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Past Events in this Academic Year 2024-25
Mentoring Program Meetup: Icebreaker Bingo
Sunday, Nov 10th, 2024 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Hartley Conference Room (Room 130),
Mitchell Earth Science Building 1st floor
Our Mentoring Group kicked off the 2024-2025 program with a fun icebreaker event, where mentor-mentee pairs met for the first time. Attendees engaged in a lively Icebreaker "People bingo" session, designed to spark conversations and learn more about one another. It was a great way to build community and set the tone for another exciting academic year. We look forward to connecting even more in the months ahead!
AWIS - NCC Annual Awards Gala
Saturday, Oct 26th, 2024 at 5:00 - 9:00 PM
Scoma's Restaurant, San Francisco
Every year the 3 chapters of AWIS in the Bay Area (Palo Alto, Sacramento, East Bay) host an awards gala at San Francisco that honors outstanding women in science for their achievements. This event includes an inspiring keynote speaker, remarks from the award recipients, and the opportunity for attendees to network.
This year, with the brilliant idea from Dr. Julie Huang and generous support from VPGE at Stanford University, AWIS Mentorship Program is able to provide financial support for 5 Stanford students to attend the gala!
Below are the photos of our Stanford students and co-chairs enjoying the gala!
Introductory Meeting to AWIS-PA
and the Mentoring Program
Get Tips, 1:1 Mentoring, and More!
with Association of Women In Science
Wednesday, Oct 9th, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Free dinner serves at 6:30pm
Online + Hartley Conference Room (Room 130),
Mitchell Earth Science Building 1st floor
AWIS is the largest multidisciplinary organization for professional women in STEM dedicated to empowering women in STEM. Our members include but not limited to Stanford graduate students, Stanford alumni who work and live around.
Whether you're a student exploring your career path or a seasoned professional seeking to make a difference, AWIS provides the support, resources, and opportunities you need to thrive.
In the event, we introduced our program including professional development seminar, mentor-mentee program. We also had a panel of 5 past mentor and mentees shared their view of the mentorhsip program.
Past Events in Academic Year 2023-24
End-of-Year Thank You Luncheon
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 11am-2:30PM
Hartley Conference Room, Mitchell Earth Science Building 1st floor
We are closing off this academic year with a THANK YOU luncheon. Thank you all for being part of a very successful year as a mentor, mentee or supporter of our program.
Industry Job Hunting 101(Part 2)
Panelists: Dr. Julie Huang, Dr. Lisa Blum, Dr. Jennifer Cao,
Kiren Khanduja, Ivy Nguyen, Lisa Stemmerich
Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Hartley Conference Room, Mitchell Earth Science Building, Stanford University
In this session, we have gathered a panel of experienced hiring managers and Human Resource personnels in the biotech industry to talk about the interview process, how to negotiate job offers, and how to do well on your first 90 days on the job.
Panelists
Panelists
Moderator : Dr. Julie Huang
Moderator : Dr. Julie Huang
Dr. Julie Huang is a staff scientist at Alector, Inc. where she leads the scientific strategy for clinical trials assessing cutting-edge therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Prior to joining Alector, Julie was a lead scientist at Caribou Biosciences where she conducted proof-of-concept studies testing CRISPR-engineered microbes as a potential therapy for cancer. Julie was a post-doctoral fellow in Amgen, Inc.'s Inflammation and Oncology Department and holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford, a Bachelor of Science in Geobiology from Caltech, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Germany where she conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. Julie is passionate about communicating science to broad audiences and mentoring students and early career professionals from under-resourced backgrounds.
Speaker: Dr. Lisa Blum
Speaker: Dr. Lisa Blum
Lisa is a Principal Scientist at NGM Biopharmaceuticals, where she serves as a global Translational Science lead for early-stage immuno-oncology clinical programs. Her past industry experience spans both small biotech and large pharmaceutical companies. She received her PhD in Immunology from Cornell University, and performed her postdoctoral work at Stanford University School of Medicine. Lisa is committed to giving back, inspired by the support and mentorship she has received throughout her career. She is driven by a passion for advancing precision medicine and translating innovative ideas into life-saving and life-changing therapies.
