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“Beyond the Bench” is the GBCC’s flagship seminar series featuring speakers come from a variety of disciplines. Our speakers share the inside stories of their career paths and roles, answer questions in real-time, and network with club members.

Beyond the Bench seminars have involved entrepreneurs in the life sciences, consultants from both large and small firms, and experts in the field of technology transfer and intellectual property. GBCC members who are interested in particular career paths are encouraged to join or create their own Interest Group to explore further.

If you want to request a seminar topic, suggest a speaker, or present at a Beyond the Bench event, please reach out to any of our Exec Board officers. We’d love to hear from you!

Virtual Seminar

April 12, 2022 @ 5:30 pm

Shannon Speer, Senior Scientist at Pfizer

February 23, 2022 @ 7:30 pm

Jedediah Seltzer, Consultant at ZS Associates

Jake Green, Consultant at ZS Associates

February 3, 2022 @ 5 pm

Phil Grayeski, Partner at KdT Ventures

November 29, 2021 

Cavan Bailey, Life Sciences Consultant at Prescient Health Group

September 28, 2021 

Brian Buxton, retired management consultant

March 10, 2021 

Pam Schilling, CEO at Archer Career

Jeremy Morse, Head of Programs at Archer Career

February 9, 2021 

Chris Morrison, Founder and CEO at ViaVerus

November 23, 2020 @ 6 pm

Adam O’Neil, PharmD, Associate Consultant at IQVIA

October 14, 2020 @ 6 pm

Andrew Tyler, MBA, US Market Intelligence, JP Morgan

August 18, 2020 @ 4:00 pm

Erich Scheller, PhD, Director of TechAtlas at RA Capital

March 11, 2020

Kathy Meserve, Senior Director of Investments at North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Kseniya Simpson, Analyst at Hatteras Venture Partners

Sarah Renner, Consultant at Adivo Associates

In-Person Seminar

February 26, 2020 @ 5:00 pm, Marsico 2004

Dan MacLeod, Senior Director of Cell Therapy Discovery at Precision Biosciences

January 29, 2020 @ 5:30 pm, Marsico 2004

Stan Carson, Senior Clinical Program Director at UCB Biosciences

January 23, 2020 @ 5 pm, Beard 116

Karthik Chandrasekar, Pharm.D. from Triangle Insight Group

November 13, 2019 @ 5 PM, Bioinformatics 1131

Matt Swede, Director of Business Development and Strategy at Locus Biosciences

October 16, 2019 @ 5 pm, Marsico 2004

Champ Gupton, Commercialization Manager from UNC Office of Technology Commercialization

September 25, 2019 @ 5 pm, Marsico 2004

JoAnn Giannone, CEO & Founder CSTI

Edward Brown, Independent Contractor Patent Practitioner

Mark Cierpal , CEO Impact pharmaceutical sciences

Lawrence Trost, Founder BelleroPharm

September 17, 2019 @ 5 pm, Marsico 6004

Ryan Coe, Engagement Manager, Triangle Insights Group

May 16, 2019 @ 4:30 pm, Marsico 6004

Leah Townsend, Director of Graduate School Professional Programs, UNC-Chapel Hill

March 4, 2019 @ 4 pm, Bondurant G-030

Taylor Meyer, Managing Partner, Hyperspace Ventures

January 17th, 2019 @ 4:00 pm, Marsico 6004

Ray Jang, Associate, Rex Health Ventures

October 15, 2018 @ 5:00 pm, Marsico 2004

Garrett Berry, Business Development Associate, StrideBio, Inc

September 27, 2018 @ 5 pm, Marsico 6004

Teresa Squire, Manager at IQVIA

April 5, 2018 @ 4:30 pm, Marsico 6004

Drew Applefield, Director of Business Development, Precision BioSciences

February 28, 2018 @ 5 pm, Bioinformatics 1131

Ryan Hallett & Tim Jacobs, Co-Founders of Dualogics

November 28, 2017 @ 5 pm, Marsico 6004

Michael Dial, Hatteras Venture Partners

November 9, 2017 @ 4:30 pm, Marsico 6004

Lauren Neighbours, Clinical Research Scientist, Rho

October 25, 2017 @ 5 pm, 1131 Bioinformatics

Tim Martin, Assistant Director, UNC KickStart Venture Services

Beyond the Bench Speakers 2015-2016

Ricky Spero: Start-up

Anna Wyatt: Medical Affairs

Christy Shaffer: Venture Capital

Don Rose: KickStart Venture Services

Nathan Letts: IP Attorney

Jayson Punwani: Venture Capital

Matt Medlin: Regulatory Scientist

James Iademarco: BD/Commercial/industry