Message from the organizing committee
Join forces with us at the Science to Business Network (S2BN) Toronto Chapter as we collaborate with the St. Michael's Hospital Research Student Association (SRSA) to bring you the highly anticipated 5th annual Academia-to-Industry Meeting (AIM)! Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
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About Our Conference
Academia to Industry Meeting (AIM) is a multi-university full-day careers conference which will provide an interactive forum for graduate students, faculty, and industry professionals in STEM to share career advice, discuss the future of life science industry, and network.
The theme for AIM 2024 is "The Future of AI in Life Sciences"
Through a lens of industry disruption and innovation, we aim to explore the profound impact of AI advancements on the landscape of life sciences careers, unveiling trends in life sciences technology that are revolutionizing the field. Join us as we navigate the terrain of career path evolution, leveraging STEM degrees to maximize potential, and embracing innovation as the driving force of tomorrow's professionals in life sciences.
Key events & dates
Virtual
In-Person
Zoom
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Monday June 24, 2024
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St. Michael’s Hospital Allan Waters Family Auditorium Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute 209 Victoria St, Toronto, M5B 1T8
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Early Registration: May 10 - May 31
Late Registration: June 1 - June 24
Event Highlights
Keynote Speech
Career Panels
Skills Development Workshops
Company Feature Sessions
Networking
Event Programming
Registration and Breakfast
Introduction
Keynote Speaker
Panel Discussion I
AI & The Future of Life Sciences
Lunch
Panel Discussion II
Responding to Change: Career Strategy in a Rapidly Evolving World
Refreshment
Skill Development Workshops (CONCURRENT)
Workshop 1:
Find your Skills - Discover Your Superpower
Workshop 2:
Authentic Networking: Level Up Your Leadership Skills
Workshop 3:
Negotiating What You Are Worth
Workshop 4:
Building a Career Toolkit: Strategies for Resumes and Cover Letters
Workshop 5:
Beyond the Bachelor's: Insights into Career Trajectories
Closing Remark & Company Info Session
Networking
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
9:45 AM
11:00 AM
12:15 PM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
4:00 PM
In-Person
Virtual
Meet the speakers
Keynote speaker: Navigating the Future: Emerging Trends, Applications, and Career Paths in AI
Frincy Clement - Head of North America & Ambassador for Canada, Women in AI
Principal Data Scientist, ADP
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Keynote speaker
Frincy Clement, MSc, MBA - WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Principal Data Scientist, ADP Head of North America Ambassador for Canada, Women in AI Expert Member - AI Governance Alliance, World Economic Forum Steering Committee Member - AI and Data Governance Collaborative, Standard Council of Canada
Panel Discussion I: AI & The Future of Life Sciences
Dr. Pascal Tyrrell, PhD - Associate Professor | Director, Data Science, Department of Medical Imaging; University of Toronto
Simon Smith, MA - EVP Generative AI; Klick
Dr. Christopher Li, PhD - CEO and Founder of BioBox Analytics Inc.
Panel Discussion II: Responding to Change: Career Strategy in A Rapidly Evolving World
Dr. Amol Deshpande, MD, MBA - Senior Director, Health, Venture Services; MaRS Discovery District
Kirby James, MHSc - COO & Board Chair; HG Learning Solutions
Dr. Anish Kaushal, MD - Associate; Amplitude Ventures
Dr. Garima Ghale, PhD - Associate Director; Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
Skills Development Workshops (CONCURRENT)
Workshop 1: Find your Skills - Discover Your Superpower
Dr. Bruce Seet, PhD, MBA - Founder of S2BN, Directors of Medical Affairs; Novavax
Workshop 2: Authentic Networking: Level Up Your Leadership Skills
Jean Chow - Business & Career Coach
Workshop3: Negotiating What You Are Worth
Kirby James, MHSc - COO & Board Chair; HG Learning Solutions
Workshop 4: Building a Career Toolkit: Strategies for Resumes and Cover Letters
Dr. Alex Lang, PhD, MBA - Career Coach | Manager, Medical Information; Johnson & Johnson
Workshop 5: Beyond the Bachelor's: Insights into Career Trajectories (Virtual only)
Elle Liang - Talent Acquisition Specialist; Crohn's and Colitis Canada
Gurleen Sandhu - Lab Technician/Flow Cytometry Specialist
Kevin Tse, UofT Alumni - PhD Candidate; Yale University
Yun-Kyo Kim - MD/PhD Candidate; University of Toronto
As EVP Generative AI at Klick, Simon works to unleash generative AI’s revolutionary potential for health. With over 20 years at the nexus of life science strategy and technology, he has directed award-winning digital strategy for drug launches, led marketing for a successful biomedical AI startup, and spearheaded using large language models in pharmaceutical R&D. His focus at Klick is to conceptualize, facilitate, and evangelize generative AI innovation in healthcare. Passionate about pushing marketing boundaries with new technologies, he has won multiple awards for innovations in user experience and leveraging novel technologies such as virtual reality to communicate with consumers and healthcare professionals. Prior to rejoining Klick, Simon spent five years as Chief Marketing Officer for a biomedical AI startup, and another 1.5 years as an R&D Engineer there developing novel applications of large language models for biomedical research. He was the host of the AI in Drug Discovery podcast and a lecturer on AI in drug discovery for the European Center of Pharmaceutical Medicine, and has published articles in outlets ranging from PM 360 to Forbes to Drug Development & Delivery.