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Cao
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Cao
Jen is the Director of Translational Science at Pheast Therapeutics, a Stanford spin-off that is developing novel therapies that activate the innate immune system to fight against cancer. Prior to Pheast, Jen worked in several biotech/pharmaceutical companies (namely Gilead, 47 Inc and AbbVie) in the field of oncology. She received her PhD degree in Molecular Genetics from University of Toronto, and her postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Jen is passionate about science advocacy and mentorship. She is co-chair of AWIS Palo Alto Mentorship Program this year.
Speaker: Kiren Khanduja
Speaker: Kiren Khanduja
Kiren Khanduja is the director of CMC at Pheast Therapeutics brings more than 15 years of experience in the biotechnology industry across process development, manufacturing, and CMC strategy for biologics. Prior to Pheast, Kiren was Director of Process Development and Manufacturing at Pionyr Immunotherapeutics, where she led outsourced CMC activities and had a key role in stakeholder management with CDMO partners in Europe and corporate partners Gilead Sciences and Ikena Oncology. Prior to Pionyr, Kiren worked at Boehringer Ingelheim, leading late stage development activities for CDMO clients, including process characterization and validation. Earlier in her biotech career, she worked at Perseid Therapeutics and Genentech. She is passionate about leadership development and creating opportunities for other women in STEM. Kiren earned an M.S.E/B.S. from the Johns Hopkins University in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and lives in San Francisco.
Speaker: Ivy Nguyen
Speaker: Ivy Nguyen
Ivy is the Head of Human Resources Consultant for several Series A/ B biotech companies in the SF Bay Area and Seattle. She has supported several life sciences organizations from inception through IPO. She acts as a thought partner to leadership, focused on building working relationships, supporting culture and cultivating a growth mindset among her teams. Prior to consulting, she led Human Resources activities at Forty Seven Inc., from Series B through IPO and its eventual acquisition by Gilead Sciences. She is passionate about empowering and supporting Women in STEM and advocatiing for DEI&B at all of her clients.
Speaker: Lisa Stemmerich
Speaker: Lisa Stemmerich
Lisa recently served as Chief Human Resources Officer for Pionyr Immunotherapeutics a privately held biotech company focused on developing immuno-oncology therapies prior to the company’s merger with Ikena Oncology. Lisa currently provides senior HR consulting support to emerging biotech companies in the Bay Area. She has over 30 years’ experience leading the HR function within growing life sciences organizations from their erly seed financing through M&A as well as IPO transactions. Lisa has held HR executive roles at agricultural biotech and life sciences organizations such as Monsanto, Exelixis, KAI Pharmaceuticals, Labrys Biologics and Antiva Biosciences. She fosters a culture of learning, inclusivity and community within the organizations she’s a part of. Lisa holds an MBA from the University of California, Davis.
Industry Job Hunting 101(Part 1)
Speaker: Dr. Abby Kennedy and Jennifer Idris
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Hartley Conference Room, Mitchell Earth Science Building, Stanford University
This first seminar focused on crafting resumes, finding job openings, and the art of interviewing. As part of these broader topics, the seminar touched on key skills such as networking, best practices in working with recruiters, and effectively using online resources such as LinkedIn. There was a deep dive into a recent case study from a successful job seeker.
Speakers
Speakers
Speaker : Abby Kennedy
Speaker : Abby Kennedy
Abby Kennedy received her BS in chemistry from Allegheny College and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the U. of Arizona. She started her career in drug discovery as a medicinal chemist at Exelixis. After completing her Clinical Trials Design and Mgmt Certification at SFSU, Abby became a Sr. Clinical Trial Manager at Exelixis in support of the successful filing of cabozantinib for the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer. Abby joined CymaBay Therapeutics in 2021 as VP of Clinical Operations, leading a team focused on bringing seladelpar to market for patients with primary biliary cholangitis.
