Past Site Visits and Events
C4 Therapeutics Virtual visit
Event time/date: 4:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Are you thinking about your next career step and considering a career path in Biotech? Join us for a virtual meeting with scientists from C4 Therapeutics, a Boston-based biotech company.
- Dr. Brendon Ladd, Research Scientist II, C4 Therapeutics
- Dr. Gesine Veits, Research Scientist II, C4 Therapeutics
- Dr. Bridget Kreger, Research Scientist, C4 Therapeutics
They will share their career paths into industry as well as tips and resources for landing a job in industry. Information about internships and job opportunities at C4 Therapeutics will be shared as well.
About C4 Therapeutics
C4's technology platform produces small molecule drugs that harness machinery already present in cells to selectively target disease-relevant proteins for degradation. C4T is a privately held midsize biotech company that began in 2015 as a spin out from Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
For more information, please visit the C4 Therapeutics website
AbbVie Bioresearch Center, 100 Research Drive, Worcester, MA
Event time/date: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Monday, September 9, 2019
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to AbbVie’s campus in Worcester, MA. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers, both at and beyond the bench. With nearly 30,000 employees including scientists, researchers, communicators, manufacturing specialists and regulatory experts located around the globe, AbbVie is coming up with new approaches to address today’s health issues—from life-threatening illnesses to chronic conditions. They are targeting specific difficult-to-cure diseases with their core R&D expertise to advance science.
For more information, please visit the AbbVie's website.
Intellia Therapeutics, Cambridge MA

For more information, please visit the Intellia Therapeutics website.
Event time/date: 1:00 - 4:30 PM, Monday, March 11, 2019
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to Sanofi Genzyme’s campus in Framingham, MA. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers, both at and beyond the bench. Founded in Boston in 1981, Genzyme rapidly grew and became recognized for their pioneering development of treatments for rare genetic disorders and innovative contributions to medical science and biomanufacturing. In 2011, Genzyme became part of Sanofi, a French multinational life science company, and became one of the world’s largest biotechnology companies. Sanofi Genzyme engages in the research and development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical drugs principally in the prescription market, but also develop over-the-counter medications. The company’s research covers seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, central nervous system, diabetes, immunology, oncology, rare diseases, infectious diseases and vaccines (Sanofi is the world's largest producer of vaccines through its subsidiary Sanofi Pasteur).
Event time/date: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Wednesday, December 12, 2018
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to CRISPR Therapeutics' campus in Cambridge, MA on Wednesday, December 12th, 11:00 – 3:00 PM! Their multi-disciplinary team of world-class researchers and drug developers work every day to translate their CRISPR/Cas9 technology into breakthrough human therapeutics. CRISPR Therapeutics' lead program targeting the blood diseases β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease has entered clinical testing, and their immuno-oncology programs, focused on CRISPR/Cas9-edited allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies, have the potential to deliver a new generation of cancer therapies to patients. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers.
MassBiologics
Event time/date: 12:00 - 3:00 PM Friday, August 10th, 2018
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to MassBiologics' campus in Boston, MA on Friday, August 10th from 12:00 - 3:00 PM! MassBiologics is the only non-profit, FDA-licensed manufacturer of vaccines in the United States. For over 100 years, MassBiologics has worked to improve public health through applied research, development and production of biologic products, including vaccines, plasma derivatives and most recently, monoclonal antibodies. MassBiologics currently manufactures Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids, Adsorbed (Td) vaccine and distribute nationwide. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers.
Voyager Therapeutics
Event time/date: 1:00 PM - 4 :30PM June 8th, 2018
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to Voyager Therapeutics' campus in Cambridge, MA on Friday, June 8th, 1:00 - 4:30 PM! Voyager Therapeutics develops gene therapies from discovery, preclinical and clinical development, through to commercialization. They focus on people living with severe neurological diseases that lack safe and effective treatment options, particularly in the areas of advanced Parkinson’s disease, monogenic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, Friedreich’s ataxia, neurodegenerative diseases related to defective or excess aggregation of tau protein in the brain including Alzheimer’s disease, and severe, chronic pain. They innovate and invest in novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector engineering and optimization, manufacturing that includes a baculovirus production system for producing AAV vectors at scale in insect-derived cells, and dosing that includes intraparenchymal, intrathecal and intravenous delivery techniques.
For more information, visit Voyager Therpeutics.
KSQ Therapeutics
Event time/date: 1:00 PM - 3:00PM March 20th, 2018
The Industry Exploration Program (IndEx) at UMass Chan is excited to announce another industry site visit to KSQ Therapeutics's campus in Cambridge, MA on Tuesday, March 20th, 1:00-3:00 PM! KSQ Therapeutics's broad expertise in their proprietary CRISPRomics™ drug discovery engine, has elucidated the function that each human gene plays in multiple diseases, providing a unique and more comprehensive understanding of disease biology. The quality of these insights enables their scientists to rapidly identify and validate high-confidence, patient-tailored, novel drug targets and then focus their collective efforts on the development of medicines with the greatest potential to impact the lives of patients. KSQ has initiated a pipeline of preclinical discovery programs and was founded in 2015. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers.
