September 10 - Fatima Ali-Rahmani, Ph.D.
External Research Lead, Medical Affairs Consultant, Taiho Oncology
Title: TBD
September 17 – Mojdeh Bahar, J.D., M.A., CLP
Managing Director, IEEE
Title: TBD
Mojdeh Bahar is the Managing Director for Technical Activities at IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization. She joined IEEE after 24 years in federal service, most recently as Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where she led key programs including Manufacturing USA, the Baldrige Program, and implementation of the CHIPS Act.
Her career spans leadership roles at USDA, NIH, and USPTO, with expertise in technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation policy. She has worked across diverse sectors—biotech, agtech, AI, and quantum—and has spoken globally on IP, tech transfer, and public-private partnerships.
A registered patent attorney, certified mediator, and Registered Technology Transfer Professional, Mojdeh holds a JD from the University of Maryland, an MA from NYU, and a BS in Chemistry and French from Dickinson College. She is a three-time recipient of Maryland’s Top 100 Women Award and a Circle of Excellence Inductee.
September 24 – Mark Kaplan, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Translational Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb
Title: Being a Scientist in the Biopharma Industry
Dr. Mark Kaplan is the Lymphoma Disease Head within Translational Medicine at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) in Summit, NJ. Mark’s primary roles are to oversee biomarker analyses on BMS’ late-stage clinical trials, devise strategies to understand high-risk lymphoma and how BMS assets can address them and liaise with translational laboratory scientists. Mark first started in industry in 2001 at a range of small, medium and large biopharma companies, including Pfizer and Roche, first as a discovery scientist and subsequently as a translational scientist, before joining BMS in August 2020 (an interesting time to start!). Mark received his PhD in Biophysics from UCSF and was a Leukemia and Lymphoma postdoctoral fellow at the University of Wisconsin, Madison - coincidently presaging his current area of research. Mark is a scientific omnivore, but you will grab his attention with minimal residual disease.
Topics to be covered:
- Decision to pursue a career in industry
- My career journey
- The good and the not-so-good about careers in industry
- Advice for younger scientists interested in industry
October 1 – TBD
October 8 – Jonathan Shaffer, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Genomics and Research Development, Qiagen
Title: “How to Leverage Your Scientific Skills to Thrive in Biotech R&D”
Jonathan (Jon) is a molecular biologist by training and is currently Senior Director, Head of UNGS R&D at QIAGEN. Jonathan joined QIAGEN in 2009 and has since worked with various qPCR and NGS technology development groups. Jonathan earned his PhD in Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2008. Jonathan also received his MBA from the University of Würzburg in 2018, where his research focused on project management methodologies.
Topics Covered:
- What positions are available in Biotech R&D? Are there more options than just “wet lab” positions?
- What skills translate and are required for Biotech R&D?
- How do I catch my “big break” in Biotech R&D?
- Does networking matter?
- How do I merge “classic science” with “future science”?
October 15 – Prasun Misra, Ph.D.
Founding Partner, WISE Capitals, Founder & CEO American Association for Precision Medicine (AAPM), Co-Founder, Chairman, Agility Pharma, Precision BioPharma Inc. , Belmont, CA
Title: “From NIH to Genentech and Beyond: Navigating Careers in Pharma, Biotech, and the Startup Frontier”
Dr. Prasun Mishra is a biotech and pharmaceutical leader with 25 years’ experience spanning research, clinical development, and commercialization. He has contributed to major oncology and immuno-oncology advances at Genentech and Roche, helping bring several blockbuster therapies from bench to bedside.
Founder and CEO of Agility Pharmaceuticals and Co-Founder of Precision BioPharma, he also serves as Founding President of the American Association for Precision Medicine. As a Founding Partner at M7 Accelerator, he has guided over 25 healthcare and life sciences companies from startup to IPO.
A former researcher at UCSF, the National Cancer Institute, Rutgers, and Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Dr. Mishra combines deep scientific expertise with entrepreneurial vision. He is a sought-after advisor, mentor, and speaker dedicated to advancing personalized, predictive, and accessible medicine.
October 22 – Raed Samara, Ph.D.
Director, Precision Medicine, Global Oncology Marketing, Merck
Title: “Insights into global marketing function and hiring process in biotech and pharma”
Raed Samara is currently Director of Global Precision Medicine Marketing at Merck. In this role, he is responsible for the global launches of companion diagnostics for new Oncology drugs. Prior to this role, Raed held a number of positions with increasing responsibilities within the global product management function at QIAGEN, serving the clinical testing and translational research markets. He started his private sector journey at QIAGEN as a scientist in the R&D Project Management department. Academically, Raed did his postdoctoral fellowship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), conducting research in the field of cancer immunology with emphasis on identifying strategies to boost the efficacy of cancer vaccines. Raed earned his PhD degree in Cancer Biology from Georgetown University.
Topics to be covered:
- Career progression from postdoc to today
- What is Global Marketing in biotech and pharma
- Day-to-day responsibilities in Product Management and marketing
- Culture and career options in industry
- The hiring process: real life examples
October 29 – Kelly Warfield, Ph.D.
Research and Development, Sabin Vaccine Institute
Title: TBD
November 5 – TBD