We are delighted to be partnering with the School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, University of Dundee on our second event of the year. If you are interested in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors this may the event for you! The event will feature of a panel discussion chaired by Dr Mhairi Towler.
The panel discussion with local industry experts and recruiters will be followed by an exhibition and networking event.
The event is funded through the Wellcome Trust IFRC ‘Breaking Barriers for Long-Term Post-Docs’ initiative, headed by research staff at the School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine at the University of Dundee.
This event is open to everyone with an interest in Life Sciences and Healthcare.
Registration is free but registration is required, please click here to register..
Chair
Dr Mhairi Towler, Researcher Advancement and Culture Manager, University of Dundee
Mhairi began her career in Life Sciences, earning a Biochemistry degree and a PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Dundee. After a Wellcome Trust Travelling Fellowship at The University of California San Francisco, she continued postdoctoral research at the University of Dundee and co-founded the then, ‘College of Life Sciences Postdoctoral Association’ to support researchers' career development.
Her passion for education led to a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, sparking an interest in animation as a teaching tool. She retrained with a Master's in Animation and Visualisation and founded Vivomotion, a company producing science animations and delivering visual communication workshops across the UK and Europe. She later earned a Professional Diploma in Digital Learning Design.
To showcase diverse science careers, she launched the Opportunities in Science podcast, featuring inspiring interviews with science graduates. In 2024, Mhairi returned to the University of Dundee as Researcher Advancement and Culture Manager, co-leading the Wellcome Trust Institutional Fund for Research Culture's Career Development Scheme.
Mhairi has been involved in professional groups including the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Young Academy of Scotland, BioDundee, Women in STEM initiatives, and the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce. She is currently The Charity Convener for The Dyers Trade, one of the Nine Trades of Dundee.
Speakers
Austin Clark, Founder of Entrust Resource Solutions
Austin Clark , Co Founder & Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at LSRG Group, with our trading brands Entrust Resource Solutions and SCi Partners, I have over 23 years of experience in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology recruitment industry. I lead a talented team of scientists and life science experts who provide a collaborative, end-to-end recruitment consultancy service for our clients across the UK and Europe.
My mission is to find the best talent for our clients' niche roles, from bench to board, supporting their full hiring needs, including executive search, permanent and contingent talent planning. I also partner with global biotech companies to deliver interim and project-based solutions for their talent shortages and demands. I am passionate about delivering exceptional client service and candidate satisfaction, and I am always looking for new opportunities and challenges in the life sciences recruitment space, to identify and provide the right talent solutions for the various stages of which industry finds themselves.
Dr Lara Bennett, AMICULUM
After completing her BSc in Biochemistry with a year placement at GSK from the University of Leeds, Lara went on to gain her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Dundee. Recognising life in the lab wasn’t for her, Lara entered the field of science communication working for both Cancer Research UK and Worldwide Cancer Research where she gave presentations, worked with the media and wrote for non-scientific audiences. After nine years Lara was ready for a new challenge and she moved into the field of Medical Writing, partnering with pharmaceutical companies to communicate the latest clinical research to healthcare providers and patients.
Hayley Deasley, AMICULUM
With a background in biomedical science and extensive experience in retail management, I have successfully transitioned into the pharmaceutical marketing sector, where I currently lead a dynamic team at AMICULUM
After completing my BSc in Biomedical Science, I realized that lab life wasn’t for me. My part-time jobs in retail sparked a passion for the industry, leading me to join the M&S graduate management scheme. Over the years, I advanced through roles such as finance & operations manager, commercial manager, and store manager, gaining invaluable experience in each position.
Driven by a desire for flexibility and independence, I started my own business, which I successfully ran as a director. This venture honed my entrepreneurial skills and taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience.
Combining my commercial expertise with my love for life sciences, I joined AMICULUM as an entry-level account manager and quickly advanced to Account Director. I lead a team on a pharmaceutical marketing account, coordinating with creative, digital, and strategic consultancy teams. My role involves working with international product managers and global function leads, focusing on account growth, complex project management, diversification, and securing new business. We support a broad range of tactical and strategic projects including disease education, internal engagement, market expansion initiatives and branded content including product launch preparation. Among my favourite projects are congress booths, where I can see our hard work come to life at international congresses. I also support the wider business with business development and marketing planning.