Over the past 20 years, Abby has been thrilled to volunteer and mentor for ACS, AWIS, HBA, the Association for Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), Oakland Girls’ Softball League and the Oakland High Parent Teacher Organization. Abby lives in Oakland, CA and enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two daughters and two pandemic puppies.
Speaker: Jennifer Idris
Speaker: Jennifer Idris
Jennifer Idris grew up in Indonesia and has been living in the Bay Area since 2012. Her professional journey started in medical device industry as a Clinical Imaging Analyst, wherein the past four years, she was part of the company’s Clinical Affairs/Operations team for their global lung cancer study, European COPD studies and post-marketing registry.
In December 2023, Jennifer joined the pharmaceutical industry, Corcept Therapeutics, as a Clinical Research Associate II where she is a European regional lead for the company’s phase III Relacorilant clinical study indicated for patients with Cushing Syndrome.
During weekends, Jennifer enjoys hiking with her husband and 3-year-old daughter, spending time with friends, and taking care of her collection of succulents.
Navigating the PhD-to-Data-Scientist Transition
Speaker: Dr. Chayawan Jaikla
Wednesday, March 5, 2024 at 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 365, Green Earth Science Building, Stanford University
In this talk, Dr. Jaikla shared her journey from a PhD in Geological Sciences to a career as a Data Scientist. Drawing upon her Stanford experience, she discussed practical tools, resources, and essential classes that she utilized when she was at Stanford to facilitate a successful transition. Whether you’re a fellow PhD graduate or someone curious about data science, join Dr. Jaikla as they explore the career after grad school.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Chayawan Jaikla is a Data & Applied Scientist at Microsoft where she develops machine learning models for Microsoft Security products. She received a PhD in Geological Sciences from Stanford, where her thesis integrates field work, sedimentology, subsurface data interpretation, and machine learning.
AWIS Mentor Sunday Brunch and Experience Share
Sunday, Feb 25, 2024 at 11AM - 1PM
Location: Conference Room 365, Green Earth Science Building, Stanford U
We want to thank and gather the AWIS mentors this year and share their experience thus far to better serve the mentees for the rest of the year. Special thanks to Susan Bernard for organizing this luncheon!
Cultivating Authentic Relationships
for Professional Advancement
Speaker: Dr. Julie Huang
Tuesday Dec 5, 2023 at 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Location: Conference Room 365, Green Earth Science Building, Stanford U
Unlock the secrets to cultivating meaningful professional relationships in a fun and authentic way! Many of us often hope that our hard work will speak for itself, leading to recognition and promotion. But guess what? Thriving relationships are the real keys to not only professional growth but also career fulfillment. So, why does the thought of building these connections feel so daunting? Ultimately, it is the fear of rejection that holds us back, but I am here to show you there is another way!
Join me as I share my stories and insights on cultivating genuine relationships that have propelled my career in unimaginable ways. In this, I hope to inspire you to develop your own unique approach to building authentic connections that will help you advance in your own career.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Julie Huang is a staff scientist at Alector, Inc. where she leads the scientific strategy for clinical trials assessing cutting-edge therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Prior to joining Alector, Julie was a lead scientist at Caribou Biosciences where she conducted proof-of-concept studies testing CRISPR-engineered microbes as a potential therapy for cancer. Julie was a post-doctoral fellow in Amgen, Inc.'s Inflammation and Oncology Department and holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford, a Bachelor of Science in Geobiology from Caltech, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Germany where she conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. Julie is passionate about communicating science to broad audiences and mentoring students and early career professionals from under-resourced backgrounds. Her science has been featured on iBiology and she recently received the AWIS Spark Award recognizing her efforts and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Career Checkup and Transitions Workshop
Wednesday, Mar 8th, 2023 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Stanford EVGR Building B 144 Meeting Room
Are you feeling uncertain about your current career path and considering a change? If so, this upcoming AWIS mentoring workshop with Dr. Jessica Bockhorn could be just what you need. We will discuss the steps involved in conducting a career checkup, and look at tools that can help you make the right decision for you. This workshop will also provide an opportunity to hear from Dr. Bockhorn's own experiences and insights when it comes to deciding on a new career. Whether it's an entrance to the professional world, a mid-career change, or a complete switch of direction, you'll be able to gain a better understanding of the process and what to consider when making such an important choice.
