2025 Mid-Atlantic Science & Technology In-Person Showcase

Resume Reviews

Maximize your career potential with a personalized, 20-minute resume review session. Meet one-on-one with industry and career experts who will provide tailored feedback to help you stand out. 

Whether you're refining your resume for a new job or pivoting to a new field, these focused sessions are designed to give you the insights you need to enhance your professional brand.

Mentor Circle: Students + Future Talent [Hello Life Sciences]

We are excited to connect students and future talent with industry professionals and leaders for an opportunity to network, engage, and learn. 

Dive into the world of life sciences and expand your professional connections while gaining valuable insights into the industry

Mentor Circle: Emerging Leaders [Industry Trends]

We are excited to unite emerging leaders with industry professionals and thought leaders for an engaging morning of networking and connection. 

Explore the latest industry trends, cutting-edge technologies, and emerging opportunities shaping the future. Expand your network and enjoy meaningful interactions that spark innovation and collaboration.

Joe Brewer - ABIO, Sr. Process Specialist

Nick Pellegrino - ABIO, Project Manager/Process Specialist

Digital Twin technology is revolutionizing the way industries approach process and mechanical systems design, diagnostics, and operational efficiency. A Digital Twin is a dynamic, real-time virtual replica of a physical system, enabling enhanced monitoring, predictive maintenance, and
data-driven decision-making. Use of Digital Twin modeling is as effective for entire building systems, as it is for detailed diagnoses of specific areas and even simple component operation. This presentation explores the key features and benefits of Digital Twin modeling, including
real-time data integration, simulation and analysis, and advanced visualization. Drawing from firsthand plant experience during the rush for COVID production in 2020, I will discuss how the need for an advanced modeling approach arose when traditional spreadsheet-
based methods failed to account for complex interactions between multiple utility supply systems. The implementation of Digital Twin modeling provided the necessary insights to optimize performance and ensure system reliability.

Additionally, we will examine real-world applications in liquid processes. Using a governmental research facility High Purity Water System case study, I will share how to develop a “3-D” (ISO) model, to effectively meet the stringent specification of their design requirements. Installed
throughout a 14-floor expansion, the main system loop is comprised of 12 floor subloops, with 9
of these subloops further subdivided. This presentation will also highlight application for Clean Utility gases, and HVAC systems, showcasing how Digital Twin technology supports process optimization, cost reduction, and innovation. Beyond illustrating the potential impact across industries, I will also address challenges such as integration complexity and data accuracy. Finally, we will look ahead at emerging trends, including AI-driven simulations and the increasing role of edge computing in Digital Twin advancements. By embracing Digital Twin technology, organizations can unlock new efficiencies, enhance decision-making, and drive continuous improvement, speed, and cost control in both operational and strategic domains.

Jesse Fisher - WB Engineers + Consultants

Jennifer Bullock - GSK, Site Sustainability Lead

Linda Toth - Arup, Associate Engineer

Kevin Chriswell - Cannon Design, Vice President

Holly Lennihan - Project Pharma, Vice President

This panel discussion will focus on decarbonization and electrification of life science facilities.
The panel will consist of an owner’s representative, architect, mechanical engineer, and sustainability consultant who will look at issues of reducing operational and embodied carbon through rigorous design and evaluation processes. Net Zero codes, regulatory compliance and target setting will be reviewed as a means to foster strict adherence to sustainability goals. All electric systems for facilities as well as the ability to influence code mandated ventilation requirements will be presented and discussed along with ways to reduce the energy demand of typical laboratory and process equipment. In addition, case studies, design strategies, and corporate led sustainability and zero carbon initiatives will be presented and discussed along with showcasing the national leaders in sustainable life science design.

Learning Objectives

The audience will learn about the current environment and trends towards decarbonization and changing code mandated sustainability regulations. Trends, strategies, and case studies will be presented to show examples of how decarbonization is being implemented in recent life science projects. In addition, the challenges to meet future energy concerns will be discussed.

Evan Drake - Gilbane, Project Executive

Ryan Spotts - Gilbane, Senior Project Executive

The complexities of life sciences construction combine with intense speed to market demands to create an ideal opportunity to leverage AI to improve productivity, while simultaneously increasing critical focus on safety and quality. Imagine “unlocking time” by designating AI to take on essential but routine tasks, such as data collection, project documentation, progress monitoring, and quality control. That time can then be “re-directed” to other technical complexities of life sciences facilities that demand a more strategic and collaborative approach.

In this session, the team will share the benefits AI helped to achieve at the new Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Morgan Center for Research and Innovation. At CHOP, small, treaded robots autonomously navigate the jobsite, taking regular photos to create a digital repository of project images. Not only do they save time on these tasks, but the robot’s AI technology can also be programmed to analyze the images to identify other potential issues, such as unsafe site conditions, improper PPE usage, and progress delays. Even better, the technology is customizable to the unique demands of any project. For example, when CHOP was concerned about windblown rain on certain floors of the Morgan Center project, the robots were programmed to identify pooled water, minimizing the risk of mold. These minor corrections can lead to significant cost and schedule savings over the lifetime of the job.

So, how is the CHOP project team leveraging the time they’ve unlocked? By accelerating site documentation and problem-solving on a large scale, all members of the project team – owner, project manager, and CM – will share how they are leveraging “unlocked time” to more effectively solve complex challenges like:

• Managing the logistics of the tight, urban site
• Developing approaches to drive schedule acceleration
• Creating an intentional supplier diversity strategy resulting in more than 50% diverse participation
• Coordinating a complex curtain wall system
• Identifying further uses for the AI technology

The pharmaceutical and life sciences industries have recognized artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as pivotal tools for improving process control, verification, and optimization. However, the journey towards full adoption of these technologies can be overwhelming, often leading to an "all-or-nothing" mindset. This presentation offers a practical roadmap for the gradual integration of AI/ML into existing frameworks, taking into consideration the specific needs and complexities of different business models.

