Officers & Advisors

BizBio Officers

Elizabeth McDuffie
President
LinkedIn

Elizabeth earned her BS in Chemistry from Temple University in 2019, where she was also a MARC U*STAR scholar. Her undergraduate research focused on understanding protein misfolding in achromatopsia II patients. Currently, she is a fifth year PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BMP) program. Her thesis work in Dr. Charles Scott’s laboratory focuses on characterizing G𝜶12/13 signaling pathway as a novel therapeutic target to relieve bronchoconstriction. Elizabeth is passionate about exploring the connections between research and business to expand her knowledge about different scientific careers.

What is your favorite hobby?
One of my favorite hobbies is collecting and taking care of different types of houseplants.

Viktoriia Sokolova
Vice President
LinkedIn

Viktoriia earned her BS in Chemistry with a minor in Business Administration, and MS in Organic Chemistry from Drexel University in 2020. Her Master’s Thesis work focused on small molecule drug development targeting certain cancer-associated proteins. Currently, she is in her third year PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BMP) program. She has joined Dr. Dmitry Temiakov’s lab, where she is focused on structural and functional studies of proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA repair. As an international student from Ukraine, Viktoriia aspires to help people step out of their comfort zone to network and socialize. She is passionate about exploring different ways to form and maintain professional connections, which would put students on the right path toward their most desired careers.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy taking road trips and hiking outside of the city, as well as exploring new food and music spots in Philly.

Candice Bizzaro
Chair of Communications
LinkedIn

Candice earned her BS in Biochemistry from Temple University in 2019. Her undergraduate research focused on utilizing mass spectrometry to understand underlying molecular changes associated with traumatic brain injuries. Currently, she is a third year PhD candidate in the Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BMP) program. Her thesis work in Dr. Matthew Schiewer's lab is focused on understanding the pathological role of STEAP Family metalloreductase proteins in prostate cancer aggressiveness. This will be her second year serving as BizBio's Chair of Communication. She is excited to increase student participation in networking events and expand interest in a variety of scientific fields.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, live music, and hanging out with my cat.

Kallon Crowther
Secretary
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Kallon earned her BS in Biology from York College of Pennsylvania in 2021. Her undergraduate research focused on determining the spatiotemporal expression pattern of a schizophrenia risk gene, complement component 4 (C4), in Danio Rerio. Additionally, Kallon completed a summer research fellowship at Drexel University researching autonomic dysreflexia after spinal cord injury. Currently, she is a third year PhD candidate in the Department of Neuroscience in Dr. Richard Smeyne's lab, researching the interaction between the peripheral immune system and Parkinson's disease. Kallon is excited to serve her first year on the BizBio executive board, and provide opportunities for the student body to network in the field.

What is your favorite place to visit in Philly?
I love walking around Philly and exploring new places! Recently, I've been enjoying walking down the Schuylkill River Trail and visiting the Schuylkill River Park.

Ian Mawn
Treasurer
LinkedIn

Ian graduated from Bucknell University in 2022 with a BS in Cell Biology and Biochemistry, focusing his research on peptide biochemistry. Ian is finishing his first year in the Biochemistry, Structural and Molecular Biology PhD program. He is looking forward to his role in BizBio as a way to explore career paths for himself, and to help other students do the same.

What is your favorite thing to do in Philly?
I enjoy trying new restaurants and going to parks throughout the city.

Anthony Monte-Carlo
Chair of Programming
LinkedIn

Anthony earned his BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Leadership Studies from Rutgers University - Camden in 2022. As a former NIH MARC fellow, he worked under the advisory of Dr. Jinglin Fu studying DNA G-quadruplexes in the context of bionanotechnologies. In his second year at Thomas Jefferson University, he works in the lab of Dr. Anna Pluciennik, studying the underlying biochemical mechanisms that relate to DNA repair in the context of repeat expansion disorders.

If you could go on vacation, where would you go and what would you do?
I would love to go visit Geneva in Switzerland to see the Alps and visit the Large Hadron Collider at CERN!

Tabitha Rodriguez
Chair of Network Development
LinkedIn

Tabitha earned her BS in Neuroscience at Franklin and Marshall College in 2021 where her research focus was protein interactome characterization in Galloway-Mowat Syndrome and phenotyping of Autism Spectrum Disorder models. Currently, she is a third year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Program in Dr. Rich Smeyne's lab. Tabitha is studying exercise-induced neuroprotection in the context of Parkinson's disease. She is excited to expand BizBio's professional network, to serve Thomas Jefferson University's community, and to bring exciting opportunities to campus.

What is your favorite thing to do in Philly?
I love exploring the city by going on runs. Every time I pass a new restaurant or coffee shop I want to try, I drop a pin so I can go back later.