Dr. Jessica Bockhorn obtained her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago. Afterward, she spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Cancer Institute. During the past six years, Jessica has worked in both large and small biotechnology companies, progressing to higher-level roles in regulatory affairs. In addition to her work in regulatory affairs, she is passionate about assisting others in finding the right career and learning how to make successful career transitions
Personal Branding Workshop
Wednesday, Jan 25th, 2023 at 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Stanford EVGR Building B 144 Meeting Room
Our first in-person event is coming back this year in 2023 after 2+ years of online events!
Please join us and hear from René Shimada Siegel, a passionate, informal speaker who loves to share stories that lift and empower young women on her stories and practical tips on personal branding - a topic that is seldom discussed among professionals and scientists but is sure to help you go a long way! Coming from an Asian cultural background and being an introvert person herself, René understands the struggle to speak up as a leader. It is not easy, yet she manages to reinvent herself every day, and builds a great career, a happy family, and be an adjunct professor at San Jose State University for 7 years.
About the speaker
René Shimada Siegel is a partner for Armanino, one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial firms in the nation and a Top 20 consulting firm. A true Silicon Valley girl, René spent a decade working in Silicon Valley tech firms then founded her own consulting company Connext to support Google, Cisco, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and other clients with expert marketing and communications consultants. In February 2021, Connext merged with Armanino to make a positive impact on even more colleagues in more industries. René’s superpowers include authentic storytelling, making magical connections, and empowering the entrepreneurial spirit in others. She advocates for a diverse, inclusive, multigenerational workforce. She currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Lucas College of Business at her alma mater, San Jose State University, where she was also a public relations adjunct professor for seven years. Rene is also a member of ASCEND, the largest Pan-Asian non-profit organization for business professionals in North America, and a lifetime member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Among her public speaking experiences, René has been a featured presenter at the Public Relations Society of America International Conference and Watermark Conference for Women. She’s also been a contributing writer for Forbes and Inc.com.
AWIS Stroll at Palo Alto Baylands
Sunday, Dec, 4th at 2:30 - 4:00 PM
Meet at entrance to Palo Alto Baylands at the east end of San Antonio Road - Parking on Terminal Blvd.
Enjoy an afternoon on SF Bay by taking a leisurely walk with the opportunity to network, perhaps meet your mentor in person, and look for the resident flock of white pelicans.
Here is a map of the Baylands where we will walk. It shows San Antonio Rd exit EAST of Hwy 101 makes a sharp right as it joins Terminal Blvd.
Networking and Career Workshop
Wednesday, Nov, 30th at 7 PM
Zoom Meeting (link to be sent upon registration)
Feeling stuck in developing professional connections and getting more job opportunities? In this upcoming AWIS mentoring workshop, with Dr. Lucia Mokres as our speaker, we will dive into tips and strategies to overcome awkwardness and collecting the effective information from people you don’t know, and to explore career opportunities which seem invisible.
About the speaker
Dr. Lucia Mokres is a Life Science Consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She specializes in coaching early stage companies through Stakeholder Ecosystem Discovery, allowing them to gain traction and develop an investable technology and business model. She also loves rolling up her sleeves as a project manager to help companies at all stages meet urgent R&D, regulatory, and clinical project deadlines.
