Her Story
About Vrushali
Vrushali Bodke serves as a Senior Research Associate at Gilead Sciences in Foster City, California. In this role, she focuses on preclinical and clinical formulation, developing drug formulations suitable for dosing in animal models such as rats, dogs, monkeys, and rabbits to assess molecule potency ahead of clinical trials. With more than 1.5 years in the biopharma field, she began as a Scientist 3 contractor before converting to full-time status in her current position. Bodke holds a Bachelor's in Pharmacy earned in India in 2021 and a Master's in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Georgia completed in 2024. She attributes her success to her family and a belief in destiny, noting her gratitude for contributing to formulations that can save millions of lives. Bodke values principles and ethics in both her professional and personal life, including standing for truth and doing the right thing. In addition to her career, she founded a small NGO in India during 2018-19 while in undergrad, where she educated women on health and hygiene through visits to schools and orphanages, and she plans to restart and expand this work to the United States.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vrushali
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would like to say maybe universe in my family. Because I do believe in destiny, and I think I was destined to do something which will change humankind. And I'm grateful that I work in biopharma where my team is able to help formulate final formulation where it can save millions of lives.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I really think that everyone should believe in themselves. There are times where we self-doubt, but I think wherever that person is, like wherever I am, is not easy to get there and if I can be here, which means I can do much more in my life. So I believe that everyone should believe in themselves and trust their work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stand for yourself, believe yourself, and you are best, and you got it, you're gonna do it. There is a reason why I am here. You will be able to make it work.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think biggest challenge is sometimes we work a lot on particular molecule and it didn't work. That's when we feel really sad about it because we have put so much effort and tried to see how good that molecule will work, but eventually sometimes we get that molecule is not working and then we have to start with zero again.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think everyone should have principles and ethics in their day-to-day life, and I do like to follow them, and I do admire people who do have their own principles and ethics. Standing for truth or standing for right thing. It's one of our principles here.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.