Jared R. Auclair is currently the Associate Dean of Professional Program in the College of Science at Northeastern University and Associate Teaching Professor in the department of chemistry and chemical biology. In addition, Dr. Auclair is the Director of the Biopharmaceutical Analysis Laboratory (BATL), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Center of Regulatory Excellence in Biotherapeutics and Advanced Therapies and oversees the International Council for Harmonisation training. Lasting, Prof. Auclair serves as the Technical Supervisor for the Life Science Testing Center at Northeastern University, which is a state and CLIA-certified lab. Dr. Auclair collaborate with both academic researchers, industry, and government in the area of biopharmaceutical development, manufacturing and analysis. He has expertise in mol. biology, protein biochemistry, analytical chemistry, protein crystallography, biological mass spectrometry, biomanufacturing; and is interested in use inspired research for the biotechnology industry.

Paul is an attorney at Bowditch & Dewey where he represents businesses and individuals in transactional matters with an emphasis on real estate and commercial law, representing developers, mortgage lenders, tenants and property owners in a wide variety of industries in complex development, acquisition, financing, and leasing transactions. He works with developers, investors, and property end users to negotiate and structure real estate-based projects, and has also advised clients on multiple party mixed-use and affordable housing projects. Paul serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Entrepreneurial Innovation Center at Framingham State University where he advises the Center on its program helping entrepreneurs develop their ideas and small businesses. He holds a JD from George Washington University.

Al is Senior Vice President, Technical Operations and Quality for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. He leads a global organization responsible for all aspects siRNA process and analytical development, clinical and commercial manufacturing, supply chain operations, engineering, facilities and real estate operations, and quality assurance and quality control oversight for all GxP activities. Prior to joining Alnylam in 2015, Al worked for a number of global biotechnology, chemical and pharmaceutical companies including Alexion, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hercules, Akzo-Nobel and Celgene. Al holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Rutgers University and B.S and M.S degrees in Environmental and Forest Biology from The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Floyd Brownewell has enjoyed a blended career spanning research and development, heavy chemicals manufacturing, healthcare single use manufacturing, and academia. This experience has provided a unique interface between the theoretical and the practical. Floyd understands the need for innovation and invention coupled with manufacturability. Floyd brings this perspective to the classroom and the projects he engages.

As President and CEO of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, Bob’s mission is to advance Massachusetts' leadership in the life sciences to grow the industry, add value to the healthcare system and improve patient lives. Over the last decade, Bob has truly become a champion for patients by ensuring innovative companies have the best environment possible to research, develop, and commercialize breakthrough therapies and cures for people around the world who need and deserve them. Bob has spent his career in both the public and private sectors. Before joining MassBio, he served as the Undersecretary of Economic Development within Governor Deval Patrick's administration, where he prioritized both healthcare and economic development issues and was a strong advocate for the life sciences industry in Massachusetts. Prior to that, he was elected as State Representative to the 11th Norfolk district for three terms. Bob has also held senior executive positions in the environmental services, capital management and venture capital industries. He brings passion and energy to all of his endeavors.

Dr. Carl W. Lawton is Director of the Massachusetts BioManufacturing Center (MBMC) and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. As Director of the MBMC, Dr. Lawton is responsible for biopharmaceutical process development including fermentation/cell culture and downstream processing. Dr. Lawton works closely with companies on the verge of biopharmaceutical production to give them the opportunity to utilize the Center’s services to help advance to Phase I clinical production and economically address staffing needs. Dr. Lawton creates and teaches customized training programs for biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce as well as advising and teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of chemical and biochemical engineering. He also is responsible for developing and maintaining an applied research program which focuses on technological advances to improve the quality, cost and productivity of large-scale biomanufacturing production.

Ryan Mudawar joined the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) in 2009 and currently serves as Senior Director of Education and Workforce Partnerships. He oversees the MLSC’s STEM education and workforce development programs and initiatives. Most notably, he manages the MLSC’s Internship Challenge, a program that has created nearly 5,000 internships for college students with over 850 companies. The success of the program has led to the creation of the High School Apprenticeship Challenge, which sponsors internships and lab training programs for over 150 high school students annually. He also manages the STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant Program for public high schools and middle schools. Prior to joining the MLSC, Ryan worked at various non-profit organizations throughout Greater Boston. A lifelong Massachusetts resident, he received his Master’s in International Relations in 2007 from Suffolk University and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2005.

Christopher Murphy is Vice President and General Manager of Viral Vector Services in Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Pharma Services Group. Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Chris served as chief operating officer for Brammer Bio, a leading viral vector/gene therapy CDMO. Chris has more than 30 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, process development, plant operations, and quality system implementation. Prior to joining Brammer Bio, Chris served as general manager for the Sanofi-Genzyme Allston Landing site overseeing operations and leading an integrated remediation program associated with the consent decree. Chris has led gene therapy operations and recombinant protein manufacturing at Genzyme and Bioreliance and he began his career in viral vaccine development at American Cyanamid/Wyeth (now Pfizer) in Pearl River, NY. He has an M.Sc. in biochemistry at New York Medical College, and his B.Sc. in biology at Rutgers University.

Kate Sweeney currently leads the STEM division at Middlesex Community College. She holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a MS in Organizational Psychology from Salem State College and a BS in Dental Hygiene from the University of Rhode Island. She provides leadership and oversight for faculty, curriculum, budget, scheduling, and facilities in the STEM area and is experienced in fiscal planning and resource management, curriculum development and management, grant development and implementation, outcomes assessment, and strategic planning. Her work focuses on enhancing STEM student success. She has led multiple initiatives which have resulted in the development of curriculum in Lab science, Information Technology/Cybersecurity, Computer science, Mathematics and Engineering, as well as 3 major grant efforts designed to improve the learning environment in IT,CAD, Computer science, and Biotechnology. She has been responsible for several key student success initiatives in the STEM area: Guided Pathways to Success in STEM a Department of Labor Grant which focused on improving completion and retention in STEM, STEM Starter Academy which funded programing to increase retention and completion in STEM by informing, engaging, and recruiting, into STEM programs leading to job placement or transfer to university STEM programs and careers, and a Mass Life Sciences grant which led to the construction of a state of the art Biotech teaching facility.

As the Director of Talent & Workforce Development for MassBioEd, Karla’s mission is to strengthen and grow the region’s life sciences workforce. Her analyses of life sciences labor markets are widely used to align educational practices to industry requirements. Karla is directing the launch of a novel apprenticeship program for biomanufacturing technicians which will produce qualified workers while opening doors for under-represented individuals to access meaningful careers. She also oversees the Career Exploration programs, which provide STEM career information to students from middle through graduate school. Karla holds a BA in Chemistry from Smith College, an MS in Biotechnology and an MBA from WPI.