Introductory Meeting to AWIS-PA
and the Mentoring Program
Tuesday, Oct 18th, 2022 at 7 - 8:30pm PDT
Location: Zoom Meeting (link to be sent upon registration)
About the panelists
Kim Williams is a stanford-trained PhD cell/molecular biologist. Kim has diverse therapeutic expertise with twenty years’ experience in biotech. Kim currently is a director in the Discovery Medicine Business Unit, at Kodiak Sciences.
Jennifer Yinuo Cao is a molecular biologist and biochemist by training. After completing her postdoctoral studies at Stanford in 2018, Jen worked in several big and small companies (e.g., AbbVie, Forty Seven Inc and Gilead) developing drugs in the oncology space. Jen is currently leading the Discovery Department at Pheast Therapeutics. Jen has been an AWIS member since 2014.
Kristel Cahyadi Tjandra is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the School of Medicine at Stanford University. Her current research focuses on the development of rapid diagnostics for infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Aside from conducting experiments, she enjoys engaging in science communication, community outreach, and education.
RESILIENCE THROUGH TURBULENCE
Presentation and mini workshop by Vinutha Mohan, MBA
These are strange times of uncertainty, anxiety and many unknowns. These are also times of self-reflection, family connection, creativity and innovations. Therefore, our well-being depends on where we direct our attention towards because “Energy flows where attention goes”. In this mini workshop, come learn many practical strategies and tools that will help you enhance your well-being, productivity and resilience.
Vinutha Mohan is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist, specializing in Attachment Trauma with a Private Practice in Palo Alto and Los Gatos. She is also a Certified EMDR specialist and an EMDR Consultant in training.
Until recently, she worked at the Stanford Faculty Staff Help Center as a Staff Counselor. Vinutha offers individual counseling as well as runs Groups and occasionally is a Guest Teacher at JFK/National University. Prior to becoming a therapist, Vinutha was a senior Corporate Executive in Finance.
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Ace Your Industry Interviews
Presentation and mini-workshop by Debra Rosenfeld, MA, LMFT
Want to ace your interviews in the tech, biotech/pharmaceutical, or other industries outside academia?
This hands-on workshop will teach you what you need to know to rock your industry job interviews! You’ll learn how to prepare for an interview, understand interviewing strategy, and respond to behavioral questions. You’ll learn what employers look for and how to target your answers. Most important, you’ll get to practice interviewing and leave feeling confident about your skills!
Debra Rosenfeld, MA, LMFT
Assistant Director, Counseling and Resources, BioSci Careers Stanford Biosciences
Debra Rosenfeld's slides and handouts (including Industry Interview): Here
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Strategic Communication
Presentation and mini-workshop by Matt Abrahams
Lecturer at Stanford GSB. Co-Founder and Principal at Bold Echo Communications Solutions.
Matt Abrahams is a passionate, collaborative and innovative educator and coach. He has published research articles on cognitive planning, persuasion, and interpersonal communication. Communication Resources: Here and Here (NoFreakingSpeaking.com)
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Exploring different career paths - panel event
Join us for an exciting discussion about different career paths. Learn about the critical factors that will best prepare you for successful careers in academia and beyond academia.
Panelists include:
Elizabeth Mormino, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Stanford University.
Christine Moussion, PhD, Scientist and Group Leader, Genentech.
Sunny Jansen, PhD, Regulatory Affairs, Verily.
Anna Simonin, PhD, Senior Editor, PLOS ONE.
Kristin Abaonza, PharmD, Drug Investigator and Regulatory Officer, FDA.
Peter Cowan, PhD, Director of Conservation Science, Peninsula Open Space Trust.
Resources from Previous Meetings
Taking Charge of Personal Development
Taking Charge of Personal Development
National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) Core Competencies
LinkedIn Profile Tips
Using LinkedIn to Harness the Power of Networking
Networking Tips
Networking Tips by Aparna Desai
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