Mathew Stanley, Outrun Therapeutics
Mathew holds an MChem degree (2007) and DPhil (2011) from the University of Sussex where he trained in synthetic and carbohydrate chemistry. In 2011, Mathew moved to the University of Dundee (Prof. Satpal Virdee, MRC-PPU) to take up a chemical biology post-doctoral position designing, making and applying novel tools to study protein ubiquitination (a key process in proteosomal protein degradation).
In 2016, Mathew stayed in Dundee (Prof. Daan van Aalten, GRE/CDB) applying small molecule screening methods, medicinal chemistry and structural biology towards hit-ID and target-ID projects in the anti-infective space.
In early 2021, Mathew had the opportunity to join Outrun Therapeutics - a University of Dundee spin-out company that uses the underlying technology that Mathew helped to develop during his time in the MRC-PPU. Outrun Therapeutics is a VC-backed, seed-stage drug discovery company focused on modulating E3 ligase activity to stabilize key proteins to treat disease - targeted protein stabilization (i.e. the opposite of targeted protein degradation). Mathew is currently a Principal Scientist and Head of Site at Outrun Therapeutics and plays a key role across multiple areas of the companies R&D program.
Exhibitors
We provide a collaborative, end-to-end recruitment consultancy service for our clients, who trust us to find the best talent for their niche roles.
Our talented team of scientists and life science experts have a wealth of experience across the UK and European markets. From our three offices across the UK, we service roles from bench to board, supporting your full hiring needs, including executive search, permanent and contingent talent planning.
The University of Dundee Careers Service is a team of trained and dedicated professionals who are here to help and support the career development of all our students, graduates, and staff. We empower them to develop their potential and take confident informed steps towards their future.
At Inizio Medical, our passion is the combination of science, business, creativity and innovation. When perfectly aligned, this enables us to partner with world-leading healthcare companies to bring clarity to complex information and create compelling communications that matter. Together we bring scientific data to life to create meaningful communication and medical education materials, perfectly balancing scientific expertise, creative thinking and outstanding project management. Our people are the key to our success and identifying new talent to join our teams is fundamental to our future.
Dundee offers life sciences and healthcare organisations with ambition, a uniquely collaborative environment and community to develop innovative new products and services.
Unlike other healthcare and life science hubs, BioDundee offers a truly open and accessible network to help aspiring companies develop and test products from concept to launch. With our world-class research facilities, strong health and life sciences partnerships and access to relevant skills and facilities - we provide exceptional value and new opportunities.
Glen Clova Scientific, (GCS) is a Dundee-based biopharmaceutical company developing a new generation of Active Biologic Drugs for the treatment of chronic immunodermatology conditions. GCS has a proprietary VLP technology platform which is the foundation for its preclinical human drug development pipeline for both human and veterinary conditions. The GCS technology also has applications in non-dermatology indications and in diagnostics. The Company’s lead development programme is GCS001, with an initial indication of pruritus. Other products in the pipeline have preliminary indications in eczema, dermatitis and sclerosis.
Elevator, Scotland’s leading social enterprise in the field of enterprise and business support services is on a mission to ignite, nurture and grow entrepreneurial spirit and in doing so to drive transformational impact for individuals, companies and throughout our communities. Services are geared towards establishing a thriving and inclusive society where individuals are empowered to transform their futures.
Elevator is known for its innovative and agile approach, impacting the entrepreneurial journey with high quality services delivered to public and private sectors. Areas of particular specialism include leadership development, design-led innovation, digital support services, acceleration and scale-up, womens’ enterprise, company creation, enterprise in education and community wealth building.Notable innovations introduced that are creating transformational impact include the Centre for Entrepreneurship located in Dundee which connects businesses, academia and the enterprise support ecosystem, the annual Elevator Transform Conferences and the Elevator Challenge Programme – an entrepreneurial bootcamp designed to develop emerging entrepreneurs.
Elevator is renowned for delivering bespoke accelerator programmes tailored to the distinct needs of startups and scale-ups. Through close collaboration with industry partners including private sector, Local Authorities and Government, Elevator designs
customised programmes in key areas such as digital upskilling, industry specific, investment for growth, leadership development & so much more. Their accelerators offer a dynamic blend of workshops, one-on-one mentoring, and networking opportunities, all facilitated by expert mentors with deep industry knowledge. Participants gain actionable insights, invaluable connections, and the tools needed to drive sustainable growth. Elevator’s personalised approach not only accelerates business success but also plays a pivotal role in strengthening Scotland’s economy by empowering diverse entrepreneurs across the region