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Merck Global Vaccines and Analytics Panel Discussion

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

4:00 PM-5:30 PM

BIOMED Special Seminar

Title:
Merck Global Vaccines and Analytics Panel Discussion

Details:
Merck seeks to build partnerships that augment existing company efforts intended to increase the diversity of our new hire, co-op, and internship candidate pools. Through this panel discussion, we will develop a network and partnership with Drexel that will offer training and mentoring opportunities for students in STEM fields. Merck panelists will discuss topics including career paths, career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, interview tips, and more! We encourage students to come to the panel with questions to promote an interactive environment with fruitful discussions.

RSVP: CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Speakers:
Jill DeHaven, Associate Director, Engineering, has a BS in Biology from Villanova University and an MS in Clinical Research Organization and Management from Drexel University. Jill's career at Merck began in 1996 as a scientist in basic research, performing potency testing, and has since transitioned to the Manufacturing Division, managing pre-commercial supply chain sample shipments.

Umme Amira, Scientist, Engineering, has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University. Umme completed undergraduate research through the STAR Scholars program and completed a co-op at Sanofi Pasteur in analytical development. Since joining Merck, Umme has been working in vaccine process development, and is now venturing into biologics.

Erin Boston, Associate Director, Engineering, graduated in 2004 from Drexel University with a BS in Commerce and Engineering and did two co-ops with Merck (one in manufacturing and one in research). Erin has spent her career in manufacturing, including supporting production in Varicella, authoring electronic batch records for all sterile operations, and finally, leading a team and digital strategy during the design and startup of a new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine manufacturing facility.

Dominic Falcone, Manager, Operations, graduated in 2016 from Drexel with a BS in Materials Science and Engineering, and participated in the STAR scholar program in his freshman year. Dominic's career at Merck began in 2020 as a biotechnician, supporting the manufacturing of Pneumovax23, and he gradually moved into a management role within the same department.

Joe Finlayson, Associate Specialist, Manufacturing Automation, graduated from Drexel in 2021 with a BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering, then began working at Merck. Joe has been in the Manufacturing Automation Department for 1.5 years, supporting Recombivax and Gardasil manufacturing.

Prem Patel, Manager, Operations, graduated in 2020 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University. After graduating, Prem went to work as a contractor for Merck under a previous co-op manager. Then, over a couple years, Prem moved up to a manager role, leading a team on the second/third shift for a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).

Lindsay Scheetz, Senior Scientist, Engineering, has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Michigan. Lindsay's undergraduate and graduate research on drug delivery systems for oncology therapies inspired her to pursue a career in research, and she is happily working on vaccines at Merck today.

Konstantinos Vrontis, Senior Specialist, Engineering, graduated from Drexel in 2015 with a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering. He did three co-ops with smaller medical device companies and worked in the medical device industry after graduation, prior to joining Merck's Components and Materials Center of Excellence group in 2020. There, he acted as an SME for single-use components and assemblies and support sites with single-use assembly design for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. He also taught part-time at Drexel as an adjunct faculty in the School of Biomedical Engineering.

Contact Information

Lisa Williams
ltw22@drexel.edu

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Location

Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building (PISB), Room 120, located on the northeast corner of 33rd and Chestnut Streets.

Audience

  • Everyone