4th Annual Biotech Startup Symposium

Jessica has a passion for collaboration and is an influential team member, communicator, decision-maker, and leader. Jessica holds a B.S. in marketing from Salve Regina University and an MBA from Salve Regina University. She has 9 years of experience across a variety of different communication, product management, and marketing roles. Most recently, Jessica led the global emerging biotech integrated marketing campaign where she focused on the development of thought leadership content and the execution of marketing deliverables and programs.

Alec Nielsen is co-founder and CEO of Asimov, a Boston-based synthetic biology company developing a platform for computer-aided genetic engineering. Since its formation, Asimov has raised >$200M to improve the design and manufacture of therapeutics, including biologics, cell/gene therapy, and RNA. Alec holds a B.S. in bioengineering and electrical engineering from the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. from MIT Biological Engineering. Alec's overarching mission is to advance humanity's ability to design living systems, enabling biotechnologies with outsized benefits to civilization.

Natika Calhoun is a regulatory subject matter expert for cellular and viral gene therapy products, biological APIs, and antibody-drug conjugates. In her current role, based in California, she works directly with manufacturing sites and customers as a regulatory liaison to support expansions, technical writings, filings, and submission success for clinical and commercial biological products.

Stacy Shollenberger holds an MS degree in biochemistry from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Penn State University. She has more than 12 years of experience in analytical and bioanalytical product and method development. Currently, Stacy is a senior manager of process analytical technology (PAT) products and is responsible for defining the PAT strategy to move testing from traditional offline quality control (QC) to QC on the bioprocessing floor.

Dr. Quang Long Pham, a senior scientist in the innovation cell culture media development group, has focused on delivering perfusion products and process development. He is currently leading a high-throughput microfluidic platform technology, a scale-down model for perfusion processes that significantly enhances the capacity of perfusion medium development.

Before joining Merck, Dr. Pham earned his Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and received postdoctoral training in biomedical engineering at Tufts University.

Jana Mahadevan, R&D Manager, leads the innovation cell culture media development group to develop next-generation intensified fed-batch and perfusion cell culture products. Her focus and passion are on identifying new disruptive technologies, and innovative solutions and strategically employing these in the development, improvement, and optimization of processes to make better scientific decisions with the purpose of continuous manufacturing. Before joining Merck in 2017, Jana Mahadevan earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry and received postdoctoral training in islet cell biology and regenerative-based therapies for rare endoplasmic reticulum stress-related neurodegenerative diseases at Washington University School of Medicine.

Olga Shabelnikova is a product manager specializing in software services and user experience. With over a decade of international experience and a global view of market trends, Olga translates customer requirements into software solutions that advance companies’ digital transformations. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from Strasbourg University, France.

Braj Nandan Thakur is the global product manager for data analytics and automation software. He works to build roadmaps and strategies for software that meet and anticipate industry needs and assist companies in their digital transformations. Braj has implemented enterprise-level digital solutions from R&D through to manufacturing. He holds a master’s degree in bioinformatics from the University of Allahabad and a PGDM from the Institute of Management Technology, Hyderabad, India.

Adam Sokolnicki is the director of the MSAT-downstream group of biomanufacturing engineers in North America, a team that helps end users establish robust, reliable, and reproducible downstream processes in their biopharmaceutical manufacturing operations. Adam is keenly interested in next-generation manufacturing strategies and how our products can be used for intensified and continuous bioprocesses. He joined Merck in 2009 after spending 5 years at the biotech startup Altus Pharmaceuticals, conducting process development, process engineering, and technology transfer for phase III and commercial manufacturing of biologics. He has more than 18 years of industry experience, including process development and optimization of biopharmaceutical manufacturing. He obtained a BS and an MS in chemical engineering from Tufts University.

Andrew Clutterbuck is the cirector of Merck's manufacturing science & technology (MSAT) group for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa regions. With 22 years of biomanufacturing experience from process development through to cGMP manufacturing, Andrew joined Merck in 2011 after working for contract manufacturing organizations in the UK in several development and manufacturing roles developing, scaling, and manufacturing biopharmaceuticals. Andrew holds a degree in molecular & cellular biology from the University of Huddersfield, UK.

