Are you ready for the next part of our anniversary series? Our diverse international team has so much to offer. Meet Onysym, our Senior CTA.
When did you join GCT and how long have you been with the company?
I joined GCT 13Jan2025, so I have just recently celebrated one year with the company!
Could you tell us more about your role and your professional background?
My role is Sr. CTA, and my educational background was in Psychology. In general I am quite analytically minded; I have always been strong at Mathematics and have a second major in Anthropology.
My interest in research started with a serendipitous opportunity to be a volunteer research assistant after my graduation from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Supporting the research at the UNC Psychology Research Lab felt right and spoke to me more than continuing education to practice or study Psychology. Thus, I seized the chance to start my career at a NC-based midsize CRO and from there, have also worked at several of the largest CROs in the US, as well as on the Sponsor side at a Biotech company.
Within Clinical Research, I have directly supported studies, including Therapeutic Areas of oncology, medical devices, monoclonal antibody, and now rare disease / neurology. Most of these studies were International studies with 5+ countries involved. Over the past 10 years, I have been involved in most aspects of clinical research from start up to close out. I have mostly been a CTA and Sr. CTA, though for 18 months, I was a dedicated TMF Specialist. My areas of expertise are TMF management, Regulatory review for start up, and study system (CTMS and EDC) administration.
What aspects of GCT’s corporate culture are most important to you?
I really appreciate the dedication and flexibility, along with work-life balance. There have been several times where myself or a colleague log in early, or stays online late in their respective time zone to support a time-sensitive task’s completion. While I don’t expect it and it is not a common occurrence, it fosters a productive environment. At the same time, when circumstances allow, as well as during the holidays, it seems everyone is able to take a vacation and/or spend time with their loved ones.
Can you share a particularly memorable moment from your time at GCT?
I am very grateful to have been invited by the Sponsor to an Investigator Meeting held in Chicago in May 2025. This was my first time in Chicago as well as the first IM which I attended, despite almost a decade of supporting clinical research. It was a highlight to meet my colleagues and Sponsor team in person and present to them live on the Trial Master File during the meeting.
What have you learned during your time at GCT?
One of the things which have been exciting for me to learn at GCT, and put into practice, is CTMS study building. That is, implementing a GCT or Sponsor template into the system that we use on the back end, and making updates, ensuring everything is coded such that it functions for the end users – CRAs are able to create their Trip Reports within the system which come out neatly as a PDF for filing, Sponsor and Project Manager are able to review and sign within the system, PM and Project Support are able to reference each report and its status at any time.
How would you describe GCT ten years from now?
I think GCT’s presence in the North America region will grow, and who knows, maybe even another office will open in Research Triangle of North Carolina or another hub of research such as California. This team is the brightest of all which I’ve had the chance to be a part of, and I feel that will continue to reflect in the organization’s endeavors.
What do you think has enabled GCT to remain successful for 25 years?
I feel that the proficiency of the team and especially leadership in having expertise and staying in tune with how Clinical Research is changing, fostering organic growth, and developing mutually beneficial relationships in the Clinical Research space, has surely played a large role in GCT’s success.
What is something special about the people you work with at GCT?
We all have Clinical Research in common, yet come from quite different backgrounds and each with our own specialties and interests. It is truly a Global company in that sense, and one of our strengths. I am really enjoying getting to know my colleagues more and more.
What is something the company does today that would have surprised you when you first started?
With a couple of my colleagues currently on Maternity Leave, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well supported GCT employees are in not only their professional endeavors, but also in personal growth.
What is one thing your colleagues might be surprised to learn about you?
My father was a Physicist, University Professor, and advanced the study of lasers in his research at Penn State University.