Attendance is free, but please register so we can plan for catering and create your name tag. Register here:

http://apps2.research.unc.edu/events/index.cfm?event=events.go&key=C2BD

• 8:00am
  • Registration (Ground floor) and Breakfast (2nd floor)
  • Kerr Hall
• 8:30am
  • Welcome Remarks and intro to Merck, Dr. Eric Routhier, Distinguished Scientist, Merck Biologics Analytical R&D
  • Kerr Hall, Room 2001
• 8:45am
  • Merck Science Keynote Address – Dr. Xiaodong Bu – Senior Principal Scientist, Merck Analytical External Capabilities
  • Title: Comprehensive Journey Through Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Analytical Development: Early to Late Phase Control Strategies and Advanced Characterization Techniques
  • Kerr Hall, Room 2001
• 9:45am
  • Coffee Break (Kerr lobby 1st & 2nd)
• 10:00am
  • Talks from UNC postdocs and grad students
  • Kerr Hall, Room 2001
• 11:00am
  • Merck Science Poster Session
  • Kerr Hall
• 12:00 noon
  • Networking Lunch with Merck Scientists
  • Kerr & Beard Hall conference rooms
• 12:50pm
  • Academic Keynote Address – Dr. Daniel Herschlag – Professor of Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering at Stanford
  • Kerr Hall, Room 2001 (overflow seating in Bondurant G100)
• 2:00pm
  • Coffee Break (Kerr lobby 1st & 2nd)
• 2:15pm
  • Panel with Merck Scientists Discussing Career Opportunities in Industry
  • Kerr Hall, Room 2001
• 3:00pm
  • Networking and Resume Review with Merck Scientists
•  4:00pm
  • UNC Research Poster Session – Cash prizes available for top posters. $500 for 1st; $350 for 2nd; $200 for 3rd
  • Kerr Hall, 1st & 2nd Floor
• 5:00pm
  • Closing remarks and presentation of awards. Dr. Brittany Paorello, Associate Vice President, Biologics Analytical R&D
  • Kerr Hall 2001

Graduate students and postdocs have the option to present posters and 4 trainees will be selected to give 15-minute talks.  If you would like to be considered for either opportunity please fill out the form and upload your abstract via Qualtrics here: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b473c7n8oCyJop0

Please note that abstracts must be received by end of buiness Tuesday October 15th thorugh the link above. You will be notified of acceptance for a poster or talk by end of business October 23rd.

Graduate students and postdocs will have many opportunities to network with campus colleagues old and new as well as meet and network with scientists from Merck.  Opportunities include the poster sessions, lunch with Merck scientists, sessions to receive feedback from Merck scientists on your elevator pitch, resume review, as well as interviews for currently open positions at Merck.

To sign up for a 10 minute resume review slot with a Merck scientist, or to sign up for an on campus interview with Merck please sign up here before end of business Tuesday October 15th by filling out this form: https://unc.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b473c7n8oCyJop0

Daniel Herschlag, PhD, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University. The overarching goal of the Herschlag Lab is to understand the fundamental behavior of RNA and proteins and, in turn, how these behaviors determine and impact biology more broadly. We are particularly interested in questions of how enzymes work, how RNA folds, how proteins recognize RNA, and the roles of RNA/protein interactions in regulation and control, and the evolution of molecules and molecular interactions. The lab takes an interdisciplinary approach, spanning and integrating physics, chemistry and biology, and employing a wide range of techniques.

Xiaodong Bu, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, Analytical R&D, Analytical External Capabilities, Merck. Full Bio coming soon

Suggested dress: Business Casual

Building map for Kerr Hall and Beard Hall (coming soon)

Please address questions about the Forum to Ralph House (rlhouse@email.unc.edu) and Patrick Brandt (patrick_brandt@med.unc.edu).

Please address questions about Forum Registration to Michael Smith (michael.smith@unc.edu).