4 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST Gorgi Pavlov ’14 Ph.D.’18, a principal scientist at Johnson & Johnson, recently had his Lehigh journey come full circle when he returned to the university as an adjunct instructor in the department of bioengineering in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science during the Fall 2025 semester. For Pavlov, participating in the Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP) and interning with 3M China as an undergraduate student was a transformative experience that he has championed to students as an instructor. Shaping His Path While Pavlov was growing up in Macedonia, Lehigh was never on his radar, but fate had other plans. After hearing about the university from a friend in high school, he decided to apply and pursue a degree in engineering. Once on campus, Pavlov wasted no time building connections. It was through those relationships and the encouragement of Kemal Tuzla, a former Lehigh professor who recognized Pavlov’s curiosity and potential, that he learned about IIIP. Since 2011, IIIP has provided mostly funded internship opportunities for Lehigh students to work or do research overseas during the summer. The program provides practical work experience grounded in global context, aimed at enhancing students’ career readiness and intercultural competency. More than an opportunity to work abroad, the program represented the chance for Pavlov to apply his education on a global scale and test himself in an unfamiliar environment. The destination? China. For several months, Pavlov interned with 3M China, a billion-dollar manufacturing company, where he was embedded in high-stakes projects. He worked in the purification division, focusing on 3M LifeAssure sterile filtration membranes used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. His work involved validation testing, including bacterial retention, bubble point analysis, extractables and leachables studies, and forward flow testing—all critical quality control measures in sterile drug product manufacturing. Throughout the internship, Pavlov worked with local teams in Mandarin-supported English environments and gained firsthand insight into Chinese business culture. The experience helped shape him into a confident, capable professional. “The things I learned there I still use to this day,” Pavlov said. “I met with clients, educated them on methods, and worked internally with U.S. partners to determine the best course of action on projects. That kind of experience, especially so early in your career, can’t be understated.” Beyond the workplace, Pavlov immersed himself in the local culture. He visited historical sites, learned to navigate Shanghai's metro system and even tried soup dumplings for the first time. Leading at Lehigh At Lehigh, Pavlov founded the LU Diplomats club and earned both a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemical engineering. He served as the graduate student speaker at Lehigh’s 2018 Commencement ceremony. Since graduation, he’s remained deeply engaged with Lehigh as an active member of the Lehigh Alumni Association Board. As an adjunct instructor, Pavlov inA Full Circle Journey The path from Iacocca Intern to bioengineering department faculty member has been transformative for Gorgi Pavlov ’14 Ph.D.’18. By Skye Cruz CHRISTA NEU
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