Alumni Spotlights are Q&A's with former Brandeis student-athletes, across a myriad of disciplines, as they reflect on their Brandeis experience and how it has shaped their lives today. Read more spotlight features here.
Name: Sarita Biswas '16
Job Title: Manager, Business Development
Institution: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
A second-generation Brandeis student-athlete, Sarita Biswas is originally from Bedford, Massachusetts. Her father, Sera Biswas ‘84, was a member of the tennis team in the early 1980s. Sarita was a four-year member of the women’s team. She served as captain of the squad as a senior. Sarita was a doubles specialist throughout her career, earning one UAA Athlete of the Week honor. She graduated from Brandeis with a BS and MS in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, receiving highest honors on her thesis entitled “Regulation of tyrosine kinases Src, Abl, and their ancestors.”
After graduating, Sarita started working in Business Development at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and then transitioned to healthcare consulting and worked at a boutique firm, Health Advances, for two years. Sarita returned to Alnylam in 2019, and has remained in the Business Development group since then. She will be leaving her job this summer and attending Harvard Business School in the fall.
Describe your overall experience as a student-athlete. What does it mean to you now/what did it mean to you while you were an undergraduate?
I started playing tennis a bit later in life, and wasn’t sure I would have the opportunity to play in college. I was very lucky that my coaches took a chance on me, giving me an incredible experience to grow as both a person and a player throughout my 4 years at Brandeis!
What originally attracted you to Brandeis as a student-athlete?
When I was applying to colleges, I was focused on schools that had a strong science program and offered a tight-knit community. Brandeis provided both of these, and when I met the tennis team I was instantly drawn to the coaches and players. They were all very warm and welcoming and I knew it would be a great fit.
How did your time as a student and student-athlete at Brandeis prepare you for your career and life after college?
As a student-athlete, I was very busy, nearly every minute of the day was occupied with either practice, travel, or homework. This forced me to develop good time management skills, which is something I still rely on in both my career and life.
Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis Student-Athletes?
Embrace the craziness! Looking back, I am so thankful that I got to play a sport I loved alongside some of my closest friends every day. Being part of a team is something to enjoy while you can, and that I miss now post-college.
What do you miss most about your Brandeis experience?
I miss living within walking distance of my best friends! It was amazing to be able to walk down the hall and hang out with my teammates and friends, who are now spread out among many different cities in the US.
What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduated?
I was recently accepted into business school, which has been my biggest accomplishment since graduating. I am excited about the opportunity to go back to school and learn how to become a better leader, which will no doubt help me in my career in the future.
Interview lightly edited for clarity