Jenny Carey
President Emeritus
LinkedIn

Jenny earned her BS in Biochemistry from Mount St. Mary's University in 2017. Before joining Jefferson, she was a research technologist at Johns Hopkins University, where she worked on projects identifying epigenetic biomarkers associated with chronic stress exposure. Currently, Jenny is a fifth year PhD candidate in Dr. Lin Guo's lab, where she studies protein phase separation of ALS/FTD-associated proteins.

What is your favorite thing to do in Philly?
One of my favorite things to do in Philly is try new restaurants!

Jeffrey I. Joseph, DO

Dr. Joseph is a Jefferson University Physician, Professor of Anesthesiology, and serial entrepreneur. His esteemed research career has focused on the development and commercialization of implantable medical devices for the management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

Dr. Joseph earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residencies in general surgery, anesthesiology, and cardiac anesthesiology. His entrepreneurship began in 1994 when he co-invented an implantable device for glucose measurement using near-infrared light and optical sensors. With this technology, Dr. Joseph co-founded Animas Corporation to further develop and commercialize the device, as well as a complementary insulin infusion pump and catheter system. The company successfully completed an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in 2004, and was subsequently acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2006.

Recently, Dr. Joseph co-founded two more companies, Capillary Biomedical, Inc. and RTM Vital Signs, LLC. He currently serves as Chairman of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards for both companies. Dr. Joseph has also served on advisory boards for seven other companies, as well as on numerous advisory committees for the federal government and private foundations.

Other current positions that Dr. Joseph holds include Vice-Chairman & Director of Research of the Department of Anesthesiology at Thomas Jefferson University & Hospital and Adjunct Professor in the School of Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University. He also founded the Jefferson Artificial Pancreas Center in 1998 and has served as its Director since. Dr. Joseph continues to lead a laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University, improving upon novel insulin delivery systems.

Chad E. Beyer, PhD, MBA

Dr. Beyer has been the President & CEO of Promentis since early 2013. He is a pharmaceutical professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the research, discovery and business development of medications aimed to treat CNS and neurological disorders. For more than a decade, Dr. Beyer worked in the Discovery Neuroscience group at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Princeton, NJ, holding positions of increasing responsibility including serving as the Head of Neurochemistry and leading the Psychiatry Task Force. During his career at Wyeth, Dr. Beyer led several early-stage drug discovery teams, managed a group responsible for contributing to the submission of more than 30 INDs and provided supporting data for the commercialization and life-cycle management of two blockbuster medications: Effexor® and Pristiq®. Dr. Beyer holds a PhD in Neuropharmacology from LSU Medical Center and an MBA from the Rutgers Business School. Notably, Dr. Beyer has authored more than 70 manuscripts, obtained 3 patents, co-edited "Next Generation Antidepressants" and is co-founder of the journal Technology Transfer & Entrepreneurship. Dr. Beyer is also an adjunct faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University, where he teaches "Bioventure Management" and the business of doing science.

Dennis M. Gross, MS, PhD

Dr. Gross is currently the CEO and Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Drug Discovery Institute at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center.  He is also Adjunct Faculty in the Jefferson College of Life Sciences and Professor of Experimental Therapeutics and Medicinal Chemistry at the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute of the Hepatitis B Foundation.  He recently retired in 2014 from Jefferson, where he was the Associate Dean of the Jefferson College of Life Sciences and Associate Professor of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics in the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. Prior to this, he was at the Merck Research Labs (MRL) for 29 years, retiring in 2006 as Senior Director and Head of West Point Business Operations with overall responsibilities for facilities in Pennsylvania, California and Massachusetts.  He was also responsible for capital laboratory projects and operations oversight at MRL sites in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Italy and the UK.  In his career at MRL he held a number of positions ranging from bench scientist to head of computer resources, manager of international strategic planning, M&A activities and liaison for basic research and clinical drug development in Japan.

During his tenure at MRL, he also served as Adjunct Professor of Global Logistics in the School of Business and Industry of Florida A&M University. He has worked with the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington, DC on policy issues relating to biological weapons of mass destruction.  He received his BA (1969) and MS (1970) from California State University Northridge and his PhD (1974) from UCLA pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship at Tulane University School of Medicine.
 

Lisa Kozlowski, PhD

Dr. Kozlowski is the Associate Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University.  She received her PhD in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania and did a postdoctorate at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she was an officer in their postdoctoral association.  She then worked as Program Director at Science's Next Wave, which is now part of ScienceCareers.org.  She moved on to become a consultant, helping disciplinary societies and universities provide career workshops to their trainees.

Since October 2003, she has directed the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Thomas Jefferson University.  Her administrative accomplishments include implementing a required minimum salary and revising the annual performance evaluation.  Her enhancements for postdoctoral fellows include providing professional development workshops, establishing English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and co-organizing the annual Postdoctoral Research Symposium.

On the regional level, Lisa is a past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association for Women in Science.  On the national level, she has been on the planning committee of the NPA annual meeting.  She is also a past chair of the Postdoctorate Leaders Section Committee of the AAMC GREAT Group.