Career Development Symposium Speakers
2024 Career Development Symposium Speakers
Opening Remarks, Interactive Workshop Speaker, and Keynote Speaker
Joanna Groden
Dr. Joanna Groden currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She completed her BA degree in Biology at Middlebury College, a PhD in Cell Biology and Genetics at the Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Human Genetics/Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Utah.
Prior to coming to UIC, Dr. Groden served as Professor and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics at The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine. She joined The Ohio State University faculty in 2005 and served in various administrative roles in the College of Medicine, such as Associate Dean for Basic Science Research from 2007 to 2011, Associate Dean for Graduate Education from 2011 to 2013; and finally as Vice Dean for Research from 2013 to 2017. Most recently, she served as the Co-Director of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Director of the Pelotonia Fellowship Program and the Education Program Leader for the OSU CTSA-supported Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences. Prior to her tenure at OSU, she served on the Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology faculty of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine from 1993 to 2005 and, during her last two years there as the College of Medicine Vice Dean for Research. She was previously appointed as an Assistant Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1997-2004).
Dr. Groden is a human geneticist, who is internationally recognized for her research in identifying key genetic causes of colon cancer and other inherited cancers through the identification and characterization of two human disease genes. Her research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health since 1994. Dr. Groden has served on several boards and advisory panels including the NCI Board of Scientific Counselors, and actively participates in the peer review process for AACR, NIH, DOD, and many other national and international funding agencies and scientific journals. With numerous publications and patents, Dr. Groden has been elected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and a Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association.
Merle Ward, MBA
Merle Ward is a professional Talent Curator with experience working both sides of the equation. She currently works with UL Research Institutes and helps source, design, and define scientific research teams; melding talent, technique, and mission into exciting scientific research teams ready to tackle some of our world’s biggest safety, sustainability, and climate challenges. Merle has always worked on the business end of science, and past lives have seen her as the owner of Scientific Connections, an endeavor that helped scientists optimize their career searches, and over 15 years in scientific sales and leadership with Thermo Fisher Scientific. Her chemistry and MBA degrees and tenured experience working with scientists and research organizations has helped position her at the ever-captivating vertices of talent and opportunity. Merle leads with passion, empowerment, and kind candor. She excels in helping STEM professionals articulate their value and contribution in relevant and meaningful ways and her never ending mantra is Know Your Worth, Own Your Value. She is here today to help us all do just that!
Sandra Torres
Sandra is a career coach, fractional consultant, and product leader. With over +13yrs of experience, she has worked at the intersection of technology, science, and healthcare. She empowers graduate students, postdocs, and professors to seamlessly transition their careers outside of academia, while honoring their values and creating their own sense of belonging. Drawing from her own successful transition over a decade ago, Sandra offers unique insights into the challenges faced by academics. Sandra is committed to guiding academic professionals towards fulfilling, value-driven careers and pushing for more agile and inclusive practices in R&D.
Entrepreneurship Career Panel
Dr. Dimitra Georganopoulou
Dimitra joined Qral Ventures as a General Partner in 2020, and serves as Chief Business Officer (CBO) in select portfolio companies. She is an experienced biotech professional with deep knowledge of personalized medicine projects, therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and Health IT. She is currently also a member of the Innovation Faculty team for MIT’s LinQ Catalyst program, mentoring and guiding innovators solving health and medical challenges. Dimitra serves on the investment committee of the Aim-Hi Accelerator Fund, and acts as a technical due diligence lead for the Keiretsu Forum Midwest Investments. Dimitra has deep expertise in Tech Transfer with deep connections with the US innovation ecosystem, as she continues to be a mentor for mHUB’s MedTech Accelerator program, a venture mentor for the Polsky COMPASS program and a venture advisor for Northwestern’s N.Xt Fund and FoundHer program. Dimitra is a Director at Large for Women in Bio (WIB), an organization dedicated to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women in the life sciences.
Dr. Amanda Maldonado
Amanda Christine Maldonado, PhD, is the Innovation Portfolio Manager in the Innovation Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The Innovation Program at Lurie Children’s serves as a scientific hub and seeks to advance pediatric medicine. Amanda uses her scientific expertise and entrepreneurial skills to stimulate commercialization of therapeutic and diagnostic innovations which stem out of the hospital.
Amanda earned her doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Chicago and holds a BSc and AA in Chemistry [Florida International University and Miami Dade College, respectively]. Prior to Lurie Children’s, Amanda was an Entrepreneurial Fellow with the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, where she has played a pivotal role in the growth of start-up life science companies in Chicagoland. Through comprehensive assessments and diligence, Amanda uses her expertise to understand the value of novel technologies and products with a focus on innovative solutions in their development towards commercialization. Outside of work, her interests include running with her dog Ceviche, rock-climbing and exploring different cultures through travel and food.
Dr. Karol Sokolowski
Bio coming soon!
Applying Your Skills to Industries You May Not Have Considered Panel
Dr. Kyle Dolan
Kyle Dolan is Head of Science and Innovation at the British Consulate-General Chicago. He is a senior officer in the UK Science & Innovation Network (SIN), a global cadre of science attachés jointly managed by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). In his role, Kyle facilitates engagements between UK and Midwest US researchers to catalyse collaboration across multiple science and technology areas of strategic importance to the UK. He leads SIN USA’s strategic programmes on batteries and critical minerals, and on agricultural technology and food security. Kyle joined the Consulate in 2016, following graduate and postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago, from which he holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Tim Duncan
Timothy Duncan received his undergraduate degree in chemistry in 2000 from Haverford College, located just outside of Philadelphia. He attained his Ph.D. in physical/inorganic chemistry in 2006 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied the photophysical properties of conjugated porphyrin arrays designed for medical diagnostic and optoelectronic applications under Professor Michael J. Therien. He then did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in the lab of Professor So-Jung Park, during which he built a single-molecule fluorescence imaging system to study the light emission properties of novel quantum-dot based bio-imaging agents and devised a new method to synthesize color-tunable conducting polymers. Since 2009 he has been a research scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Food Processing Science and Technology, where he studies the potential exposure to nanomaterials from food packaging and the development of nanotechnology-enabled sensors for food safety. He is also a designated subject matter expert in nanotechnology.