Pascal Tyrrell, an accomplished data scientist, is the Director of Data Science and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto's Department of Medical Imaging. He founded the MiDATA data science program and holds appointments in the Institute of Medical Science and the Department of Statistical Sciences. His research applies innovative Artificial Intelligence to medical image analysis for improved health outcomes. Pascal is also a serial entrepreneur with experience spanning computer software, medical devices, and agri-tech.
Chris is the CEO and co-founder of BioBox Analytics. BioBox is a data intelligence platform that helps scientists make better decisions in drug discovery. Prior to BioBox, Chris was completing his PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at SickKids hospital and the University of Toronto.
Garima is passionate about translating scientific innovations into real-world impact. As the Associate Director of Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO), she supports the scaling and commercialization of health science technologies. She currently spearheads the OBIO Women in Health Initiative (WiHI) — a program dedicated exclusively to supporting women entrepreneurs in the health & life sciences sector. Prior to joining OBIO, she was a Venture Manager at the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), where she sourced, evaluated innovative technologies, and supported early-stage ventures to their value. Her expertise spans diligence on life science start-ups, fundraising strategies, stakeholder relationship management, and communications. Garima holds a PhD in Chemistry from Germany. She is a recipient of the prestigious DFF-MOBILEX mobility grant from the Danish Council for Independent Research and was selected as one of the young scientists to attend the 59th Lindau Nobel Laureates Meeting. In her free time, she enjoys impromptu dance parties with her daughter.
Dr. Anish Kaushal is a venture capitalist, doctor and writer. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he spent 6 years studying in Scotland, getting a first class degree in medicine from the University of St. Andrews and his MD at the University of Edinburgh. He then joined the healthcare venture capital world in Amsterdam working for M Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Merck KGaA and most recently in Canada where he works for Amplitude Ventures, one of the largest healthcare VC funds in the country.
Doing “it” right is not enough for Kirby. He always strives to do and help others do everything with excellence. He connects how we think with how we lead people to create new solutions. It is no surprise that through his coaching and teaching Kirby embraced the pursuit of Mastery as a way of life. Kirby holds a Fellow in Board Governance, is a Master Black Belt in Lean & 6 Sigma, is a Master of Health Science, a Master of Martial Arts, is certified in organization culture assessment and is a certified executive coach. As well, Kirby is a cofounder of a startup software company. Kirby has addressed thousands of CEOs & future leaders plus tens of thousands more adults on a wide range of leadership and operations topics.
Amol is the Senior Director, Health at MaRS. Past “lives” include an academic clinician in chronic non-cancer pain management for over two decades with research in cannabis in chronic pain, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, and stints in the start-up world, occupational health, cardiac assisting, emergency medicine, travel insurance, workplace insurance and many more clinical areas. He has always been fascinated with innovation and over the last several years has decided to ‘double down’ on his passion. In addition to the MaRS DD role, he is co-chair of HaloHealth.ca (a physician angel group), Venture Partner at AIoT Health and founder/host of Reboothealth.io, a podcast dedicated to great health innovators trying to change the health system for the better. He is continually learning from those around him. As has been said by those much wiser than he “…the destination pales in comparison to the journey we take.”
Elle Liang is a passionate HR and talent specialist based in Toronto, Ontario. Her interest in people and talent stems from her experience growing up around diverse cultures. After obtaining her B.Sc. in Psychology and Human Biology from the University of Toronto, Elle dived right into a career in HR and talent. Over her career she has worked with companies such as Microsoft, Lululemon, and CBC to recruit and cultivate talent. Currently the lead of talent at Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Elle is responsible for professional development and talent recruitment of the non-profit. With a background in building high-performing, inclusive teams and workforce planning, Elle excels in creative problem-solving and strategic talent management.
Gurleen completed a BSc in Biology and Medical Cell Biology from Western University in London, ON in 2019. She had the opportunity to participate in an internship program in her third year which introduced her to the biotechnology industry. Since then, she gained 4+ years of academic lab and industry experience in labs specializing in transfusion medicine research and T cell product manufacturing for cancer therapy. These opportunities have played a big role in her desire to continue applying her knowledge and skills to the world of clinical science.
Kevin acquired a strong background in molecular genetics during his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto. During his time there, he had the privilege of working under the guidance of Dr. Marc Meneghini and Dr. Miguel Ramalho-Santos, which significantly honed his research skills and scientific knowledge. Currently, Kevin is pursuing a Ph.D. at Yale University under the mentorship of Dr. Zachary Smith, where he is delving into the intricate biology of LINE-1 retrotransposons. His research focuses on utilizing mouse pre-implantation embryos and mouse testes as model systems to unravel the complexities of these prevalent genetic elements. Kevin’s academic journey thus far has provided him with a solid foundation for a career as a scientific researcher.
