MASS AWIS is offering an opportunity to make professional connections across a variety of career paths. ‘Join Me for Coffee’ gives a chance to meet with a STEM professional for 1 hour online. Participants will not only learn about that person’s career but also establish a new professional connection. These events are a great opportunity for participants to practice networking in an intimate setting, a skill that helps open doors to meaningful careers in STEM.

The upcoming ‘Join Me for Coffee’ event series will feature Dr. Rebecca Farkas. If you would like to participate in this ‘Join Me for Coffee’ event, first complete the event application form. A committee will then review all applications and select 4-6 participants for each event. Selected applicants will be notified by email at least one week prior to the event.

Dr. Rebecca Farkas joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) in January 2022 as Head of the Office of Technology, which identifies and advances scientific innovations that can accelerate the development of vaccines against epidemic and pandemic threats and enable access to all people in need. Prior to joining CEPI, she served as Director of Scientific Collaborations for Vaccines at GSK for five years, where she led search and evaluation and the development of strategic R&D partnerships with U.S. universities and government agencies. Dr. Farkas helped drive the development and implementation of GSK’s pandemic strategy, including the negotiation and launch of GSK’S Operation Warp Speed contract. From 2015-2017, Dr. Farkas forged strategic partnerships with U.S. east coast universities and local industry leaders as Associate Director for Partnering & Strategy at MedImmune/AstraZeneca. 

Before joining industry, Dr. Farkas spent 12 years at the NIH in a variety of roles spanning program management and science policy. Recognizing the need for a new paradigm to drive innovation in neuroscience drug discovery, she envisioned, created, and directed an NIH-funded “virtual biotech” that de-risked academic assets to attract industry investment. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Dr. Farkas initiated a strategic plan and research program to develop medical countermeasures for chemical threats. 

Dr. Farkas holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Stanford and a B.A. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale. 

Registration fee: Free for MASS AWIS members

Application deadline: Friday, September 30th, 2022 

For more Join Me for Coffee Opportunities, click here.