Tissue Engineering Career Conversations (Tissue Engineering Resource Center (TERC) )

The podcast’s inaugural episode features Dr. Caitlin Czajka, Senior Editor at Science Translational Medicine. The conversation follows her career’s trajectory ending in a not-so-expected career as an editor at a scientific journal. From childhood inspirations and STEM-related summer camps to graduate school and a pandemic, Dr. Czajka describes her journey to the field of scientific communications. Along the way, she provides some cautionary tales and advice for someone navigating the transition from bench work to overseeing high impact manuscripts at the forefront of medicine.

Our second episode features Dr. Šeila Selimović, Program Manager at the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the US Department of Health and Human Services. After her PhD training in condensed matter physics at Brandeis University and a postdoctoral fellowship in tissue engineering at Harvard Medical School / Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Dr. Selimović joined the Department of State as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow. Our conversation follows Dr. Selimović's career path from graduate school to leading a number of funding agency programs at the National Institutes of Health and now at BARDA, helping bridge the gap between unique federal areas of interest, interdisciplinary research, and supporting future bioengineering endeavors. As the conversation continues, we learn from Dr. Selimović about the importance of branching outside of your intended career trajectory to explore new and exciting opportunities that may come along the way.

This episode features Dr. Nina Tandon, CEO and co-founder of EpiBone, the world’s first company growing living human bones for skeletal reconstruction. Dr. Tandon has a Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from the Cooper Union, a Master’s in Bioelectrical Engineering from MIT, and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University. She also received an MBA from Columbia University, which she pursued in parallel to her research as a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University.  Our conversation follows Dr. Tandon’s career from engineering human tissues in the lab to founding a company and how a business degree helped bridge the gap between the two. As our conversation continues, we learn from Dr. Tandon about the nature of working in a start-up company, different job opportunities within the company, and the challenges and thrills she experiences as a CEO.

Recommended reading material written by Dr. Tandon:

·       Super Cells: Building with Biology, a book that explores the new frontier of biotech. 

·       To MBA or not to MBA: is that the question?, an article that discusses the need to pursue an MBA in order to become a CEO.

Our fourth episode features Dr. Jennifer Munson, an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, and an affiliate member of the Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Institute. She received her Ph.D. from Georgia institute of Technology in 2011 and completed her postdoctoral training at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). During her training, she was supported by the NSF GRFP, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Whitaker Scholarship. Her laboratory studies the role of fluid flow in tissue homeostasis and disease with a specific focus on cancer and neurological disorders. She uses tissue engineered cell culture models, in vivo imaging methodology, and computational modeling to explore the nature and impact of interstitial fluid flow on cells and tissues. In 2016, Dr. Munson was awarded the Rita Schaffer Young Investigator Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society, and in 2017, she was awarded the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Young Innovator Award. In this episode, we learn from Dr. Munson about the importance of exploring new and exciting opportunities in your early academic career, as well as balancing life and work as an early career faculty starting up a new research group.

This episode’s conversation is with Dr. Brian Aguado an Assistant Professor at UCSD. Dr. Aguado discusses his journey to his current position highlighting the influence of key mentors and his background which have shaped him not only as a researcher but also as an educator and advocate for an inclusive STEM community. Throughout the conversation we learn about what it takes to make it through the faculty job market, build a new lab, and develop healthy personal care routines all the while coping with a global pandemic ensues. 

Our sixth episode features Dr. Tejal Desai, currently Deborah Cowan Endowed Professor and former chair of the Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, and the incoming Dean of Engineering at Brown University. She received her B.S. from Brown University in biomedical engineering in 1994 and was awarded a Ph.D. in bioengineering jointly from UCSF and UC Berkeley in 1998. Dr. Desai’s research spans multiple disciplines including materials engineering, cell biology, tissue engineering, and pharmacological delivery systems to develop new therapeutic interventions for disease. She seeks to design new platforms, enabled by advancements in micro and nanotechnology, to overcome existing challenges in therapeutic delivery. She is a past President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and is a fellow of AIMBE, IAMBE, CRS, and BMES. In 2015, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and in 2019 to the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Desai is also a vocal advocate for STEM education and outreach to women and underrepresented minority students. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Desai about the importance of bridging scientific communities for the benefit of both the people and scientific research, as well as balancing service commitments and leadership roles in an academic career.

Our seventh episode features Dr. Carlo Rizzuto, Managing Director at Versant Ventures. He joined the firm as a Principal in 2012 and has been promoted to Managing Director in 2022, where he is still involved in building and investing in a number of Versant’s portfolio companies. Prior to Versant Ventures, Dr. Rizzuto was at Novartis where he led global product development teams advancing innovative new medicine, and was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Co. advising U.S. and European clients in the pharmaceutical, payor, and provider sectors. Dr. Rizzuto holds a Ph.D. in virology from Harvard University.

In this episode we discuss with Dr. Rizzuto his career journey, highlighting the several skills and tools he honed along the way. We learn which skills are essential to be a good investor and founder, how to manage an intensive schedule with long days, and how outstanding technology can be transferred from an academic bench to a biotechnology startup.

