Maura Burke

What is your role at Enanta?
I was recently promoted to a Clinical Trial Associate.

Why did you join Enanta?
I was living on Cape Cod working at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. I really wanted to move to the city and expand my horizons and I knew I wanted to continue to work in science in some capacity.

How did you get into the Clinical Research field?
By chance…or fate, however you want to look at it. I choose to believe there are no accidents in life. I came into science through the back door. I was working as an Executive Assistant and really wanted to get involved in the operational side of clinical trials. I worked my tail off for a few years to prove myself and I made it happen.

What do you think is the most important challenge for the biopharmaceutical industry?
Currently it is the significant supply chain disruptions we are facing. It’s difficult to conduct clinical trials when supplies are low, out of stock or simply unavailable. We’re having to think quickly on our feet to adapt to a changing landscape.

What would be the one word to describe the team at Enanta?
Resolute

What is the best career advice you got when starting out?
“Know your worth.” Criticism and rejection can take the wind out of your sails. If you really understand your worth on a gut level, and you align your head with your heart, I believe there are no limits to what you can accomplish!

What did you like to do when you were young that you wish you could do more as an adult?
Play! In particular – skiing, running, hiking.

What do you do for fun when you’re not at work?
I am a powder hound! I absolutely love skiing. I started skiing when I was 4 years old and have never stopped (except for when I tore my knee apart on a mogul run a few years ago but post-surgery and physical therapy I am back at it). I spend most of my weekends up in NH and Maine skiing. I save all my vacation time for ski trips out west (CO, UT, WY, CA, NV). Last year I bought I silver ski-suit on a lark and wore it to the mountains just for fun and it was a huge hit. My friends tell me I look like something from outer space! I don’t like the summer and I look forward to skiing season all year long!