Q&A: Applying generative AI to R&D innovation at J&J

We’re leading where medicine is going at J&J, not only by accelerating next-generation innovation but by nurturing the next generation to lead.

Four years out of grad school, for example, Senior Analyst Cognitive Automation Pooja S. is already at the forefront of her field—applying advanced generative AI to support breakthroughs in R&D.

Find out more about her unique career path in the following Q&A, and explore AI-related roles at J&J if you’re ready to create your own.

Q: What's your educational background?

A: I studied electronics and communication during college in India, where I was introduced to image processing. That led me to think about data science as a career. After investing a lot of time and energy learning about ML and AI frameworks as well as computer vision, I decided to take the next step and apply to NYU, where I went on to earn my master’s degree in data science in 2021. I also have Python master-level certification.

Q: Within the field of data science, whose work has influenced or inspired you?

A: My exploration of data science has been a journey, that’s for sure, and I’ve been inspired by many, many different teachers and thinkers along the way. Still, there are two—Andrej Karpathy and Fei Fei Li, both computer scientists—who really stand out.

Andrej’s work is particularly inspiring to me. His practical applications of ML theory, his ability to make extremely complex topics seem accessible, his bridging of research and real-world applications—these are the kinds of things I’m trying to do all of the time in my work with J&J.

Q: What has been your proudest achievement or experience since joining J&J?

A: I’m still so new to the company, so this is a hard one, but I’m proud of my experience and exposure in terms of adaptation and advancements in generative AI. True, I had expertise in the deep learning domain before joining J&J. But now I’m using generative AI to enhance my team’s capabilities in ways that can improve the capabilities of other teams, magnifying the impact of my team in turn.

Q: What has surprised you the most about J&J?

A: How fast-paced the teams are! I think there’s the perception that things move slowly in healthcare in general, but that’s definitely not the case here.

Coming from more of a research setting, the idea that we could innovate with this kind of speed was pretty eye-opening for me. It has also shown me how establishing timeliness and decision-making frameworks early in the process helps you address obstacles later on.

The other interesting thing I’ve gotten to see is how Our Credo comes into play in practice—how it factors into every decision we make, big or small.

Q: Have you had any opportunities for professional development so far?

A: I was surprised—and really happy—when people on my team encouraged me to attend a conference hosted by AWS just a few months after I arrived at J&J. It gave me an opportunity to network, meet industry leaders and deepen my understanding of generative AI. The conference was specifically for women who are leading generative AI initiatives in healthcare, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

Q: How would you describe your experience as a newcomer at J&J?

A: Having shared values makes the transition easier. It fosters a greater sense of inclusion and belonging within the team than you probably see at other organizations, for example.

One thing that has amazed me is that the people who initially interviewed me at J&J continue to check in with me. It’s as if they’re letting me know, “We’ll be there for you if you need us.” I'm also grateful for my manager's guidance and support in navigating new initiatives, and for providing me with constructive feedback whenever I've needed it.

Q: What do you want to have achieved, say, 10 years from now?

A: I want to be able to look back on my career and say, “You know what? I helped improve accessibility and health outcomes for people in underserved regions around the world.” That’s what matters to me. It's the biggest reason I joined J&J.

I also hope to have played a role in facilitating development of AI-driven diagnostic tools that help detect diseases earlier and make a difference in people’s lives. I’d love to have helped streamline patient care, too, because I think there are opportunities to do so with enhanced large language models and natural language understanding tools for medical professionals. All of those would be proud milestones for me.

Q: If you didn’t work in tech, what would you be doing?

A: If I wasn’t in tech, I’d be a professional musician—I'm trained in Carnatic music, which is one of the main subgenres of Indian classical music. As a vocalist and a violinist, I’m been trained by veteran gurus in Indian classical music since childhood, and I'm grateful for their many teachings about music as well as life. My parents also played a pivotal role: identifying my talent for music early on and supporting me to pursue it with all of my heart. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their encouragement and unwavering belief.

During the pandemic, I started putting on virtual performances and concerts, but now I’m getting back to live performances, and I continue to turn to music as a stress-reliever away from work. I especially love exploring manodharma—or on-the-spot improvisation—in Carnatic music.

By now, my passion for music is well known at work—after all, my manager, a coworker and I recently held a couple of impromptu jam sessions right here at J&J!

Q: Do you have hobbies outside of work?

A: This might surprise you—I mean, it surprises me—but I’ve become a real skiing enthusiast. I only picked up the sport a few years ago, and now I’m sort of addicted to it. I like the altitude, for one, but I think there’s more to it than that.

For example, I think skiing shows you a level of control that you’re always capable of, but that gets locked away until you really push yourself to go outside of the limits you’ve drawn. Skiing brings that out of me.

Or maybe it’s just that I'm a clumsy person—and it’s nice to be surprised by the flexibility and agility of your own body once in a while? Maybe. It’s probably a little bit of both.