Niranjana Raghunathan has shaped a career at the intersection of science, technology, and leadership, bringing clarity and innovation to complex laboratory environments as a LIMS product manager and product owner at GSK plc. In this role, she guides the design, implementation, and governance of Laboratory Information Management Systems that support the collection, management, and analysis of accurate, transparent, and auditable scientific data. Her work has a significant impact on global laboratory operations, where regulatory compliance, data integrity, and operational efficiency are of paramount importance. Through steady leadership and technical expertise, she has become a trusted voice in large-scale system transformation initiatives that support scientific advancement and patient safety.
Ms. Raghunathan’s educational background forms the intellectual foundation for her multidisciplinary career. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the College of Business and Management at Saginaw Valley State University. She also earned a Master of Science in materials science and physical chemistry from the University of Auckland, gaining advanced technical insight into the scientific principles that underpin laboratory systems. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the University of Auckland and a Bachelor of Laws and Science from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. This uncommon blend of legal and scientific education has equipped her with a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and risk management within highly controlled scientific environments.
Throughout her professional journey, Ms. Raghunathan has developed expertise in laboratory informatics and agile delivery models. At GSK plc, she leads global initiatives that introduce and standardize LIMS solutions across laboratories, coordinating stakeholders, aligning technical teams, and ensuring compliance with regulatory authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration. Her leadership emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and thoughtful change management, allowing laboratories to transition smoothly while maintaining scientific rigor.
One of Ms. Raghunathan’s most meaningful professional accomplishments lies in her pioneering work with mixed reality and augmented reality technologies within laboratory systems. During a period when remote collaboration became essential, she explored how immersive tools could enable scientists to work together regardless of physical location. Her research demonstrated that advanced augmented reality applications could enable individual researchers to collaborate globally, validate data in real-time, and enhance teamwork in distributed environments. She has authored a published paper on this subject and remains committed to exploring how emerging technologies can reshape laboratory science.
Prior to her tenure at GSK plc, Ms. Raghunathan worked in senior informatics and agile leadership roles within the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, manufacturing, and technology sectors. As a scrum master at Quest Diagnostics, she supported agile practices that improved delivery efficiency and cross-team alignment. Her role at Bristol Myers Squibb combined leadership of LIMS with responsibilities for quality assurance and cybersecurity, reinforcing safeguards for sensitive scientific data. At Dow, she balanced responsibilities as a subject matter expert, scrum master, and systems leader, managing complex chromatography and laboratory data platforms while leading cross-functional teams through change.
Ms. Raghunathan’s professional experience also includes work at Tesla, where she supported compliance initiatives within the legal department, demonstrating adaptability beyond traditional laboratory settings. Earlier roles at Agilent Technologies, QC LNG, ALS Earth Data, and Intertek provided hands-on experience in software validation, system administration, and business analysis, all of which shaped her practical understanding of laboratory operations across industries and continents.
Ms. Raghunathan is an active member of the American Chemical Society and the Association for Women in Science, reflecting her commitment to continued learning and advocacy for women in science and technology. She also holds scrum master certification through the International Scrum Institute™, reinforcing her dedication to agile principles that promote efficiency, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Raghunathan is deeply engaged in community service. She volunteers with Be My Eyes, providing technology-based assistance to individuals who are visually impaired. Her long-standing leadership with the 40 Hour Famine reflects sustained dedication to humanitarian causes. She has also contributed to literacy and education as a reader for MetLife and as a librarian, underscoring her belief in access to knowledge as a foundation for opportunity.
Looking ahead, Ms. Raghunathan aspires to build ventures that celebrate cultural identity and expand opportunities, including the vision of founding a school that helps children embrace their heritage while exploring diverse paths. She also plans to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives that extend her impact beyond corporate settings.