Paul Chen

Scientist at Just-Evotec Biologics

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Hi, I’m Paul Chen — a biopharma R&D scientist specializing in therapeutic antibody characterization and analytical development, and a mentor to early-career scientists navigating careers in biotech and pharma. Since earning my PhD in Biomedical Science from MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2021, I’ve worked across biomarker discovery, assay development, and biopharmaceutical R&D, including analytical development and CMC-related work in a biopharma CDMO environment. This experience has given me firsthand insight into the different career paths and challenges scientists encounter as they move from academia into industry and grow their careers. I’ve also experienced the uncertainty of a layoff early in my career, which shaped my perspective on career transitions and motivated me to help others navigate them with greater clarity and confidence. Today, I enjoy helping scientists identify their next career step, position their experience effectively, prepare for interviews, and communicate their value with confidence. If you’re navigating your next step in biotech or pharma, I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned along the way and help you move forward with a clearer plan.

Anna Ting

Senior Scientist at Mozart Therapeutics

(ex-Umoja)

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Hi, I’m Anna—a senior scientist with 6 years industry expertise in immunotherapy. I began my journey as a pharmacist, completed my PhD at the University of Michigan, and pursued postdoctoral training at the University of Washington. This path has given me a rare, end-to-end perspective on drug development, from bench-side discovery to early clinical strategy—work I genuinely love. I’m passionate about translating complex science into clear, actionable decisions and about helping people grow with confidence. Over the years, I’ve mentored junior scientists across biotech and academia, supporting them as they navigate critical career transitions. In my coffee chat sessions, we start with you—your goals, your challenges, and what success looks like for you. During resume workshops, I diagnose gaps and strengths and use a software tool I developed to precisely tailor your resume to specific job postings. In career development sessions, I bring a thoughtful, personalized approach grounded in trust, open conversation, and a long-term commitment to your growth. I’m excited to work with you at Cocha. Let me be a partner in your next career move.

Minyan Gu

Director of Global Product Strategy at BioNTech

(ex-Amgen)

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Experienced global marketing and strategy leader with over 15 years of experience across the biopharmaceutical, and life sciences consulting. I have built my career at leading organizations including Amgen, driving commercial strategy, brand growth, portfolio planning, and cross-functional leadership for both early-stage and established oncology assets. Before transitioning into the biopharma industry, I worked in management consulting at companies including PwC, Deloitte, advising healthcare and life sciences clients on commercial strategy. In addition to my corporate experience, I hold an MPH from Harvard, MBA from USC Marshall, and BSc in Physics from Fudan University, giving me a multidisciplinary perspective that combines science, business, and leadership. As a career coach, I specialize in helping professionals navigate career transitions, strengthen personal branding, prepare for competitive interviews, and position themselves for leadership opportunities in healthcare, biotech, pharma, and consulting. I bring both strategic insight and practical experience from successfully navigating complex career growth in highly competitive industries.

Xin Huang

Principal Scientist at Johnson & Johnson

(ex-Spark Therapeutics)

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Hi! With more than 13 years of hands-on bioinformatics experiences, I have tackled multi-omics analysis including single-cell RNA-Seq, bulk RNA-Seq, proteomics, genomics and amplicon sequencing. Starting from the academia, I have gone through a rigorous PhD education, a postdoc training with in vivo expertise, worked in an academic lab blending industrial operation, and finally into the industry working as a computational biologist and most recently, a translational scientist specializing in CNS biomarker discovery. I am transitioning from a traditional computational biologist, sinking my teeth into bioinformatics projects, to a more strategic translational scientist, collaborating with cross-functional colleagues, including bench scientists, data scientists, clinical scientists, and external academic partners. The key here, as I am gradually figuring out, is the ability to understand the biological context and impact of a particular project, and bring in a diverse panel of experts to leverage their domain expertise towards a mutual goal. One of my passions is to help junior colleagues/scientists grow. I genuinely enjoy seeing mentees achieve their potential and grow to their better selves. I have mentored interns, contractors, junior colleagues and undergraduate and graduate students over the years. What I find particularly fulfilling is to hear the stories of the mentees and learn about their journeys, so I can find a path tailored for their needs. Nothing else is more rewarding than seeing the spark going off of their eyes. I look forward to being part of your career journay.

