Exploring Careers in Biotechnology

October 23, 2024 | 3:30 – 4:30 PM EDT | Zoom

Are you curious about where a career in biotechnology could take you?

Join us on October 23, 2024, from 3:30 – 4:30 PM EDT for an engaging and insightful Zoom career panel featuring industry professionals from diverse sectors of biotech!

Our panelists include a scientist, research associate, bioinformatician, and business analyst who will share their unique career journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the impact they are making in biotech companies working in genomics, stem cells, artificial intelligence, and drug development. Whether you’re a student, postdoc, or professional looking to pivot into biotech, this panel will offer valuable insights and advice on how to navigate and thrive in this dynamic industry.

Meet the panelists:

• Antonia Du Bois, MSc – Senior Research Associate, Deep Genomics
• Kevin Robb, PhD – Scientist, STEMCELL Technologies & UHN Alum
• Thenuka Thanabalasingam, MSc – Technical Lead, Data Standardization, BenchSci
• Dara Lo, PhD – Specialist IS Business Analyst, Amgen

This event is free and open to everyone! Register now for a glimpse into the world of biotech!

Antonia Du Bois, MSc – Senior Research Associate, Deep Genomics

• Antonia was not always a scientist, beginning her higher education with a joint science and arts degree at the University of Guelph in 2015. After exploring her interests in a range of non-scientific areas including studio art, theatre, and classical studies, she changed course in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Antonia researched cancer biology, investigated stress response and post-translational modification in human solid tumor cells, and volunteered in molecular virology research, focusing her courses on virology and infectious disease.
• Discovering a love for studying pathogens and infectious diseases, she began a Master of Science in Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. Here she spearheaded drug-discovery work investigating candidate antifungals against dangerous and drug-resistant fungal pathogens. During this research, she shared her work at the Canadian Fungal Network and Great Lakes Mycology Conference in 2021 and graduated with an MSc in 2022.
• After completing her MSc, Antonia swiftly entered the biotechnology industry. She returned to her roots of cancer research, training at a medical device company specializing in cutting-edge cancer diagnostic technology before moving on to her current role. As a Senior Research Associate at Deep Genomics, Antonia is working on the frontier of AI-led-RNA-therapeutic development in the Research and Development teams.

Kevin Robb, PhD – Scientist, STEMCELL Technologies

• Kevin Robb is a Scientist in Research & Development at STEMCELL Technologies in Vancouver, Canada. In this role, Kevin applies his 8 years of research experience on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to develop products and workflows that support research in the field. Kevin completed a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and University Health Network under the supervision of Dr. Sowmya Viswanathan where his work led to multiple publications and patent applications. He also writes about professional development and cell therapies as a blogger for the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM) in Toronto.

Thenuka Thanabalasingam., MSc – Technical Lead, Data Standardization, BenchSci

• Thenuka is currently a Technical Lead of Data Standardization at BenchSci, a biomedical AI start-up focused on accelerating pre-clinical research. After completing her Master’s degree at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, where her research centered on using induced pluripotent stem cells for lung tissue regeneration, she transitioned into the tech industry. Synthesizing her subject matter expertise in biomedical science with technical and product management skills, she now collaborates with teams to develop cutting-edge data products for biomedical AI. She’s an advocate of being open to new career directions, especially as it relates to life science students, and is always excited to connect with student and trainee communities. Thenuka is a former UHN volunteer, working with rehabilitation therapists during weekend therapy sessions at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

Dara Lo, PhD – Specialist IS Business Systems Analyst, Amgen

• Dara Lo is a Product Owner working on an enterprise-wide data catalog at Amgen to enable reverse translation and precision medicine. Dara is part of the Research & Development Information Systems department whose mandate is to empower scientists at the company with the right software tools to make data-driven decisions. Prior to coming to Amgen in 2021, Dara was a team lead for the in vitro diagnostics portfolio at Global Data, a B2B market research firm. Dara was trained as a wet lab scientist and obtained her PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Toronto in 2019. Outside of work, Dara enjoys coaching high school girls’ basketball and travelling.