1. 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

2. 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.

3. I didn’t just stumble into this position…

4. My story

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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
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

8. 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
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

9. 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
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

10. 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
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

11. 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
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

12. 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
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

13. 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
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

14. 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
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

15. 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
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

16. 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
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

17. 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