Versant Ventures is a venture capital company focused on biotech startups. This firm has a broad, diverse portfolio with successful stories of investment in biotech startups in the US, Canada, and Europe, in gene therapy, gene editing, cell therapy, and precision oncology.

Our eighth episode features Dr. Milica Radisic, Professor at the University of Toronto, Canada. She is internationally renowned for shaping a new field of organ-on-a-chip engineering and developing new biomaterials that promote healing and attenuate scarring. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University, and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT. In this episode we discuss with Dr. Radisic about her journey from being a graduate student at MIT to becoming an independent researcher, and the responsibilities that are involved in such a role. We hear about her experience as a mentor, her views about work life balance, and how the pandemic changed research. 

Our latest episode features Chris Ghadban, Chief of Staff at Alix Ventures. He joined the company as a Venture Follow in the summer of 2021 and has been working as Chief of Staff since February 2022. Mr. Ghadban is focused on techbio platforms and on supporting early-stage life science startups. Prior to Alix Ventures, Chris was a Senior Strategy & Innovation Associate with AstraZeneca’s Emerging Innovations Unit, where he scouted early-stage technologies to catalyze through collaborative partnerships and built a global startup mentoring program. Mr. Ghadban has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology Engineering and a Master of Science in Bioengineering, both from Tufts University. He is currently earning his MBA from University of Pennsylvania. 

In this episode we discuss with Mr. Ghadban his career journey, highlighting the several entrepreneurial-related roles he has had, from a life science consultant to his role at AstraZeneca, and his transition to venture capital. We also talk about BIOS, an online community started by Mr. Chadban, Alix Ventures and life science professionals, founders, VC, professors, and others, all with the same goal of accelerating life science startup innovation. 

Alix Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco. They support early-stage life science startups, with a special focus on techbio companies. 

Our new episode features Dr. Jennifer Levin Carter, Managing Director at Sandbox Industries and Blue Venture Fund. She joined the Fund in early 2021. Prior to Sandbox Industries and Blue Venture Fund, Dr. Carter was a Managing Director of JLC Precision Health Strategies. She has been a Board member, advisor, and consultant in multiple precision medicine, healthcare services, digital health, and life science companies, both public and private. Dr. Carter has also been involved in the foundation of several companies. In 2018 she founded TrialzOWN™, a healthcare company in stealth, and was the CEO until its prelaunch acquisition in 2019 by Integral Health, a Flagship Pioneering Company, now known as Valo Health. Prior to this venture, Dr. Carter was the Founder and President of N-of-One®, serving as acting-CEO from 2008 to 2012, and Chief Medical Officer from 2012 until its acquisition by Qiagen in 2019. Prior to the foundation of these companies, Dr. Carter advised several life sciences companies as a consultant and practiced internal medicine at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Carter has a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, an MD from Harvard Medical School, an MPH from Harvard School of Public Health, and an MBA from the Sloan School at MIT.

In this episode we discuss with Dr. Carter her career journey, highlighting the several skills and tools she honed along the way, especially as a founder of two healthcare startups. We also talk about the importance of building a great team, how to stay motivated, and how to successfully transition careers. 

Our new episode features Dr. Misti Ushio, Managing Partner at Digitalis Ventures. Prior to joining Digitalis Ventures, Dr. Ushio was the founding CEO of TARA Biosystems, which was acquired by ValoHealth in 2022. TARA Biosystems was spun out of Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic’s lab at Columbia University and Prof. Milica Radisic’s lab at the University of Toronto. TARA developed physiologically relevant 3D cardiac tissue models for cardiac risk assessment and drug discovery applications. Previously, Dr. Ushio served as Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of Harris & Harris Group, where she advised and invested in life sciences companies. Dr. Ushio has also held management roles at Merck & Company, where she developed vaccines and biological products, and Columbia Technology Ventures, where she managed the intellectual property of several scientific and engineering portfolios. She has also served as a Director on the boards of private and public life sciences companies. Dr. Ushio holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University, and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. 

In this episode we discuss with Dr. Ushio her career journey, highlighting her entrepreneurial experience at different companies and entrepreneurial stages. We also discuss the foundation, growth, and acquisition of TARA Biosystems, the field of biotech generally, and the transition to a career in Venture Capital.

Digitalis Ventures is a venture capital firm with headquarters in New York City. They invest in solutions to complex problems in human and animal health and support entrepreneurs, scientists, and inventors in their entrepreneurial ventures.

In this month’s episode, we are delighted to host Dr. Kelsey Kennedy, a valued consultant at McKinsey & Company. Dr. Kennedy specializes in providing commercial guidance to medical device companies.  Additionally, she is a co-founder of OncoRes Medical, a start-up that develops intraoperative imaging technology to provide surgeons with realtime assessment of tissue microstructure.

During this episode, Dr. Kennedy shares her fascinating journey from academia to consulting, shedding light on the distinctions between the two. Furthermore, she provides us with an insightful glimpse into the world of consulting, offering a deeper understanding of its nature.