For more information, visit KSQ Therapeutics.
GE Healthcare Life Sciences
Event time/date: 1:30 PM - 4 PM May 12th, 2017
Come visit GE Healthcare Life Sciences' brand new campus located in Marlborough,Massachusetts. GE’s broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help their customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, they partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems. This is a great opportunity to expand your network and learn more about industry careers.
For more information, visit GE Healthcare Life Sciences.
Ginkgo BioWorks
Event time/date: 1 PM - 4 PM December 19th, 2016
Ginkgo BioWorks located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a biotechnology company focused on designing custom microbes for a variety of industrial settings. By focusing on production of cultured ingredients, including yeasts and enzymes for a variety of manufacturing applications, as well on improving current fermentation and engineering technologies, Ginkgo BioWorks hopes to expand the link between biology and technology.
For more information, visit www.ginkgobioworks.com.
QIAGEN
Event time/date: 1 PM - 4 PM December 7th, 2016
QIAGEN, an international company with headquarters in Germany, provides services to over half a million customers worldwide, through 35 offices in 25 countries. QIAGEN’s slogan of “Sample to Insight” highlights its commitment to providing researchers with the tools and technologies to efficiently and reliably analyze samples and address scientific inquiries, whether at the laboratory bench or the hospital bedside. QIAGEN’s focus on innovative solutions and understanding of research challenges provides researchers with the tools and opportunities to address a broad spectrum of scientific questions.
For more information, visit www.qiagen.com/us/.
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Event time/date: 10 AM - 2 PM November 11th, 2016
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, located in Cambridge MA, is a leading pharmaceutical company developing RNAi therapeutics for disease treatment. Ranked in 2015 as one of the top places to work by the Boston Globe, its exciting therapeutic pipelines in hepatic, cardio-metabolic and genetic medicine represent the transition of RNAi from bench top tool to innovative treatment.
For more information, visit www.alnylam.com.
BERG Health Site Visit
Event time/date: 1-4 PM September 19th, 2016
BERG, in Framingham, MA, is a biopharma company with a unique approach to therapeutic discovery and pipelines in oncology, endocrinology and neurology. Utilizing an AI-based Interrogative Biology® platform and with a focus on precision medicine, BERG Health's developmental program centers around the patient, using the patient's own biology to drive research forward, with the hope of developing faster clinical diagnoses and safer therapeutic options to be implemented worldwide.
For more information visit http://berghealth.com/.
Broad Institute Site Visit
Event time/date: 1-4 PM June 17, 2016
The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institure of Harvard and MIT, located in Cambridge, MA, is a collaborative effort combining a diverse group of bioscientific professionals across partner institutions to address current challenges in translational medicine and the expansion of our understanding and treatment of disease. Based on large-scale collaborations of the past at Harvard and MIT, the Broad Institute currently links research done at MIT, Harvard and Harvard's affiliated major teaching hospitals in the Boston area, creating a local community of over 150 faculty and over 1500 scientists, with international connections to over 100 research projects across more than 40 countries.The Broad Institute presented a unique opportunity for our trainees to exploring working at the intersection of educational research and translational science.
For more information visit https://www.broadinstitute.org/.
Careers for PhDs: A Career Discussion with John Finch, JD, SPHR (On Site Event)
"Career Development and Interviewing Skills"
Visit time/date: 10 AM - 12 PM, June 9, 2016
IndEx invited John Finch, JD, SPHR, currently the Deputy Director, Administration and Finance at MassBiologics to visit campus and present on his approach to career development and interview skill development. Mr. Finch is an entrepreneurial administrative leader with 30 years of experience in a variety of disciplines, environments and industries, who has been with MassBiologics since 2003, where he took the lead in building its current administrative and operational infrastructure.
For more information on MassBiologics or Mr. Finch, see MassBiologics or MassBiologics Management.
MassBiologics Site Visit
Event time/date: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM April 7th, 2016
MassBiologics, located in Boston (Mattapan, MA), is the only non-profit, FDA-licensed manufacturer of vaccines in the United States. For over 100 years, MassBiologics has worked to improve public health through applied research, development and production of biologic products.
For more information visit www.umassmed.edu/massbiologics/.
Professional Headshots Opportunity (On Site Event)
Event time/date: 9-12 PM on April 1st, 2016
One of the best ways to spruce up your social media presence and look more professional is to add a headshot to your online profiles. A professional headshot personalizes your online presence and helps industry contacts and potential employers to connect with you. IndEx, in conjunction with LeahHantman Photography organized the unique opportunity for UMass Chan trainees to get professional headshots right on campus.
