has had several hands-on opportunities to engage with engineers and scientists directly to investigate device features that can impact operator handling and procedure outcomes. He also found interest in the clinical side of his work where he interacts frequently with physicians. For instance, he has had the chance to observe live simulated cases of surgical ablations and left atrial appendage occlusions. This has allowed him to gain firsthand insight into clinical workflow, as well as a deeper understanding for how specific devices may be implemented within the clinic to improve patient care. These opportunities deepened his appreciation for how scientific communication connects directly to real-world clinical practice. 

When reflecting on how his doctoral training shapes his work today, Aravin highlights the cross-disciplinary mindset it instilled. His research allowed him to explore engineering principles through his work with modeling blood flow, providing him with a foundation that extended beyond traditional biomedical science. This blend of perspectives allowed Aravin to understand the interplay between engineering and science and appreciate how that intersection influences the way scientific information is generated and interpreted. He now applies this lens when adapting his communications material to the specific teams he supports. This interdisciplinary grounding continues to guide Aravin’s work, enabling him to translate data into formats that resonate across diverse fields.

Transitioning from academia to industry came with its challenges, however, Aravin considers every step a valuable experience. “I’m not using all of my scientific training in molecular biology in my current role, but I’ve added clinical and technical knowledge on top of what I did during my PhD,” Aravin reflects. “It’s given me a really interesting perspective for my future goals.” He encourages other graduate students to view every experience as a stepping stone, even if it doesn’t perfectly align with their long-term interests. Developing soft skills—like communication, collaboration, and adaptability—can be just as important as subject-matter expertise in industry roles. In his view, these broader skills often shape fulfilling career paths.

For current IMS students, Aravin’s message is one of exploration and optimism. He encourages students to pursue opportunities both within and outside their research expertise, noting that each experience contributes to personal and professional growth. He also reminds students that career paths don’t always follow a linear path—interests can shift after a conversation, a new connection, or an unexpected opportunity. As for success, Aravin defines it by progress. “If you’re growing in your role, learning new things, developing new relationships, that should be the definition of success,” he says. Aravin’s journey from the lab to science communications is a reminder that research can lead to more than one career trajectory—with curiosity and adaptability, it can be the foundation for impactful work beyond the lab.

References

1. Krüger-Genge A, Blocki A, Franke RP, Jung F. Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019;20(18)