Alumni Spotlight

Lynda Bader

Business Relationship Manager
Covance
Class of 2004

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Lynda Bader had achieved success as a strategic consultant to various industries and state government in Wisconsin, and she possessed extensive project management experience working for a number of different companies throughout her career.

But she wanted to use her skills to do more, and was attracted to the life-enhancing benefits offered by the world of biotechnology.

"It is a growing field, generating new therapies and discoveries that help people lead enhanced, productive lives," Bader says.

Upon her graduation from the program in 2004, Bader found the volume of opportunities available to her almost limitless. Following a period in which she independently consulted, she was recruited by GE Healthcare to work as a Delivery Assurance Manager.

In 2006 she joined Covance to work as a Senior Project Manager in the Early Development area, a tactical and execution-focused position that allowed her to draw on the program's coursework.

"I directly applied many aspects of what I learned in the program. Having the broad-based understanding of the industry and disciplines of biotechnology, drug development, non-clinical and clinical along with a deeper understanding of the regulatory environment has been crucial to me in advancing my career in this field."

In 2008, Bader was promoted to her current position of Business Relationship Manager, a much more business-based and strategically focused position. Bader reflects on the expanded responsibilities that accompanied the promotion, and how the M.S. in Biotechnology helped prepare her for these challenges:

"In my current position I work with Global Clinical Pharmacology business to support strategies, goals and objectives. This involves creating business cases, and facilitating the approval and ongoing governance of projects designed to support the ClinPharm operations and growth strategies.

I have applied aspects from just about every class to understand the science, the drug development process, the financial implications, the business planning, the regulatory framework, the validation of systems and data, the political and emotional climate of the work we do, and the global environment (differences between countries in all of the previously listed areas).

It gave me the confidence and credentials to switch industries and develop my career in this area for which I have a great interest and passion."

Apply for Fall 2009 Admission