Professional Headshots Opportunity (On Site Event)
Event time/date: 2 - 4 PM on January 29th, 2016
One of the best ways to spruce up your social media presence and look more professional is to add a headshot to your online profiles. A professional headshot personalizes your online presence and helps industry contacts and potential employers to connect with you. IndEx, in conjunction with LeahHantman Photography organized the unique opportunity for UMass Chan trainees to get professional headshots right on campus.
Careers for PhDs: Industry Roles Beyond the Bench (On Site Event)
Visit time/date: 3 - 5 PM on December 10th, 2015
Presented in conjuction with the Center for Biomedical Career Development (cBCD), IndEx hosted 4 industry professionals (of which 3 were UMass Chan alumni) on campus for a panel discussion on non-bench industry careers. This presented a unique opportunity where students and postdocs got to interact with professionals not usually available for site visits. Highlighted careers were: patent lawyer, regulatory medical writer, staff applications scientist and medical science liaison.
New England BioLabs (NEB)Visit time/date: 12 PM - 3:30 PM on May 22nd, 2015
New England BioLabs (NEB), recognized worldwide as a leader in recombinant and native enzyme development and production, is a privately owned international company with headquarters located in Ipswich, MA. Leaders in restriction enzyme development for almost 40 years, NEB has more recently expanded their catalog to other research fields, such as RNA and epigenetic analysis. With a focus on supporting the scientific community with superior tools for genomic reseach as well as an expansive in-house reseach effort, NEB offers a wide variety of career opportunities.
For more information, visit www.neb.com.
Novartis/NIBR
Visit time/date: 9:30 AM - 11:45 AM on March 30th, 2015Novartis, a global healthcare company based in Switzerland, has a strong focus on providing patients with the most innovative medicine possible, with improved outcomes and superior patient access to information. The Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR), located in Cambridge, MA, is a part of this worldwide effort, to develop treatments and devices to help improve patients' lives. With research efforts ranging from chemistry to translational medicine, Novartis and NIBR are focused on improving the global state of healthcare.
For more information, visit www.novartis.com and www.nibr.com.
Bluebird Bio
Visit time/date: 11 AM - 4:30 PM on October 21st, 2014
Bluebird Bio, located in Cambridge, MA, is a company focusing on using gene therapy in the treatment of severe genetic and orphan diseases such as beta-thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and various types of cancer. With two clinical stage products, a gene therapy platform widely applicable to a number of diseases, and a focus on providing hope to patients, Bluebird Bio hopes to shift the focus of treatment of these diseases to addressing their underlying causes, rather than through alleviation of symptoms.
For more information, visit www.bluebirdbio.com.
MassBiologics
Visit time/date: 10 AM - 3:30 PM on May 16th, 2014
MassBiologics, located in Boston, is the only non-profit, FDA-licensed manufacturer of vaccines in the United States. For over 100 years, MassBiologics has worked to improve public health through applied research, development and production of biologic products.
For more information visit www.umassmed.edu/massbiologics/.
Genzyme
Visit time/date: 1:00-3:30 PM on May 2nd, 2014
Genzyme has pioneered the development and delivery of transformative therapies for over 30 years. Founded in 1981 in Boston, Massachusetts, Genzyme evolved from a tiny start-up with just a handful of employees to one of the world's leading biotech companies. Acquired by Sanofi in 2011, Genzyme now benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients.
For more information visit www.genzyme.com.
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI)
Visit time/date: 1:00PM - 3:30PM on October 31st, 2013
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) is a private, independent economic development organization dedicated to job creation and innovative healthcare throughout Massachusetts by promoting the growth of start-up biomedical companies. MBI offers support to creative entrepreneurs with sound scientific business plans. Through its MBI Incubator facilities located in Worcester, MBI lowers barriers to success for emerging companies by providing cost-effective, high quality laboratory space and support services. MBI is committed to collaborating with the academic, business and government communities to promote Massachusetts as the world leader in the life science industry.
For more information visit http://massbiomed.org/.
AthenaVisit time/date: 11:30AM - 3:00PM on April 5th, 2013
Athena Diagnostics is a leader in diagnostic testing for neurological diseases and offers innovative tests for Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular and developmental disorders. Athena, a division of Quest Diagnostics, is dedicated to providing neurologists and other physicians and specialists with insights that can improve patient health. Athena provides the most comprehensive test menu and intellectual property portfolio for neurological, endocrine, and renal conditions through more than 350 diagnostic tests.
For more information visit www.athenadiagnostics.com.
AbbVie (formerly Abbott)Visit time/date: 9:00AM - 12:30PM on April 12th, 2013
Research and innovation are the cornerstones of AbbVie's business as a global biopharmaceutical company. Our research and innovation focus on developing medicines that deliver strong clinical performance, provide more patient benefit, and deliver economic value, particularly where there is significant need around the world in certain disease areas. These areas include hepatitis C, neuroscience, immunology, oncology, chronic kidney disease, and women's health.
For more information visit www.abbvie.com.