WHEN: Thursday, June 13, 2024 | 4:00 – 6:30 PM
WHERE: 100 Chestnut Street, Somerville, MA 02143- 1st Floor Café
PROGRAM DETAILS:
Do you find yourself thinking most peoples’ careers
are linear and yours is a windy road? Are you wanting to embrace other areas of
interest but not sure how to change your path? Join a panel of life science professionals sharing different
perspectives of navigating the planned & serendipitous trajectories-- and
how they ended up in the positions they are in!
AGENDA:
4:00-4:30 Arrival and Tour/ Networking
4:30-5:30 Panel
5:30-6:00 Networking
REGISTRATION FEES:
Members: $30
Non-Members: $50
Emerging Leaders Members: $20
Student Members: FREE
PANELIST:
Michele Picard, Sr. Director, Facilities
and Laboratory Operations at Kymera
Therapeutics
Divya Krishnamurthy, Sr. Director Workplace Operations at Lyndra
Therapeutics
Gianna Ferron, New England Biopharma Sales Executive at Tenx
Genomics
Moderator: Jennifer Reilly, President at
Safety Partners
PANELIST BIOGRAPHIES:
Michele Picard, Kymera Therapeutics
As Sr.
Director of Facilities and Lab Operations Michele oversees daily internal
operations at Kymera including capital projects, facilities, laboratory, and
operations.
During her
30 years in research both at the bench and in leadership positions she has
managed laboratory buildouts, relocations and supervised laboratory and
vivarium operations in addition to her research responsibilities. Her
experience building two start-up companies and establishing operational
programs and policies were the catalyst for her transition into operational
roles.
Michele
began her career at Boston University Medical Center and Avant
Immunotherapeutics studying infectious diseases and Immunology. She was a
founding scientist at Momenta Pharmaceuticals and later at Genocea Biosciences
where began the transition to a fully operational role.
Michele
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Clark University and a
Master of Science degree in Public Policy from the Tufts Cummings School of
Veterinary Medicine.
Divya Krishnamurthy, Lyndra Therapeutics
Divya Krishnamurthy is currently Senior
Director, Workplace Operations and Safety at Lyndra Therapeutics where she
oversees all aspects of health and safety, GMP and n-GMP Facilities Operations,
and DEA controlled substances compliance across all Lyndra sites.
Divya
obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and began her
career in academia as Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah
and the Harvard School of Public Health. She then made a transition to a
career in EHS in roles with increasing responsibility and leadership, most
recently as Director Global EHS at Ultragenyx, where she seamlessly integrated best practices, optimized EHS
operations, and maintained the highest standards of safety and efficiency
across all Ultragenyx sites. Before Ultragenyx, Divya was at Alkermes where she
led the development and management of EHS programs ranging from pilot, kilo lab
and large-scale chemistry and biology. Prior to that she was a safety
consultant at Safety Partners.
Leveraging
over 20 years of diverse experience across biotech and pharma, as both a
scientist and seasoned environmental health and safety (EHS) leader, Divya
is passionate about creating and
sustaining fully integrated, fit- for-purpose programs that keep people safe
and healthy with a positive impact to our environment, while ensuring efficient
operations.
Gianna Ferron, Tenx Genomics
Gianna
received her B.A. in Biology from Boston University in 2020 with a hands-on
focus in neuroscience. After graduating, she joined a small biotech company as
an associate scientist and moved into a scientist role. Gianna then took a
project management focus to work directly with many pharmaceutical companies,
catalyzing her transition to a business development position within the same
company. She began an evening MBA program and transferred to a biotech and
pharmaceutical sales executive role at 10x Genomics shortly before receiving
her master’s degree at the end of 2023. In a few short years, Gianna has built
both an expansive professional network and deep foundational knowledge across
both science and business.
Moderator: Jennifer Reilly, Safety Partners
As
President and Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer manages the daily operations of
the company, including client service, service delivery, recruiting, sales,
Quality, Research and Training and daily business operations. Leveraging over
25 years of experience in health and safety and lab operations, Jennifer has
developed, managed, and implemented client programs specializing in radiation,
chemical, and biological safety while taking on increasing operational
responsibilities at Safety Partners.
Prior to joining Safety Partners
in 2007, Jennifer spent five years at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA,
where she served as Senior Laboratory & Safety Manager for the laboratory
facility. She developed and maintained its environmental health and
safety program as well as managed the animal care facility. Prior to
Alnylam, Jennifer held research positions at Biogen, Inc., Curis, Inc.
(formerly Ontogeny, Inc.), and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Jennifer
received a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Biology from Harvard University,
and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Saint Anselm College.