Alex grew up in Kingston and was an accomplished long-distance runner. At Queen’s University he obtained a BScH in Life Science and a PhD in Pharmacology. He completed his MBA in 2021 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In 2001 he joined industry as a Medical Information Associate. He has worked as a Scientific Advisor, Manager of Medical Information, Marketing Product Manager, Medical Science Liaison (MSL), Medical Writer, and Country Head of Medical Affairs in a variety of small and multinational companies. He is currently a Medical Information Manager at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine. He is an accomplished people-leader and career coach. As an educator, he has conducted >250 medical education events reaching thousands of healthcare professionals. In the past 4 years he has coached over 80 professionals to successfully land a role in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Bruce Seet is a leader and advocate for broadening professional development opportunities for highly qualified personnel (HQP) in STEM fields. Dr. Seet earned a B.Sc (Honours Physiology) and a Ph.D. (Microbiology and Immunology) from Western University, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at Mt. Sinai Hospital (Toronto). Bruce started his career in industry at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2006 where he held a variety of roles from medical affairs to marketing and market access. Bruce moved to Sanofi Pasteur in 2014 where he worked as a Director, Medical Affairs until 2022 when he was appointed as the Head of Medical Affairs at Novavax (Canada). Dr. Seet is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto. Bruce founded and serves as the President/CEO of the Science to Business Network (www.s2bn.org), a national multi-chapter, fully volunteer, non-profit organization established in 2011 that provides professional development opportunities for HQP and STEM graduates. As a science communicator, he’s a frequent speaker, panelist and event moderator, and is also the host and executive producer of the S2BN Podcast which launched in 2020. He also serves on the Research Management Committee as well as the HQP Development Committee for BioCanRx, an NCE that accelerates the development of cancer immunotherapeutics in Canada. He has been recognized for his volunteer work by Life Science’s Ontario (LSO) with their 2020 Community Service Award and with the 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Community Service Award.
Jean is an energetic educator, super connector, and respected business and career coach. At the University of Toronto, Jean teaches LMP 2354 – Hacking the Networking Code and SCS 4100 - Networking: An Intelligent Approach to Levelling Up Your Leadership Skills, as well as leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship, intercultural communications, and advanced career management at various post-secondary institutions in the GTA. Jean holds a Diploma, Accounting from Saskatchewan Polytechnic, studied Asian Studies at University of British Columbia, and completed certificates in Digital Marketing Management and Advanced Marketing from University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies .She is the proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution in supporting young entrepreneurs. Jean is a volunteer member of University of Toronto SCS’s EDI Advisory Council. So far Jean has had four careers, lived, worked, and travelled to 6 out of the 7 continents and is a former member of the Zambian Women’s Squash Team. She currently lives in Toronto and is writing a memoir and a field guide on professional networking.
Doing “it” right is not enough for Kirby. He always strives to do and help others do everything with excellence. He connects how we think with how we lead people to create new solutions. It is no surprise that through his coaching and teaching Kirby embraced the pursuit of Mastery as a way of life. Kirby holds a Fellow in Board Governance, is a Master Black Belt in Lean & 6 Sigma, is a Master of Health Science, a Master of Martial Arts, is certified in organization culture assessment and is a certified executive coach. As well, Kirby is a cofounder of a startup software company. Kirby has addressed thousands of CEOs & future leaders plus tens of thousands more adults on a wide range of leadership and operations topics.
Yun Kim is an MD/PhD student at the University of Toronto. A Whiteside and Vanier scholar at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, he is currently completing his doctoral work in developmental genetics under Dr. Sevan Hopyan at the Hospital for Sick Children. Yun's research investigates the role of biophysical forces during embryo formation, and how mechanical cues can affect fetal signalling at the epigenetic level. He obtained his HBSc in Molecular Genetics, also at the University of Toronto, where he completed undergraduate thesis work with Dr. Miguel Ramalho-Santos and Dr. Norman Rosenblum. Prior to a clinician-scientist path, Yun pursed a musical career with dual ARCTs in piano/violin performance from the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music. He hails from the formerly farm- and livestock-filled town of Milton, Ontario
Frincy, an award-winning AI leader and passionate advocate for women in technology, currently leads as the Head of North America and Canadian Ambassador for Women in AI (WAI), driving initiatives to inspire, mentor and elevate women in the field. With over nine years of experience in diverse sectors including Telecom, IT and Consumer Goods, she also excels as a Principal Data Scientist at ADP. Recognized as one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women, Global Top 100 Women Advancing AI and an influential voice in emerging tech, Frincy’s contributions to AI have garnered multiple awards and recognitions. She plays a significant role in AI governance, contributing to standardization strategies with Standards Council Canada as a Steering Committee Member of the AI & Data Governance Collaborative and as an expert member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Governance Alliance.
Thank You To Our Sponsors !
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