As the head of technical and scientific solutions for Latin America, Oscar leads a team of consulting and process development scientists who are passionate about helping pharma and biopharma companies solve their toughest challenges and adopt innovative technologies. Oscar’s formal background is in biology, and he holds a degree in biotechnology. He also completed his postgraduate studies in strategic marketing, business, and finance. Oscar is based in Buenos Aires and has been leading high-performing teams since 2005.

Yanglin Mok is a director at Merck with 17 years of experience in the biotech industry. She has held several leadership positions including business development and the manufacturing science and technology within APAC. She has diverse experience leading global programs and cross-functional teams and is currently the head of the technical and scientific solutions organization for APAC, excluding China. Yanglin has an MBA from the National University of Singapore and University of California, Los Angeles, and a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Melbourne, Australia. She is the author of 3 papers published in international journals and has presented at conferences on topics relating to best practices in bioprocessing.

Bin Wang is the director of the technical and scientific solutions group at Merck in China, where he leads a strong globally-networked group including process development, MSAT, technical operation, tech service, and field service teams. This group is the technical function that provides comprehensive solutions covering process development from upstream cell culture to downstream purification, FCD and process engineering, technical inquiry and consultation, HW qualification and implementation, and technical collaborations. Before this position, he led the Asia MSAT team to support PD, scaling up, and implementation activities for Asia biopharmaceutical companies. Bin has more than 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry in both China and the US. Before joining Merck, Bin worked in FOSUN PHARMA, Asia United mAb Medical, and BMS as PD manager, mAb pilot facility manager, and GMP compliance supervisor. He is a lecturer of the separation course at East China University of Science & Technology, and he used to be the lecturer at NMPA Institute of Executive Development, Peking University’s IPEM program as well as the Taiwan ITRI Pharmaceutical program.

Rebecca Dhrimaj is a purpose-driven leader with a passion for uniting diverse communities to shape an environment where teams work together to ignite positive change. Rebecca has spent the last 16 years impacting life and health with science by driving the strategy and execution of marketing and thought leadership programs in the life sciences industry. Rebecca is a Fulbright alumnus, holds a Master of Science in international business and marketing from the Universiteit Maastricht, and a bachelor’s degree in French for international trade and economics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Johanna Michielin has more than 10 years of experience in technology transfer and ecosystem building for start-ups. She led the technology transfer office of the French National Center for Scientific Research and launched a program dedicated to researchers to foster the emergence of deeptech start-ups. She then joined BioLabs, the largest network of co-working facilities for lab-based startups and home to more than 400 startups. She leads the expansion of BioLabs in Europe, with three new sites opening in the coming year, two in France and one in Germany.

Susan Chase is the vice president of business development for BioLabs, an internationally recognized shared laboratory and office platform for life science start-ups. Chase leads the innovation consulting practice, international expansion, and development of strategic partnerships. Before working at BioLabs, Susan served as the director of collaborative services at MASCO, the planning organization for the Longwood Medical Area in Boston where she led shared services contracting on behalf of the hospital and academic institutions. Susan has also held key operational roles directing multi-national property and facilities and risk management projects for private legal and healthcare networks.

Ebba Fåhraeus is the CEO of SmiLe, a leading life science venture builder and not-for-profit incubator in Sweden. With more than 20 years of experience as a non-executive board director, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the startup ecosystem. Ebba's expertise lies in fostering strategic collaborations and driving innovation. Her deep understanding of the industry has guided numerous startups toward success. With a strong focus on diversity-driven investments, Ebba has played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of the life science industry challenging the status quo.

Bauke is a principal in the biotechnology team at M Ventures. He serves on the boards of Immunitas Therapeutics, iOnctura, NanoSyrinx, and Pictor Labs. Before joining M Ventures, he was with Jefferies International in the Healthcare Investment Banking group in London (UK). During his time at Jefferies, he advised on several financings and M&A transactions across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical devices sectors. Bauke has a Ph.D. in cancer studies from King’s College London (UK) and an MSc in technical medicine from the University of Twente (The Netherlands).