Casey Doucette, PhD, Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dr. Casey Doucette currently serves as Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where she is responsible for the development and execution of regulatory strategy for multiple programs in the Immunology and Inflammation therapeutic focus area. Prior to Regeneron, Casey was a Regulatory Affairs Manager at IDEXX Laboratories, where she managed regulatory submissions to the USDA and FDA in support of marketed veterinary diagnostic products. Early on in her career, Casey served as a Senior Account Executive at MacDougall Advisors, where she supported early-stage biotechnology companies in the development and execution of their corporate communications plans.

Casey received her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of New Hampshire and Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Maine Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering. She completed her dissertation at the MaineHealth Institute for Research under the mentorship of Dr. Clifford Rosen.

Bethany Fortier, Research and Development Scientist, IDEXX

Bethany Fortier is a Scientist in Research and Development at IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., headquartered in Westbrook, ME. IDEXX is a global leader in innovation, offering diagnostic products and services to customers in over 175 countries for the companion animal veterinary, livestock and poultry, water testing, and dairy markets. At IDEXX, Bethany works as part of an interdisciplinary discovery research team to support assay development from the R&D phase through the entire New Product Development process. Prior to entering industry, Bethany was a secondary science educator in Maine for 15 years and holds dual certification in both the life and physical sciences.

Bethany earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Maine and her M.S. in Biology through a collaborative research-intensive program between MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) and the University of Southern Maine, completing her thesis in the Center for Molecular Medicine at MHIR under the mentorship of Dr. Lucy Liaw.

Janet Yancey-Wrona, PhD, Technology Business Development Manager, University of Maine

Janet is the Technology Business Development Manager for the University of Maine, helping to commercialize important new discoveries from the University. This position follows a variety of management positions in life sciences-based companies. After beginning her professional career as a research scientist at IDEXX Labs, Janet served as the founding President of the Maine Technology Institute, overseeing more than $40 million in investments for R&D in Maine-based organizations. From there, she moved on to manage two pharmaceutical start-ups, a research products company and served a variety of marketing roles, most recently as Director of Marketing for the testing business at Lonza, one of the world’s largest healthcare manufacturing companies. Janet’s background includes a doctoral degree in biology from the University of North Carolina, and a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.

Kara Held, PhD, Science Director, The Baker Company

Kara Brunelle Held, Ph.D. is the Science Director of The Baker Company and an instructor at the Eagleson Institute. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Vermont Cell and Molecular Biology Program, completed her postdoctoral training at Yale University, and was a Lab Manager, Safety Officer, and Researcher at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Her hands-on academic research and biosafety experience gives an important viewpoint as a part of the New Product Development team and end user education and training.

Elisabeth Marnik, PhD, Director of Science Education & Outreach, MDI Biological Laboratory

Dr. Elisabeth A. Marnik is the Director of Science Education & Outreach at the MDI Biological Laboratory, where she leads initiatives to make science more engaging and accessible for students and the public. She earned her PhD in genetics and immunology from Tufts University, and her time in both the lab and the classroom sparked a deep commitment to science education, communication, and mentoring. A former university professor, she now focuses on expanding science education programs to help grow Maine’s science workforce from the youngest ages up. She also serves as Chief Scientific Officer for Those Nerdy Girls and is a contributing writer for ASBMB Today.

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