PhD to investment manager: my path to providing support and capital to life science startups Marissa Kuzirian, PhD ‘15 Investment Manager Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse

Present day Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG) Non-profit investment group focused on life science startups Provides: Market research Business strategy Commercialization support Seed and early stage capital Investment Manager Member of the investment committee Due diligence on all investments Business support and commercialization strategy to startups in western PA Market research to understand trends in healthcare markets 1) Overview of what we do at PLSG 2) Describe role as Investment Manager: Inv. Committee: decide who will get investment and who won’t Due Diligence, when we decide to invest, I coordinate our due diligence between external and internal diligence, much of which I do myself Business development support: navigating incorporation, strategic partnership, marketing- if I don’t have the expertise for something, I find people who can help our companies and learn about it in the process Commercialization strategy- In general, I focus on pharmaceuticals, but could get thrown into medical devices and HIT at any point in time. But, for pharma, most of our companies come in just prior to any FDA conversations and some times pre-product formation. In the former, we will help them come up with a commercialization plan to get them through regulatory and funding hurdles to get to an exit. In the latter, I’ve spent a lot of time strategizing with very early stage technologies to determine which clinical application would be best market to pursue, if they have that flexibility. I have to stay up to date on current trends in healthcare markets- when then come together to share our findings internally. Most recently, I did a deep dive on the pain therapeutics market: mapping the drug development pipeline and highlighting the key innovations that will make an impact on the market.

I didn’t just stumble into this position…

My story

My story Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University Networking Research skills-new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University Networking Research skills- new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Leadership Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work Networking Research skills- new knowledge Leadership I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Management Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006: Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2015 New town Many networking events Leadership with Women In Bio 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2015 Skills outside of Academia Consulting Business development 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2015 New town Many networking events Leadership with Women In Bio 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2015 Skills outside of Academia Consulting Business development 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2016 Explored starting my own company 2015 New town Many networking events Leadership with Women In Bio 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2015 Skills outside of Academia Consulting Business development 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2016 Explored starting my own company 2015 New town Many networking events Leadership with Women In Bio 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work 2017 Investment Manager PLSG Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

My story Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management Summer 2006 Course Assistant Neural Systems and Behavior Course Marine Biological Lab 2011 Dropped my most productive project for strategic reasons 2015 Postdoc in neural circuits of pain All new field, many new techniques 3 papers, 2 grants in 1.5 years 2015 Skills outside of Academia Consulting Business development 2012 Discovered a mechanism relevant to epilepsy Learn about epilepsy Pilot 3 in vivo models August 2006-April 2008 Research Assistant MIT 2016 Explored starting my own company 2015 New town Many networking events Leadership with Women In Bio 2008-2015 PhD Candidate, Neuroscience Brandeis University 2014 Won SPROUT funding: buy equipment to scale in vivo work 2017 Investment Manager PLSG Networking Research skills- new knowledge Management I’m not happy in isolation Agile- new skills Leadership Making strategic decisions to balance resources Fearless Prioritization Communication Take control of your career

Advice Figure out what you love AND what you hate In a new job: identify which PhD skills work to your advantage AND disadvantage PRO: Quickly acquire new knowledge CON: Research too deeply Pay attention to your communication skills Practice speaking with people outside of academia from a variety of backgrounds Take control of your career, but don’t obsess over the end goal