At the helm of the bachelor of pharmaceutical science program is a dynamic duo: Satyanarayana Goda, PhD, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences, and Yifan Lu ’19, PhD, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

Growing up in a family with a pharmacist and a high school chemistry teacher, Dr. Lu developed a deep respect for science and its ability to improve lives.

“As a child with occasional health challenges, I saw firsthand how medicines could restore comfort and hope — and how many diseases still lacked effective treatments,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed building and fixing things with my own hands, so pharmaceutical sciences became a natural way to combine creativity, curiosity and problem-solving.”

Dr. Lu wanted to both understand how drugs work and help translate discoveries into safe, effective therapies that reach patients worldwide. Similarly, a deep curiosity of how drugs are designed drew Dr. Goda to the field.

“Witnessing how effective treatments restored health and hope for loved ones inspired me to explore the science that makes such outcomes possible,” Dr. Goda said. “I’m captivated by how even the smallest molecular modification can significantly influence a drug’s performance; it feels like solving a complex scientific puzzle.”

Pacific’s pharmaceutical science program is designed to give students extensive hands-on training through laboratory research and experiential learning. Students will gain a deep understanding of the scientific foundations of drug development, equipping them for successful careers in the pharmaceutical industry.

“I love Pacific’s close-knit, collaborative environment where faculty and students work together to bridge science and real-world applications,” Dr. Lu said.

Dr. Goda is originally from India and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kakatiya University, followed by a doctor of philosophy in pharmaceutical sciences from Texas Tech University.

The People’s Republic of China is Dr. Lu’s homeland. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fudan University in Shanghai. A proud Pacific alumnus, he earned his doctor of philosophy in pharmaceutical and chemical sciences in 2019.

The pair have firsthand experience with the drug development pipeline — from early testing and formulation to production. They have also navigated the rigorous process of securing regulatory approval for new drugs from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency and China’s National Medical Products Administration.

Both share an appreciation for the culinary arts, viewing cooking as a dynamic blend of creativity and science. In the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes transforms ideas into flavorful experiences they share with their families — mirroring the same curiosity and precision they bring to preparing the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.