Dr. Noah Metoki-Shlubsky
2007-2011 Bachelor’s degree, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Tel-Aviv University
2011-2014 Master’s degree, Materials Engineering and Nanotechnologies, Tel-Aviv University/Hebrew University
2014-2017 Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, Tel-Aviv University/Hebrew University
Interdisciplinary project, both basic science and applied research. Development of novel electrochemical coatings applied under physiological conditions on titanium and other substrates for dental and orthopedic implants. Involves electrochemistry, self assembled monolayers (SAMs), incorporation of drugs, characterization of microstructure and adhesion, bone-forming cell attachment tests, etc.
2017-2020 Postdoctoral fellow, Material Science and Engineering, Northwestern University
Study of nucleation and growth of calcium carbonate in microfluidic systems mimicking in-vivo picoliter environment. Examining polymorph selectivity in the presence of proteins extracted from sea urchins. Added proficiencies include light microscopy techniques, clean-room training and CAD models. A secondary project in cell isolation from embryos (Sea urchin) and RNA/DNA microinjection. Research includes animal care, cell isolation techniques, microinjection of RNA/DNA.
2020 Invention Associate, Innovation and New Ventures (INVO), Temporary
- Managed over 150 inventions
- Evaluated multiple life sciences inventions for patentability, market and commercial readiness (small molecules, devices, cell assays, therapeutics, methods of use, etc.)
- Managed inventor relationships, and learned financial strategy. Formed relationships with inventors and law partners to communicate patent status and limiting conditions
- Drafted strategy response to USPTO communication over pending patents
2020-2021 Senior Project Manager
- Managed over 30 projects with a variety of collaborators in the industry, both US based and international. Created Gantts, reports and held meetings with all stockholders for program updates
- Worked with contracts (NDA and license agreements), as well as IRBs, ITAs, etc.
- Created and kept deliverables for all projects. Managed a multilevel process involving 10 and more individuals
- Managed the company’s IP
- Wrote and manage grant submission
- Managed and tracked inventory, as well as device lifecycle
- Created and implemented work SOPs
- Directly managed 3 individuals for deliverables, and mentored younger individuals
2021-Today Technical Project Manager, Center for Translational Data Science
Technical Project Manager, Center for Translational Data Science, University of Chicago
- Manage the planning and execution of cloud-based open source software that delivers storage, search and analytical tools for a multitude of purposes including creating policy and research
- Responsible for project plans, roadmaps, software requirements, scheduling, and risk management plans
- Collaborate with technical leads to develop and deploy new software features leveraging Agile processes, Jira and SCRUM
- Manage communication with users, clients, sponsors and partnering organizations
- Identify, manage and deploy user based and sponsor based needs that drive Gen3 software development to optimize search, usability and access of data in search engines and cloud workspaces (AWS)
Making the Transition from Academia Panel
Dr. Jonathan Bisson
**Jonathan Bisson** is a hacker, musician, and former academic in Pharmacognosy. Currently, he works as a Software Engineer at [Collaborative Drug Discovery Inc.] (https://collaborativedrug.com/), a company specializing in scientific data management with a focus on drug discovery applications. He co-created [Lotus](https://lotus.nprod.net), one of the largest open Natural Products Database projects, which he continues to develop alongside international collaborations in Natural Products and Ethnobotany. He is also involved in a Natural Language Processing in Ethnomedicine project with the [Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions](https://medicaltraditions.org). Active at [Pumping Station One] (https://pumpingstationone.org/), a Chicago hackerspace, he organizes electronic music meetings, workshops and builds and breaks things. Connect with him on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbisson/) or visit his personal site at [bjonnh.net](https://www.bjonnh.net).
Dr. Schnaude Dorizan
Schnaude joins MATTER as the Venture Acceleration Manager, working closely with startups to support their overall experience. She is responsible for connecting startups to the appropriate resources necessary to gain traction in the market and helps drive startups to success by facilitating connections with MATTER’s network of mentors, investors and corporate partners. Schnaude earned her PhD in neuroscience from Northwestern University in 2022. She began her career outside of academia as a life sciences entrepreneur who leveraged her scientific expertise and strong analytical skills to identify, evaluate and prioritize translational biomedical technologies based on their scientific merit and commercial potential. Prior to MATTER, Schnaude was an Entrepreneurial Fellow with the Chicago Biomedical Consortium where she evaluated 20+ candidate technologies across biomedical platforms from Chicagoland universities for potential commercialization opportunities and worked closely with university faculty to develop, refine and implement non-dilutive awards focused on accelerating the translation of these transformative biomedical technologies. When Schnaude is not advocating for health equity initiatives, she loves to dance, do martial arts and watch anime.
Dr. Svetlana Kurilova
Svetlana Kurilova, PhD is a technology manager at the Office of Technology Management, UIC where she manages diverse portfolio of life science technologies focusing on licensing the university IP and targeted marketing outreach at the major conferences.
Outside of her role at OTM, Svetlana is a member of Women in Bio, the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), and postdoctoral communities (NPA, UIC-PDA and CSA). Becoming a certified life coach during the pandemic, she has been serving and supporting young graduates in their career transitions and professional growth through training, mentorship and coaching.