WIB-National: Career Pathways in Life Sciences

Wondering where a career in life sciences might lead you? Join us for a lively and honest conversation with professionals from across the industry—academia, biotech, biopharma, and clinical research—who will share how they got started, made career pivots, and built successful paths in their fields. This isn’t just about job titles but real experiences, challenges, and insights that can help you navigate your own journey. Students figuring out next steps, professionals thinking about a shift, or anyone curious about the possibilities in science and biotech will leave with practical advice and a clearer picture of what’s out there and how to get there.

Speaker Bios

Judit Kiss, PharmD, Principal Scientist at Open Book Extracts

Judit is a versatile R&D professional with over 20 years of experience across the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and cannabinoid wellness industries. Her career has spanned roles from compounding pharmacist to formulator for Merle Norman Cosmetics and founder of Priya Apotheca, a plant-based wellness brand grounded in holistic healing. Today, Judit leads cannabinoid product development at Open Book Extracts, focusing on innovative, therapeutic formulations—from gummies to beverages—using advanced water-soluble systems. She is passionate about the power of plant-based medicine and is dedicated to creating functional, accessible products that promote well-being and improve lives.

Kelly Konemann, Head of Site Quality at CSL

A lifelong enthusiast of science, she has been passionate about the field since childhood. Encouraged and mentored by exceptional science teachers throughout high school, she went on to pursue a degree in microbiology and earned a BS in biology from Michigan Technological University in 1991. Her career began in academic research at Wayne State University, where she contributed to studies on herpesviruses. Shortly thereafter, she transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, launching what has become a 33-year—and counting—career. Her early professional years were spent at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company, supporting the manufacturing of flu vaccines, sterile injectables, and ophthalmic products. In 1996, she joined Centeon (now CSL Behring) in Kankakee, Illinois. Over nearly three decades at the Kankakee facility, she has held leadership roles across quality, manufacturing, and supply chain, including spearheading a major global ERP implementation project. This cross-functional background has equipped her with a well-rounded and strategic perspective. She currently serves as the Kankakee Quality Site Head, where she leads with a strong commitment to excellence and collaboration.

Chelsea Merkel, Product Manager at Revvity

Chelsea is a reformed academic in her early career, applying her scientific education and translatable skills to advancing human health. She graduated with her PhD in cell biology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 and took a hard career pivot into the world of health care and health insurance. After three years at Highmark Health, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee, Chelsea returned to the world of life sciences. At Revvity, she is focused on providing tools and services aimed at accelerating discovery for pharma, biotech, and academic partners. Chelsea has had a passion for human health from a young age and loves to explore the variety of ways in which her role supports scientific breakthroughs to therapeutic development.