Students & Recent Grads Roundtable

Roundtable objectives

• Provide insights into diverse career opportunities within biopharma communications, highlighting practical steps to enter and advance in these specialized roles.
• Develop programming that addresses skills often learned on the job, including project management, client etiquette, and industry-specific communications strategies.
• Create opportunities for mentorship, networking, and collaboration between emerging talent and senior leaders to build a stronger, more connected community.
• Offer engaging, interactive programming such as workshops, panels, and resource guides that deliver both foundational knowledge and practical skills tailored to the unique challenges of biopharma communications.

Why join

• Play a leading role in shaping a future for greater collaboration, excellence, and innovation among rising T2B professionals.
• Create materials and programming that will not only benefit your growth and development, but also students and young professionals for generations to come.
• Network with enthusiastic leaders who are passionate and driven in the biotech/pharma communications industry.
• Receive complimentary Student Pro membership to T2B. Thanks to the generosity of Geoff Curtis and Marshall Curtis Communications, the five selected students and recent graduates for this roundtable will receive a complimentary T2B Student Pro membership.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must:

• Be passionate about communications/media/journalism/marketing in the life sciences.
• Be a recent grad or current student (Associate, Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., Certification).
• Have the capacity to volunteer 3-5 hours a month to plan quarterly Student and Recent Grad events and create monthly resources for the T2B community.
• Participate in monthly team meetings.
• Be open to learning and developing new or foundational skills in the industry.

About the co-chairs

Mikel Legette is a Caribbean American and a first-generation college graduate with a profound passion for healthcare and pharmaceutical marketing. He is currently a junior account manager at Healthcare Consultancy Group (OHG). He holds a double bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Corporate Communication, Advertising, and Marketing from Baruch College, CUNY. Driven by a commitment to excellence, Mikel continually challenges change and innovation processes, takes initiative, amplifies voices, and achieves noteworthy outcomes through resourceful solutions. Mikel has interned at top Fortune 500 companies and pharma advertising agencies across the United States. Mikel started his career at JP Morgan Chase as a Data Analyst. He then transitioned to healthcare marketing, interning at Publicis Health Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness and later as Global Communications Intern at Merck & Co. Inc.

Mikel’s interests extend beyond his professional pursuits. He has a deep passion for the culinary arts and a meticulous eye for digital design. His love for travel adventures, exploring different cultures, and listening to music not only enrich his life but also contribute to his creativity and analytical thinking, setting him apart as a young individual.

Parker Smith is graduating from Brigham Young University in Public Relations with a minor in Statistics in April 2025. His passion for scientific, biotech, and pharmaceutical communications started after working as a writer at BYU’s College of Life Sciences and BYU’s College of Nursing. He has covered topics like neuroscience breakthroughs, epidemiology in Thailand, India’s first emergency helicopter lift, and genetic treatment for mosquitos to reduce the spread of malaria.

Parker is an award-winning writer and public relations practitioner. He won a Golden Spike from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) in 2024 and also placed third in the PRSSA Bateman competition the same year. He has written articles for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and worked on BYU’s first ever International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team. Even with these achievements, leading communications for scientific innovation and breakdowns is his long-term passion. After graduating in April, he hopes to work as a public relations professional in the health/biotech/pharma industry or to attend graduate school in the fall.

About the executive sponsor

Lori Lennon, is the founder and CEO of Thinkubator Media, an organization focused on elevating the profiles of women in STEM. Thinkubator Media is dedicated to having the diverse voices of women heard inside and outside of their STEM fields. Lori and her team work with women in academia and industry to raise their profiles through education, training, and community to ultimately help them gain the notoriety needed for funding, support, and advancing their research. This curated approach was developed by listening to the needs expressed by women across many STEM disciplines.

Before starting her own company, Lori served as the director of communications for the College of Science at Northeastern University. Her experience as a communicator has allowed her to work with leading researchers who are tackling some of the biggest and most important issues of our time, such as climate change, renewable energy, and drug discovery.

Lori’s work spanned across many communication disciplines while at Northeastern, including strategic planning, messaging, public relations, editorial writing, digital marketing and communications, content development, marketing and communications for recruitment, and email marketing strategies and implementation.

At Northeastern, Lori was a member of several communications groups, a member of the College of Science Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and an advisor for the student-run magazine, NUSCI.

Before her work in science communications, Lori spent several years working in television news, first at New England Cable News, then at WBZ-TV Boston. At a time when news websites were uncharted territory for news organizations, Lori joined a team that helped revolutionize the way users consume news–breaking stories, producing exclusive content, and developing interactive opportunities to boost a reader’s engagement.

During her tenure at WBZ-TV the website earned the Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Broadcast Affiliated website for a large market in 2005 and 2007, and the Associated Press Award for Best TV/Media website in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Lori has helped cover elections, Super Bowls, major local news events, and our beloved Boston Marathon.

Lori currently lives with her teenage daughter in Sharon, Massachusetts where they spend a lot of time walking arm in arm, eating fun foods, and contemplating the complexities of life.

Roundtable members

• Grace Chiappetta-Uberti, Student, Boston University
• Ali Chou, Research Scientist, X-Chem, Inc.
• Lillian Ercanbrack, Student, Brigham Young University
• Emilie Fierle, Recent Graduate, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
• Lindsay Ryan, Student, University of California, Berkeley

Apply

Applications are closed and will reopen in March 2026. Each member term is for one calendar year.