Clinical Development Manager, AstraZeneca
Class of 2005
Alexandria Albanese joined AstraZeneca in 2013 and is currently a Clinical Development Manager overseeing global oncology clinical trials. Her core responsibilities include managing a cross-functional team of clinical experts to ensure the trial is delivered within an approved timeframe, budget and with quality to meet regulatory requirements.
During her undergraduate career at the University of Toronto, Albanese would observe the weekly MBiotech seminar series on Tuesday evenings. This exposure to the faculty, students and curriculum content solidified her decision to pursue the MBiotech program. Her co-op placement as a Study Delivery Coordinator gave her the opportunity to build the foundation knowledge of clinical trial operations within Canada.
Following graduation, Albanese was given the opportunity to remain with AstraZeneca in the capacity of a Clinical Development Associate. After a year, she transitioned into the role of a Clinical Development Associate Manager and obtained her Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) designation. She recently moved into her current role as a Clinical Development Manager and is working towards becoming a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
For Albanese, the MBiotech program helped to foster skills of teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking while building a sense of community within the University of Toronto. Her advice to prospective students: “Take the initiative to learn and contribute as much as possible during your time in the program and your co-op placement. Appreciate the value of your co-op placement and remain humble as you grow professionally.”