I will try to combine both science and work at a pharmaceutical production facility — Pharmacy Institute student

Since her first year of study, Mesroyan has participated in internships that have helped her better define her career path. 

"Within the framework of the course Botany, we visited Hankavan and Dilijan. There we tried to identify and collect the plants we were studying in their natural environment," she said.

Alongside her academic studies, internship opportunities have expanded significantly. By the fourth year, students have been given the opportunity to observe the work of Armenian pharmaceutical companies from within. Knarik and her classmates completed two-week internships at leading pharmaceutical companies, including Arpimed, Liqvor, and PharmaTech.

These visits allowed students to become familiar with the specifics of drug production and the focus areas of each company. 

"For example, Arpimed specializes in tablet production. We closely observed the entire process of producing Hydrocortisone — how tablets are manufactured, how the equipment operates, how specialists monitor the process, and how product quality is ensured at every stage," Knarik said.

She noted that Liqvor, where she also completed practical training, mainly produces sterile dosage forms such as eye drops and injectable solutions, while PharmaTech combines the production of both sterile and non-sterile dosage forms. 

"At each facility, we were introduced to the full production cycle — from the import of raw materials, their testing and quality control, to tablet manufacturing in production facilities, packaging, and release to pharmacies," the student emphasized.

The Institute of Pharmacy's laboratories are equipped with new-generation equipment, meaning that production technologies are already familiar to students.

"Within the framework of the course Pharmaceutical Technology, we use a small-scale tablet press and produce tablets ourselves," Knarik added, stressing that students also undertake internships in pharmacies, gaining a practical understanding of the responsibilities of a pharmacist.

One of the most remarkable chapters of Knarik's academic path is connected to science. Starting from her third year, she became involved in the institute's research activities to determine whether this field was right for her. The results were decisive. Today, she is a full member of a research group working on the project "Synthesis of Novel Optically Active α-Amino Acids via Glaser and Mannich Reactions, and the Development and Study of Short Peptides Based on Them as Chiral Organocatalysts." Within this project, she is attempting to synthesize non-proteinogenic amino acids containing an imidazole ring. Her graduation thesis is also focused on this direction.

According to Knarik, the research group has already succeeded in synthesizing and isolating a non-proteinogenic amino acid containing an imidazole ring. "These compounds are of great importance in the pharmaceutical field, as they are key structural components of antifungal, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory drugs," she said.

Practical training has also helped her clarify her future plans. She has decided to continue her studies in the master's program "Quality Control of Medicines." 

"I am very interested in the direction I am currently pursuing in the laboratory. I will try to combine both science and work at a pharmaceutical production facility," Mesroyan said with confidence.