Jane Zou

Senior Scientist, Biostatistics at Merck

(ex-Novartis)

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Hi! I'm a Senior Scientist in Biostatistics at Merck with over three years of experience in clinical development and regulatory submissions. Before joining Merck, I completed a biostatistics internship at Novartis. My background includes a B.S. in Biology, an M.S. in Bioinformatics, and a Ph.D. in Biostatistics, giving me a broad perspective across the life sciences. I've also been involved in interviewing and mentoring interns for Merck's 2025 and 2026 Summer Internship Programs and serve as an Intern Manager for the 2026 program. How I Can Help Whether you're exploring graduate school or preparing for a career in pharma or biotech, I'm happy to help with: Career planning in biostatistics, bioinformatics, and life sciences Graduate school and career transitions Resume reviews and interview preparation Clinical development and drug development careers Insights into working at a global pharmaceutical company What to Expect My sessions are relaxed, practical, and tailored to your goals. Whether you have specific questions or just want guidance on your next step, I'll share honest advice and actionable feedback based on my own experiences in academia and the pharmaceutical industry.

Maria Garcia Mendoza

R&D Scientist at Cytek Biosciences

(ex-MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Speaks Spanish, English

Hola! I’m a scientist with 6 years of experience in research and development of flow cytometry and imaging applications. I received my Ph.D. training at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where I studied the role of immune cells (neutrophils) in dense-breast tumorigenesis. I continued my training at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Postdoctoral researcher, studying transcription factors that determine thymus organ fate during early development. After taking a gap year to start a family, I leveraged my technical skills in flow cytometry and microscopy, as well as my networking and communication skills, to transition from academia to industry. I enjoy sharing my journey into industry as an R&D scientist, including how I identified my technical and transferable skills, how I searched for jobs, and how I prepared to take on new roles (while still being “mom” after 6 p.m.). After being part of the job application, resume review, and interview process, both as an applicant and a reviewer/interviewer, I can offer industry insights. Let me help you with your next career move!

Connie Larsson

Director at Avastus Preclinical Services

(ex-AstraZeneca, ex-MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Speaks English

Thanks for checking out my profile! I’m Connie, a preclinical pharmacology leader who has spent my career building in vivo programs and guiding scientific teams. I earned my PhD from MD Anderson in 2017 and continued my work in oncology as a postdoc at AstraZeneca before shifting into neurodegenerative diseases and microbiome research as a principal scientist. After years focused on internal research programs, I moved into contract research to offer broader expertise in preclinical in vivo pharmacology and support multiple biotech companies as they advance their therapeutic pipelines. As a CRO Director, I manage a team of technicians and scientists, helping them grow their technical skills, navigate career paths, and build confidence in their scientific judgment. I have conducted numerous interviews, screened countless resumes, and understand what hiring managers actually look for in both early career candidates and experienced scientists. I have supported new graduates as well as scientists already in industry, helping them strengthen their resumes, refine their interview skills, and translate their experience into compelling stories. Mentorship is one of the most meaningful parts of my work, and I enjoy helping people understand how to thrive in preclinical roles, CRO environments, and early-stage biotech. If you are navigating your next step in biotech, preparing for interviews, or trying to break into the biotech industry, I would be happy to support you.

Edward Zhao

Senior Scientist at Merck

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Hi, I'm Edward. I am currently a Senior Scientist at Merck, where I use single cell and spatial omics to help target patients to more effective treatments. I have an undergraduate background in biology and biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD in biostatistics from the University of Washington. My passion is in advancing human health, whether it is through leveraging statistics and data or through mentorship of students and junior scientists who are just starting to make contributions to the field. I am happy to share my insights into the job search process, my personal journey spanning pharma, biotech, and government, as well as tips on how to keep your skills relevant with the rise of AI.

