Futures in Life Sciences Panel Discussion and Networking Event

Bio-Informatics, Systems Biology, and Modeling

Date: September 20^th 2011

                Location:  MassBio Offices, One Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142

                Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm

If you are a MA-based full time student interested in attending this event, financial assistance is available through the Stay in MA program.  Please visit www.stayinma.com

 Sponsor Organization

Metrum Research Group

Propel Careers, MassBio, and the MassBioEd have joined together to organize a series of networking and panel events focused on raising awareness of career paths that exist in life sciences for individuals with advanced degrees. This Futures in Life Science program will bring together experts across a wide range of disciplines and functional areas within the life science industry, who will detail their roles and will provide a rich context for the audience to gain a clear understanding of the skills, aptitudes, competencies, and personalities that thrive in their particular functions. 

Attendance for this program is open to current graduate students, post doctoral fellows, and medical residents who are interested in careers in the life sciences industry.  Space is limited to 100 individuals. Food and refreshments will be provided.

The event will focus on the various career options within the Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, and Modeling areas of the life sciences sector where individuals with advanced degrees can thrive. 

Meeting Agenda:

5:30pm-6:00pm – Registration and Open Networking              

6:00pm-6:10pm – Introductions, Overview, and Recognition of Sponsors

6:10pm-7:30pm – Panel Discussion

Moderator: David Walker MSc MBA, Account Manager, Tessella Inc

Panelists:

§  Bart Hendriks Ph.D., Associate Director, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals

§  James A. Rogers, Ph.D., Principal Scientist- Statistics, Metrum Research Group

§  Carolyn Cho, Ph.D., Director Systems Biology, Merck Research Laboratories

§  Dr. Raymond Oomen, Director Discovery Bioinformatics & Genomics, Sanofi Pasteur Biologics

7:30pm-8:00pm – Open Networking

Moderator and Panel biographies

David Walker MSc MBA, Account Manager, Tessella Inc

Bio will be available shortly

Bart Hendriks Ph.D., Associate Director, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals

Bart Hendriks is an Associate Director and the Research Team Leader for MM-302, (HER2-targeted liposomal doxorubicin). His team combines in vivo, in vitro and computational modeling approaches to understand drug mechanism of action and support the clinical development of MM-302. Prior to joining Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Bart worked at Pfizer’s Research Technology Center (Cambridge, MA) in various ‘systems biology’ related groups, completed post-doctoral work at AstraZeneca R&D Boston (Waltham, MA) in the ‘Pathways Capability’ and holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

James A. Rogers, Ph.D., Principal Scientist- Statistics, Metrum Research Group

Jim is a Principal Scientist with Metrum Research Group, a leading provider of biomedical modeling and simulation services in the U.S.A. and internationally. He has broad experience working as a statistician in the biomedical industry, including applications in genomics, biomarker discovery and development, preclinical-to-clinical translational modeling, and clinical trial design. In 2008, after working for five years as both a clinical and a non-clinical statistician at Pfizer Global Research and Development, Jim joined Metrum Research Group in order to work in closer collaboration with experienced quantitative biologists and pharmacometricians. Since joining Metrum, Jim has been involved in numerous projects involving simulation-based assessment of clinical trial designs (including adaptive designs) as well as model-based meta analyses to support comparative effectiveness claims. 

Carolyn Cho, Ph.D., Director Systems Biology, Merck Research Laboratories

Carolyn is currently at Merck Research Laboratories in the Systems Biology Group. Prior to Merck, she was at Pfizer Research Technology Center in Kendall Square as the Director of Systems Biology.  Following her training at Memorial University of Newfoundland (Physics BSc, MSc), University of Toronto (Biological Physics PhD), and Princeton University (Molecular Biology post doc), she went on to computer-based modeling at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK), Physiome Sciences (became Predix and now Epix Pharmaceuticals), Biosystemix, and Novartis. She has also helped organize national and local-area scientific meetings. Carolyn served as the MA AWIS Treasurer from 2007 – 2008 and has been member of AWIS and the Association for Women in Mathematics on-and-off since graduate school, and began participating several years ago in these and other mentorship programs. She is the current president of Mass AWIS for 2010. She is also involved with the volunteer organization Boston Cares.  

Dr. Raymond Oomen, Director Discovery Bioinformatics & Genomics, Sanofi Pasteur Biologics
Bio will be available shortly

About the Organizers

MassBio - MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that represents and provides services and support for the Massachusetts biotechnology industry, is the nation's oldest biotechnology trade association. Founded in 1985, MassBio is committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide. Representing over 600 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, research hospitals, and service organizations involved in life sciences and health care, MassBio works to advance policy and promote education, while providing member programs and events, industry information, and services. To learn more, visit: http://www.massbio.org. 

MassBioEd - The Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, founded in 2001, is a non-profit charitable organization committed to supporting science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning.  MassBioEd is closely affiliated with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and helps the Council in fulfilling its goals to nurture the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) pipeline in Massachusetts. To learn more, visit http://www.massbioed.org. 

Propel Careers - Propel Careers is a Boston based life sciences search and career development firm founded in 2009 to foster entrepreneurship and to cultivate leaders in the life sciences industry.  Propel recognizes the importance of job creation and career development opportunities to the success of the industry as well as to next generation of industry leaders.  The mission of Propel Careers is to make connections that fuel innovation, and we do this through placement, networking, coaching and mentorship.  To learn more, visit http://www.propelcareers.com. 

About the Sponsors

Metrum Research Group, a leading provider of biomedical modeling and simulation services in the U.S.A. and internationally, is a sponsor of the upcoming Futures in Life Science Networking Event and Panel Discussion which will be held on September 20, 2011.  Their experience spans R&D efforts for small molecule pharmaceuticals, biologic therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical device/drug-device combinations, across multiple therapeutic areas.  Metrum Research Group services include strategic modeling and simulation for R&D decision support and in silico optimization of clinical trial designs, model-based data analysis, and regulatory report preparation as well as general consulting in the areas of biostatistics, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical pharmacology, pharmacometrics, clinical trial design, and modeling and simulation systems/software qualification. To learn more about Metrum Research Group, click here:   http://www.metrumrg.com/ 

Additional events are planned for the areas below. 

October 18^th 2011: Commercialization 2 (Reimbursement/Market Access/Pharmacoeconomics)

November 15^th 2011: Finance, Legal, Operations