Program
Speakers will present their career journey as part of the main program.
Meet the speakers (Day 1)
Dr. Viktoria Korzhova, CEO at Product People, has a PhD in Neuroscience from LMU Munich, and multiple years of experience in Product Management and building and scaling teams. She has worked with both B2B and B2C products in different industries, including fintech, mobility, e-commerce, digital health and wellness, travel, real estate and edtech. As employee number one at Product People, she has been at the forefront of scaling the team and processes, establishing operations on different levels.
Dr. Radka Snajdrova obtained her PhD in Biotechnology from the Vienna University of Technology and began her career in academia as a postdoctoral researcher. She later transitioned to industry and has worked as a scientist and project lead for several years. Dr. Snajdrova led the Bioreactions group in Global Discovery Chemistry at Novartis Biomedical Research in Basel, and now focuses on therapeutic oligonucleotide discovery and project leadership in the new modalities area at Novartis.
Dr. Kilian Vogele is a co-founder of Invitris a biotech company pioneering cell-free platform technologies for drug discovery and manufacturing. The core of this innovation was developed during his PhD in Biophysics at the Technical University of Munich. In 2018, Dr. Vogele served as a supervisor for the Munich iGEM team, where a collaborative effort led to a second-place global finish for the host-independent production of therapeutic bacteriophages. This project evolved into Invitris.
Jeongeun Chae earned her Master’s degree in Regenerative Biology and Medicine from TU Dresden, before transitioning from academia into biotech. She is Head of Marketing at Lipotype, an MPI-CBG spin-off bioanalytical company. In her current role she leads global marketing strategies and science-driven communications, working closely with researchers worldwide. Her career journey reflects how a life science background can open doors beyond the lab at the intersection of science and business.
After Dr. Alison Abbot obtained her PhD in Pharmacology, she became editor of Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. Since then, she has been working as Senior European Correspondent for Nature, being responsible for writing news articles, features, books and arts reviews. Since 2019, she has been working as a freelance journalist, focusing on neuroscience as well as cultural issues related to science and its history.
While pursuing her PhD in circadian rhythms of the immune system at BMC Munich, Dr. Sophia Hergenhan discovered the world of scientific communication. She then pursued this topic at Trophic Communications, Max-Planck-Innovation, and is currently working at Immatics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and the global leader in precision targeting of PRAME. She is passionate about explaining complex topics in simpler ways to give science the right stage.
Dr. Jenifer Rachel completed her PhD in Neurosciences at the International Max Planck Research School Neurosciences in Göttingen and spent a short time as a postdoctoral researcher. After being an analyst intern in the Life Science division of Charles River Associates, she ultimately transitioned away from academia. She currently works as a consultant at Stradoo GmbH, a boutique life sciences consulting company headquartered in Munich.
Dr. Philipp Geyer completed his PhD at the MPI of Biochemistry and the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research in Copenhagen before he co-founded OmicEra Diagnostics GmbH and served as Director for Proteomics Research at Exact Sciences. Later he co-founded his second start-up, ions.bio, and became an active member of the Plasma Proteomics Committee at HUPO. His work focuses on mass spectrometry-based biomarker discovery, with an emphasis on developing robust and high-throughput proteomics workflows. These innovations have significantly advanced clinical applications for health and disease assessment.
Dr. Sandrine Stiegler obtained her PhD in Biochemistry from the Technical University of Munich and began her corporate career as a postdoc for Antibody Development with Roche Diagnostics in Penzberg. She later held several leadership positions as Group Leader for antibody development, International Product Manager for Oncology and Innovation Delivery Lead for digital product innovation. Based in Switzerland, she is now responsible for the portfolio of patient-centric digital solutions at Roche Diagnostics.
While completing her PhD in Molecular Biology at the BMC in Munich, Dr. Janet Tait joined Trophic Communications, a Munich-based communications agency supporting life science and biotech companies. In parallel with her research, she has been actively involved in science communication initiatives, including the organization of Soapbox Science Munich. With a strong scientific background, she specialises in translating complex research into clear and engaging narratives. She aims to provide insights into career pathways in life science communications and demonstrate how scientific training can be applied outside of academia.
Meet the companies and non-profit organisations (Day 1)
The following companies will be present with a booth:
- siTools Biotech GmbH
- L.E.K Consulting
- Starlab GmbH
There will be a section with booths for non-profit organisations.
Workshop on Day 1
From Lab to Stage - Science Slam Workshop by Yusuf Qutbuddin
Join us for an engaging Science Slam Workshop where we dive into the art of science communication! We’ll explore key principles—clarity, storytelling, audience connection, and audience engagement—before diving into hands-on preparation. You’ll work, refine, and rehearse your own science slam act, turning complex ideas into captivating, memorable performances. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just passionate about sharing science, this interactive session will equip you with the tools and confidence to shine on stage. Let’s make science fun, accessible, and unforgettable—together!
No. of slots - 20
Time: 16th April from 16:15 - 18:00
Workshops on Day 2
Workshops will be held on April 17th from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm at the MPI Biochemistry T building.
The registration form was sent to all registered participants who expressed interest in the workshops, and was open until all slots were allocated (first-come, first-served) or until March 23rd. A waiting list is also available. If you can no longer attend the workshop you registered for, please inform us at inpharma@biochem.mpg.de so that we can give your spot to someone on the waiting list.
Workshop 1
Jobhunting Beyond Academia – Getting Your New Job Easier, Faster and Better-Paid Thanks to Social Media by Yvonne Brockhaus
Why is this workshop a game changer for you? As an Human Ressources Manager with 20 years experience hiring people in 6 countries (in Germany, the USA, Netherlands, Mexico, Belgium and South Africa) married to a scientist and having made a career switch lately myself, let me show you the importance of using the power of Social Media while Jobhunting 4.0 in your current situation - especially as an introvert!
No. of slots - 35 (Note: 8 slots are reserved for MPI participants due to institutional regulations)
Workshop 2
CV for Industry by Evgeniya Vorobyeva
Dr. Evgeniya Vorobyeva, ACC, is an ICF-certified career coach specializing in conscious career development for science professionals from both academia and industry. Evgeniya holds a doctoral degree in Chemistry (ETH Zurich) and has more than 13 years of scientific experience, including roles as a technical lead in a clean-energy startup. She is also a career advisor for postdocs at EPFL, supporting researchers in making confident career decisions and transitions. Evgeniya is a co-founder of the Sci.STEPS mentoring program and has supported early-career researchers through coaching and mentorship.
No. of slots - 20
Requirement – Participants should bring their CV and a job description along with a notebook/laptop to take notes.