By breaking down the transformation into manageable phases, attendees will learn what foundational technologies and frameworks are necessary for successful AI implementation. The discussion will focus on identifying high-impact areas within process optimization that provide the greatest return on investment (ROI) with minimal risk. Hybrid models - blending traditional practices with AI techniques - will be highlighted as a stepping-stone to full digital transformation.

Finally, the presentation will address the critical role of explainability in AI models, particularly in regulated industries where transparency is paramount. This focus on explainability aims to foster greater confidence in the integration of AI technologies, paving the way for future advancements in validation and regulatory acceptance.

The USP requirements for biocompatibility, USP 87 and USP 88, have been updated for an effective date of May 1, 2026, with broad sweeping impacts for the biotech industry. USP 87 now includes many additional tests for in-vitro testing. USP 88 has been gutted, with references to Class VI plastics entirely removed and industry guidance revised to point away from in-vivo (animal testing). These tests were not specifically required by law for the biotech industry, but for the containers, medical devices and implants industry. They were picked up as GMP practices by ASME BPE and became ubiquitous in the industry.

Now, USP 665 has been released with an effective date of May 1, 2026 as well, for plastic components and systems used for the manufacture of Biopharmaceuticals, and is specifically for characterization and qualification of plastic components and systems in OUR industry. However, it leaves some elastomers out of scope - so what do we do?

Three takeaways from this presentation:

  1 - Attendees will learn the history of USP 88's Class VI's use in biotech, including adoption into single-use and it’s ultimate removal                 from the USP 88 guidelines.
  2 - Attendees will gain an understanding of where the industry is headed now.
  3 - Attendees will learn what changes need to be implemented to comply by May, 2026.

Time Magazine recently released its 2024 list of the Most Sustainable companies. There are several pharmaceutical manufacturers, life sciences, and biotechnology companies on the list and the industry can learn from these industry leading companies. Executive leaders from CAI and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TFS) will discuss the Triple Bottom Line strategic approach to balance people, the planet, and profit to sustainably grow. Thermo Fisher Scientific is #222 on Time’s list and is in the top 1% for its Sustainalytics Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts. We will discuss how TFS and others have added these important programs to their strategies. Many pharmaceutical companies are consistently challenged with price pressure for their products and are called upon to look for ways to make their products more accessible globally. Community and industry research foundation support can help a company’s social reputation. Employee benefits packages, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in talent acquisition and career development, and professional development all drive retention and lead to innovations. We will touch on these and will provide examples of environmental initiatives TFS is focused on. Finally, we will cover how operational excellence increases profits. We will close with how these can impact all companies in our industry if embraced, including sustainable growth, leading to reduced impact to the planet.

Too many companies have focused on strictly their profits, the single bottom line. Having just completed Southern New Hampshire University’s course “Corporate Social Responsibility” toward earning my MS Project Management and Operations, I will present the results of my research. My co-presenters and I will provide examples of why this critical strategic focus must be embraced by life sciences manufacturers. By applying a balanced strategy of people, the planet, and profits, the triple bottom line, sustainable growth can be achieved long-term. Attendees will hear from industry leading company representatives in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Industry best practices in how to achieve the balance between people, the planet, and profit will be discussed so that the industry can learn to apply some of these initiatives to support sustainable growth.

Kay Sargent - HOK, Senior Principal | Director of Thought Leadeship, Interiors

Wayne Nickles - HOK, Principal | S+T Practice Leader

We are living in a time of increased numbers and awareness about individuals with neuro-
sensitives and special needs, such as ADHD. These individuals can be high energy, out of the box thinkers, excel in a crisis, and be bold problem solvers. A groundbreaking study conducted by HOK with ARC - Advanced Research Clusters and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS)has revealed that spaces designed to foster technological and scientific innovation often inadvertently stifle the potential of the brilliant minds working within them by not addressing the sensory processing needs of the occupants.
To truly design space that is inclusive it’s important to understand how space effects people from those various perspectives. The study revealed how neurodivergent individuals are particularly sensitive to auditory, visual, and tactile elements, exposing that many existing laboratories are not designed to address these needs holistically. These sensory distractions are linked to cognitive interruptions such as loss of focus, disrupt creativity and innovation and in turn directly impact employee engagement, satisfaction, and productivity.
Not only is designing to be inclusive the right thing to do, there is a compelling business case for it as well. Join us as we share the various aspects of diversity, with a focus on neurodiversity, and explore how to create scientific workplaces that are more physically and culturally inclusive for people to allow them to thrive, using AstraZeneca’s new R+D hub in Kendall Square as a case study. Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives:
Explore the benefits of designing a space that addresses the needs of all and is inclusive

1. Learn the different neuro-sensitives and how they impact individuals
2. Understand the principles of universal design and how they can aid in making space more inclusive and welcoming
3. Learn how to be proactive with your design and policies to create an inclusive work environment

Angela J. Stillisano - Astrazenca, Sr. Director, Cell Therapy Manufacturing

Dave Boclair - Deka Biosciences, Inc, VP of Technical Operations

Tara Crnkovich - Arcellx, Head of QA Operations

Meron F. - Cherenet Vandstrom, Inc., Business Operations and Human Capital

Jaymie White Moran (Moderator) - Piper Companies, Biopharma Account Manager

Danielle Gabrish (Moderator) - AstraZeneca, Director of Clinical Biologics Manufacturing