Kamana Misra, PhD
CEO
BioThink was founded from the belief that many students interested in medicine and science encounter authentic research environments far too late in their academic journey. The program was designed to provide early exposure to scientific thinking, collaborative inquiry, data interpretation and scholarly communication within a modern research-oriented environment.
Founded by a Neuroscientist working at the intersection of research, innovation & scientific education, her work has spanned Developmental Neuroscience, Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical innovation, and scientific entrepreneurship. Her background includes research in neural development, cell biology, and translational approaches to neurological injury and regeneration, including regenerative medicine and spinal cord injury research, as well as leadership within biomedical startup and scientific innovation ecosystems.
She has developed and led statewide STEM research, mentorship and innovation programs designed to expand meaningful early exposure to scientific research and entrepreneurship for students and emerging scientists across multiple institutions including Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers, Rowan and Cornell University.
Selected scientific publications and research contributions can be viewed via Google Scholar.
Distinguished Speaker Series
Janet Alder, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Graduate Academic and Student Affairs Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postdoctoral Affairs, Rutgers
Dr. Janet Alder is a neuroscientist, educator, and academic leader whose career spans research, graduate education and student development. In her current leadership roles at Rutgers University and Rutgers Health, she works closely with graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty across a broad range of scientific disciplines. She will share insights into the many career pathways available to PhD-trained scientists, as well as lessons learned throughout her own professional journey.
Eric completed his undergraduate education atUC Berkeleybefore studying at Harvard Medical School and Mayo Clinic. Currently, he works as a physician at Massachusetts General Hospitaland serves on the Harvard Medical School faculty, performing research on cancer and regularly teaching students. He will share insights into pursuing medicine, finding research opportunities, navigating medical training, and building a meaningful career in healthcare.
Physician, Researcher, & Mentor
Eric Grewal, MD
Kathleen Scotto, Ph.D.
Post training at the Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and the Rockefeller University, she launched her career at Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center and served as Director for the Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology at Weill Cornell. Prior to joining Rutgers in 2013, she was a Member of the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Vice President of Research and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMDNJ. Scotto laboratory is widely recognized for their work on the regulation of drug resistance genes that impact sensitivity of cancer cells to therapeutic agents.
Jitesh Devendra
Chairman & CEO Axxelent Pharma Science
Jitesh is an entrepreneur and life sciences executive with expertise in transforming scientific innovation into commercially successful healthcare solutions. As the Chairman and CEO of Axxelent Pharma Science, he leads the development and commercialization of science-driven pharmaceutical innovations.
In his talk, Jitesh will share insights into entrepreneurship in the life sciences, the journey from scientific discovery to commercialization, and the diverse career opportunities available to scientists beyond academia.
Vice Chancellor for Research, Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences