Doug Davies got his first exposure to undergraduate research while working toward a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and biophysics at WSU. It was in the “Visualization Analysis and Display in the Molecular Sciences” lab that Doug got his first exposure to molecular modeling. From then on, he was hooked on structural biology. After graduating in 1994, Doug went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a PhD in biochemistry in the lab of Dr. Ivan Rayment. Their research produced the first X-ray crystal structures of the bacterial transposase Tn5. In 2000, Doug returned to the Pacific Northwest to do a postdoc in X-ray crystallography with Dr. Wim Hol at the University of Washington. Doug then joined the scientific team at the Bainbridge Island-based Emerald Biostructures, a contract research organization specializing in gene-to-structure and X-ray crystallographic services. From 2005 to 2018, Doug worked with dozens of clients in biotech, pharma, and academic labs and became the author of over 90 crystal structures in the Protein Data Bank. In 2018, the Emerald organization was acquired by the European pharma company UCB, where Doug still leads structural biology projects as a senior principal scientist.
Dr. Bob Esch is currently Chairman and CSO of Blue Ridge Crystal Technologies, a company focused on the growth and fabrication of piezoelectric crystals for engineering applications and maintains a private research laboratory. He serves on the board of directors of Nielsen BioSciences, a biologics company focused on developing and commercializing products with applications of cell-mediated immune responses.
As a faculty member of the School of Natural Sciences at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a liberal arts institution, he taught human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and immunology to undergraduate students. He promotes faculty and student research activities through the Esch Science Research Endowment.
He spent most of his professional career at Greer Laboratories, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in allergen immunotherapy. During his 37 years at Greer, he managed a wide variety of functional areas including manufacturing & quality control, regulatory affairs, and research & development; he served on scientific and medical advisory boards; published numerous manuscripts and book chapters; and provided opportunities to many high-school, college, and professional students pursuing applied science careers.
He earned his PhD (’87) in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his BS (’75) and MS (’78) degrees in Bacteriology and Public Health from Washington State University.
Paige Ford earned a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from Washington State University in 2019. While at WSU, she engaged in undergraduate research, supported the REU program, and served as president of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Following graduation, she entered the biotechnology sector before transitioning into scientific staffing. After four years as a Scientific Recruiter at Kelly Science & Clinical, she now recruits full-time for Jubilant HollisterStier. She brings several years of experience in scientific staffing to support students pursuing careers in the sciences.
Mimi Healy, Ph.D. is an experienced life sciences executive that has an established history of leading start-ups from product ideation through commercialization that results in explosive growth and profitable acquisition. During her tenures as CEO of Bacterial Barcodes and Lasergen, she secured millions in funding from VC’s and private investors and then guided those companies to double-digit returns for her investors. Currently as the CEO of StimulusBio, she uses her skills to drive other start-ups to succeed by combining strategy and science. The client services team provides data-driven business and product strategy solutions while the laboratory-based science solutions team develops enabling technologies for cell and gene therapy. Mimi is particularly driven to propel the next generation of life science professionals by providing personalized mentoring to her young employees, offering experience-driven internships to high school through postgraduates, and mentoring students through programs such as EschLEAD. Mimi received her BA in Industrial Psychology & BS in Biology, Chemistry (minor) from Central Washington University and her PhD in Microbiology & M.S. in Biology from Washington State University.
Dr. Jason Nicholas, BVetMed (Hons), is a 2004 graduate of The Royal Veterinary College in London, England. Since 2021, he has served as veterinary business director for Stallergenes Greer, a global leader in allergen extract manufacturing and allergy immunotherapy for both people and animals. Before joining Stallergenes Greer, he provided independent consulting services for companies throughout the veterinary and animal health industries. In 2011, Dr. Nicholas founded The Preventive Vet, a publishing and content creation company dedicated to helping pet owners better prevent and manage veterinary emergencies. He exited Preventive Vet in 2020, after authoring three books and countless online articles. Earlier in his career, Dr. Nicholas practiced as a primary care and emergency small animal veterinarian in Pennsylvania, New York, and Oregon (2004–18) and completed his internship training at The Animal Medical Center in New York City (2006–07). He earned his undergraduate degree in animal biosciences from Penn State University in 1995, though began his studies at the University of Miami (FL) with a focus on marine biology and pursuing his childhood dream of becoming the next Jacques Cousteau. A proud father of two spectacular daughters, Dr. Nicholas has called Portland, Oregon, and the beautiful Pacific Northwest home since 2008.
Lisa G. Shaffer, PhD is the former founder and CEO of Signature Genomic Laboratories (2003-2010) and Genetic Veterinary Sciences, DBA Paw Print Genetics (2012-2021). She is currently the manager of Shaffer Capital and is the Executive Chair of the Board for Precision Epigenomics, a liquid biopsy-based, early cancer detection company. Dr. Shaffer received her BS degree in Biology from WSU (1984) and her PhD in Human Genetics from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond (1990). She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including INC Magazine’s Top 10 Women CEOs of the fastest growing private companies in 2008 and the YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award for Science & Technology in 2016.