Boston University alumni, students, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars from across the natural sciences are invited to come together for an evening of conversation, connection, and community-building.
This event is designed to strengthen the BU family of sciences by linking alumni working across biopharma and related sectors with current students, trainees, and faculty; creating space to share experiences, surface pathways, and build relationships across generations of scientists.
At the heart of the evening is a candid, moderated conversation with BU alumni who have navigated diverse routes from scientific training into industry. Panelists will reflect on early career decisions, skills that matter most, pivots and inflection points, and what they wish they had known earlier.
Whether you are a student exploring what’s possible, an alum eager to stay connected to the sciences at BU, or a faculty member invested in mentoring the next generation, this gathering is meant to bring the community together.
Doors open at 4:40, please join us for snacks and networking before the start of the program.
Moderator
Karen N. Madden, PhD (CAS’91)
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, U.S. & Canada Life Science, MilliporeSigma
Leads technology strategy and long-term R&D initiatives, with deep engagement across universities, industry, and the innovation ecosystem.
Panelists
Alexandre Thibonnier, M. Eng, MBA(Questrom '09)
Senior Director, Head of Global New Product Planning, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals.
Leads global new product planning, bringing deep experience across commercial strategy, business development, and launch planning in pharma.
Dr. John (Jay) Bladon MA, PhD(BU Med '13, '19)
Scientist II, Gene Therapy, Sanofi.
In vivo and systems-level neuroscientist advancing gene therapy research, with strong quantitative and computational analysis experience.
Isaiah Davis, MBA (Questrom '18)
Director, Alliance Management, Merck.
Leads alliance management and cross-functional partnership execution, applying a research-grounded perspective to business development and operational coordination.
Kristin Neff, M. Eng, M. Eng (ENG '90)
Vice President, Clinical Operations, GentiBio.
Seasoned clinical operations leader focused on advancing autoimmune disease therapies and scaling clinical trial execution.
Price: Free