FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | August 30, 2011

American Chemical Society webinar: Industry executives discuss global job market

DENVER, Aug. 30, 2011 — A panel of distinguished pharmaceutical and material science executives will discuss recent developments in the global industrial job market during a webinar today beginning at 9 a.m. MDT. The free, one-hour session is the latest in a series of American Chemical Society Webinars™.

“Innovative ideas continue to be funded, while more mature biotechnology companies are evolving into commercially successful businesses. As a result, despite the economic downturn, the New England biotechnology industry continues to offer opportunities for chemists,” says Scott Harbeson, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Discovery and Basic Research at Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

In addition to Harbeson, the panelists include Richard Connell, Ph.D., Vice President of Pfizer External Research Solutions COE; and Jos Put, Ph.D., DSM Chief Technology Officer.

News media and scientists attending the ACS national meeting in Denver can attend in person at the Colorado Convention Center. Others can tune into the conference without charge, but must register in advance at http://acswebinars.org/vcf2011 and select the link for the appropriate webinar.

Discussion topics will include:

  • The current science job market as well as forecasts for the future job market
  • What scientists can do to adapt and remain flexible during their career advancement process
  • How recent developments in technology are changing the chemical industry job market
  • Ways to foster open innovation, sustain professional partnerships and negotiate changes in the “Sustainability Revolution”

Richard Connell, Ph.D., joined Bayer in 1990 where he rose to be director of Diabetes and Obesity Chemistry. He then joined Pfizer in 1999 as Director of Cancer Chemistry and eventually took on the position of Executive Director of Research Operations and most recently head of External Research Solutions COE. In 2011, he moved to Shanghai to help Pfizer establish the anti-infective research unit.

Scott Harbeson, Ph.D., has 25 years of experience in medicinal chemistry working for venture-backed start-up companies and major pharmaceutical companies which included: Ensemble Discovery; Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Alkermes, Inc.; Marion Merrell Dow Inc. and Abbott Laboratories. While at Vertex, he headed medicinal chemistry work and managed medicinal chemistry outsourcing.

Jos Put, Ph.D., was a research fellow at the National Science Foundation and a professor at the University of Hasselt, Belgium. In 1997, he joined DSM where he is involved with all aspects of materials research including characterization of materials, synthesis of chemicals and polymers, and materials processing and properties. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer of DSM, and is responsible for the maintenance and development of all key technologies of DSM in the fields of life sciences and materials science.

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Media Contact

David Harwell
202-872-6359
D_Harwell@acs.org