Jessie Zhou

Senior Advisor in Statistics at Eli Lilly and Company

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Five-year early phase clinical trial design experience at MD Anderson Cancer Center and 5+ years of industry experience working as a project lead statistician for both early and late phase clinical trials. Have supported 30+ students through résumé reviews or mock interviews; supervised three summer interns; and coached four junior statisticians. With hands-on statistical experience and three years of hiring involvement, I’m excited to continue expanding my coaching work. I offer coaching in: Résumé coaching for internships and jobs: Having experience in screening 1,000+ résumés for both intern and full-time job, I can help your application stand out. Early-career pharma mentoring: Guidance on navigating your first 1–2 years in industry, building credibility standing out through innovative works. Manuscript review and editing: Author of 10 PhD publications, I have strong insight into reviewer expectations and improving impact. I look forward to supporting your professional growth—book a session to connect.

Jay Liu

Pharmaceutical Regulatory Professional at Independent Consultant

(ex-United Biomedical Inc)

Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese

Pharmacuetical Regulatory Scientist | Former Biotech Chief Chemist | Career Transition Strategist for Emerging Scientists As a Pharmaceutical Scientist at the Regulatory agency with over three decades of experience across academia, pharmaceutical industry, and CMC regulation, my journey is proof that a foundational scientific education is not a rigid track but a versatile toolkit. It can open doors across the entire biopharma landscape. I am dedicated to sharing the power of transferable skills - and the resilience required to adapt across cultures and sectors - with others looking to pursue their own dreams in biotech and pharma. Following my Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry and a brief period in software development, I set my sights on a career in academia. To prioritize my family, I made the bold decision to walk away from a faculty track in China and relocate to the U.S. After spending several years pursuing an academic appointment at NYU, that intended path ultimately did not work out. I found myself at a critical crossroads. Choosing to view this setback as a catalyst, I decisively pivoted away from academia and translated my research skills into industry, building a rewarding, purpose-driven career spanning both biotech and pharma. As I progressed from a Formulations Scientist to CMC Lead and Chief Chemist, this transition taught me how to perfectly combine scientific rigor with industry strategy. Having successfully navigated the complete scientific lifecycle - from early academic discovery to biopharmaceutical manufacturing and regulation - I understand the daunting choices graduate students face today. As someone who adapted to the U.S. professional landscape and seamlessly transitioned between academia, industry, and regulatory, I am passionate about helping emerging scientists identify their own transferable skills to forge successful and enduring careers in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields.

Kaushik Thakkar

Principal Scientist at Moonwalk Biosciences

(ex-Johnson & Johnson, ex-Stanford School of Medicine, ex-MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Speaks English, Hindi

Strategic scientific leader with over 10 years of experience driving therapeutic target identification, validation, and translational drug discovery across complex metabolic conditions. Proven track record leading early-to-late pipeline integration, designing sophisticated disease models, and establishing in vivo pharmacology and PK/PD strategies for novel modalities, including siRNA delivery platforms. Skilled at guiding cross-functional experimental teams across Biology, Omics, Translational, and Clinical groups to translate complex biological datasets into robust therapeutic pipelines. Co-inventor of first-in-class biologics successfully licensed for clinical development. Business-literate scientist with advanced training from Stanford GSB (Ignite Program), adept at formulating research agendas that seamlessly align scientific milestones with long-term strategic business goals

Tina Liu

Associate Director, Statistical Programming at Summit Therapeutics

(ex-Grail Inc, ex-Pharmacyclics)

Speaks Mandarin Chinese, English

Hi, I'm Tina. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences in Taiwan and later moved to the U.S. to pursue an MPH at UCLA. As an international student, I navigated the challenges of adapting to a new culture, building a professional network, and finding career opportunities while managing visa considerations. After graduation, I worked at a nonprofit organization supporting government agencies, including the FDA, through policy analysis and data-driven decision-making. I later transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, where I have spent more than 10 years working in Oncology clinical trial data analysis and statistical programming. I am passionate about helping students and early-career professionals explore career options, prepare for graduate school or internships, strengthen their resumes and interview skills, and navigate career decisions with confidence. My goal is to help you gain clarity, identify your strengths, and create a path that aligns with your interests and long-term goals.