Careers in Business and Consulting for Science and Engineering PhDs

You don't necessarily need an MBA to start a career in business or consulting! Join PhDs from the sciences and engineering to discuss their experience in business and consulting, and how they transitioned from PhD researcher to the private sector.

PANELISTS:
Geoffrey Banks, PhD, is President and CEO of Nuventra Pharma Sciences. Nuventra Pharma Sciences provides clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacometric (population PK) consulting services to the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Banks has extensive experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing Phase 1 through 3 clinical studies as well as cross-functional experience in strategic planning and execution of entire drug development programs with both small molecule compounds and biologics. Dr Banks’ first compound worked on in his pharmaceutical career was HUMIRA® (adalimumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and, during his work at Salix Pharmaceuticals, he lead the Xifaxan® (rifaximin) clinical program that won FDA approval for the Hepatic Encephalopathy indication. Dr Banks received his PhD in Protein Biochemistry from Washington State University and held a postdoctoral appointment at NIH.

Sara Paisner, PhD, MBA, is Director of Marketing at Portfolio Decisions Inc, where she focuses on marketing strategy and tactical execution for increasing sales. Portfolio Decisions is a software and consulting firm focused on helping companies address strategic decisions involving risk or uncertainty, in order to increase value, balance performance, and meet goals. Previously, she was Founder and Marketing Lead for Blue Ridge Lighting Solutions, and President of PN & S Consulting, a a marketing and business strategy consulting firm. Dr Paisner received her PhD in Chemistry from UC-Berkeley, an MBA from UNC Kenan Flagler Business School, and was a postdoctoral researcher at UNC.

Mary Beth Thomas, PhD, is Vice President of the Centers of Innovation Program, the NC Biotechnology Center's funding program that targets the development of important new business sectors. She also co-leads the Center’s new initiative that is focused on fostering Bio Defense opportunities in the state. Dr Thomas formerly served as the statewide director of technology commercialization with the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) in Raleigh. Before working at the Small Business and Technology Development Center, Dr Thomas was the assistant director of the neurosensory program at Tranzyme Pharma in Research Triangle Park. She also served as an assistant director of the neuroprotection program at Cogent Neuroscience in Durham. Dr Thomas holds a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of Cincinnati (Ohio) and was a postdoc at the Duke Department of Neurobiology.

Melanie Trull, PhD, is Partner and Co-Founder of Bioscience Information Partners. She has more than twelve years experience consulting with clients in a variety of fields, including human healthcare and ag biotech. At Bioscience Information Partners, Dr Trull has assessed the commercial potential of technologies for investors, analyzed markets and competition, prepared bioscience-related business plans, conducted surveys, and provided additional strategic business information in numerous life science fields. Prior to forming Bioscience Information Partners, Dr Trull was a senior research analyst at BioAbility, BIP’s predecessor consulting firm. At BioAbility, she led projects in regional development strategies, conducted market research, prepared business plans, and created targeted databases of technical information in Microsoft Access. She also authored several reports and books on biodefense markets and funding opportunities in biodefense. Dr Trull holds a PhD in botany from the University of Georgia.

This workshop is part of the 2014-15 Careers Beyond Academia Series (http://sites.duke.edu/careersbeyondac...) , sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Services, the Graduate School, and the Career Center. Questions? Contact Molly Starback, Director of Duke Postdoc Services, at [email protected].