Our latest episode features Dr. Kara Spiller, Professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. She is a leader in the biomedical engineering community, known for her passion and focus on building an immunoengineering community within the field. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, where she also completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2010. In this episode we discuss with Dr. Spiller about her journey from being a graduate student at Drexel, pursuing a number of international research experiences, and becoming an independent research and full tenured professor at such a rapid-fire pace. We hear about her experiences in pursuing research abroad, motivations for her own lab, and how she's bringing together researchers from all over the biomedical fields to advance the burgeoning field of immunoengineering.

Our latest episode features Dr. Guellermo Ameer, the Daniel Hale Williams professor of Biomedical Engineering and Surgery in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the McCormick School of Engineering and the Department of Surgery in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. Ameer is the founding director of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering (CARE). His research interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative engineering, and bio/nanotechnologies for diagnostics and therapeutics. Dr. Ameer has co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed journal publications and conference abstracts, several book chapters, and over 60 patents issued and pending in 9 countries. Several of his patents have been licensed to companies to develop medical products, as well as spun out of the lab to the market into early stage biotech companies. Dr. Ameer is a member of National Academy of Medicine, a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a Fellow of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Dr. Ameer received his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and his doctoral degree in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this episode, we will hear about Dr. Ameer's experiences in pursuing a research career, translating technologies from the lab into industry, and navigating a work-life balance in his career.

Our latest episode features Dr. Tomas Gonzalez-Fernandez who started his role as an Assistant Professor at the Bioengineering Department at Lehigh University in 2022. Gonzalez-Fernandez received his PhD in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering in 2018 from Trinity College Dublin under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Kelly and Fergal O’Brien. After completing his PhD, Tomas joined the Leach lab at UC Davis. During his career he has been honored with prestigious awards and fellowships such as the American Heart Association Postdoctoral fellowship, and the Rising Star in Engineering and Health by Columbia University. 

In this episode we discuss Dr. Gonzalez-Fernandez’s journey from being a postdoc to becoming an Assistant Professor. We further discuss his experience as being a new PI, his leadership and time management skills and his perspective about academia. 

We further share here a few very helpful resources we discuss during the podcast:

1. Postdoc-Faculty transition seminars/workshops:

·      UCSF: https://career.ucsf.edu/phds/career-paths/faculty/prepare-explore

·      Columbia/JHU/Cornell: https://www.bme.cornell.edu/bme/resources/extracurricular-programs/rising-stars-engineering-health

2. Faculty Success Program: https://www.facultydiversity.org/fsp-bootcamp

3. Grant writing book: https://www.grantcentral.com/workbooks/national-institutes-of-health/

4. Gonzalez-Fernandez Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfTGF

Our new episode features Dr. Hunter Rogers, Investment Research Analyst at a globally and nationally ranked academic medical center. Prior to this role, Dr. Rogers was an Equity Research Associate with a focus on biotech investment opportunities at William Blair. Previously, Dr. Rogers also served as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Northwestern University. Dr. Rogers has a Bachelor of Engineering and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University, and a PhD in Life Sciences from Northwestern University. 

In this episode we discuss with Dr. Rogers his career journey, highlighting the influence of his entrepreneurial experience during his PhD and postdoctoral training in his transition to a career in biotech investment. We talked about the several skills Dr. Rogers sharpened along the way as he also provides us with an insightful glimpse into the world of equity research and biotech investment.

In our latest episode, we feature Dr. Elisa Cimetta, an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Padua and Principal Investigator of the BIAMET laboratory (Biomedical Applications of Multiscale Engineering Technologies). Dr. Cimetta obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Padua and conducted postdoctoral research at Columbia University, where she co-founded EpiBone, a Columbia University spinoff devoted to producing engineered bone and osteochondral patient-specific tissues. Her journey to academia was marked by innovative research and collaborations, leading her to her current position as a Visiting Research Scientist at Prof. Vunjak-Novakovic’s laboratory. In this episode, we explore Dr. Cimetta’s trajectory, exploring her pivotal moments, research interests, and the challenges and rewards of launching a new research group. Join us as we uncover Dr. Cimetta’s insights on navigating academia and forging a successful career path in engineering and biomedical research. 

In our latest episode, we feature Dr. Brooke Coley, a bioengineer and social justice scholar. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the Polytechnic School of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU). She is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Research Advancing Racial Equity, Justice, and Sociotechnical Innovation Centered in Engineering (RARE JUSTICE). Dr. Coley earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering with a concentration in Biomechanics from the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County as a Meyerhoff Scholar. Prior to joining the Polytechnic School, she completed her postdoctoral training at ASU in engineering education. Dr. Coley’s research lies at the intersection of racial equity, mental health and qualitative research methods encompassing critical theory, participation action research, and arts-based research methods. In this episode, we gain insight into Dr. Coley’s career trajectory and how she has dealt with adversity and used her experiences to become an agent of change and advocate for inclusion in all levels of her work. Join us as we learn more about Dr. Coley’s unique academic journey and how she hopes to push the bounds of traditionally heteronormative engineering environments through transdisciplinary approaches.