Thaminda Ramanayake

Thaminda Ramanayake

Greater Boston
9K followers 500+ connections

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About

Dealmaker, negotiator, life-science strategist and builder of high-performing teams…

Activity

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Experience

  • Alliance for mRNA Medicines Graphic

    Alliance for mRNA Medicines

    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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    Needham, Massachusetts, United States

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    Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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    Marblehead, Massachusetts, United States

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    Greater Los Angeles Area

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    Thousand Oaks, CA

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    Greater Los Angeles Area

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    San Francisco Bay Area

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    Rochester, New York Area

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    Greater New York City Area

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    Sri Lanka & Australia

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    Sri Lanka

Education

  • University of Rochester - Simon Business School Graphic

    University of Rochester - Simon Business School

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    Activities and Societies: * Vice President: Simon Health Sciences Club * A Coach for the Simon Coach Program

    * Team Lead: Simon Consulting Project - for University of Rochester Medical Center, Clinical and Translational Institute.
    * Winner - Simon Consulting Case competition by North Point Advisers <​http://www.nptadvisors.com/> (topic - medical devices and clinical operations)

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    Dr. Richard Shell's advance negotiation workshop based on his best selling book, "Bargaining for Advantage."

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    Activities and Societies: * Active Member - Graduate Student Society * Ambassador - Office of Graduate Education * Graduate School Outreach Program Volunteer - (http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/mbi/resources/Xenopus/outreach.cfm)

    * Pre-doctoral candidate in the PhD program
    * Qualified PhD thesis

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    Activities and Societies: President - Cosmopolitan Club (cultural integration) President - Carnival Event Planning Committee (social integration) President - House Council Phi Kappa Phi

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Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Junior Achievement of New York Graphic

    Mentor

    Junior Achievement of New York

    - Present 15 years 5 months

    Children

    Mentoring elementary school, middle-school and high school children for a better future.

  • Habitat for Humanity International Graphic

    Volunteer

    Habitat for Humanity International

    - 1 year 1 month

    Disaster and Humanitarian Relief

    College participation - volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Berea College, KY

  • Volunteer

    Sri Lanka Cancer Hospital

    - 1 year 4 months

    Health

    Long-term volunteer project (during the G.C.E. Advanced Level studies) at the Sri Lanka Cancer Hospital, under Dr. Anthony Gabriel, as a part of early medical education to future doctors. Volunteers were trained/instructed in scientific investigative methods, evidence-based medical practices, patient care, conversations, "power of human touch," and many other relevant clinical concepts. This project was one of Dr. Gabriel's vision to provide early medical education to dedicated students…

    Long-term volunteer project (during the G.C.E. Advanced Level studies) at the Sri Lanka Cancer Hospital, under Dr. Anthony Gabriel, as a part of early medical education to future doctors. Volunteers were trained/instructed in scientific investigative methods, evidence-based medical practices, patient care, conversations, "power of human touch," and many other relevant clinical concepts. This project was one of Dr. Gabriel's vision to provide early medical education to dedicated students.

    https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:373110/one?qu=%22rcs%3A+E000927%22&rt=false%7C%7C%7CIDENTIFIER%7C%7C%7CResource+Identifier

  • Youth Science Center Graphic

    Member of the Board of Directors

    Youth Science Center

    - Present 9 years 3 months

    Education

    http://www.youthsciencecenter.org/

    Established in 1962, the Youth Science Center (YSC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving math and science education.

Publications

  • Platelet-rich plasma in sinus augmentation procedures: a systematic literature review: Part II.

    Implant Dentistry

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Although platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been extensively studied for over a decade, there are no definitive reports, which prove the benefit of using PRP in sinus augmentation procedures. In addition, no systematic literature review has been done to report the benefit of treatment outcome in patients who received PRP in conjunction with bone/bone substitutes in maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. Therefore, it can be rightly stated that evidence for an…

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Although platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been extensively studied for over a decade, there are no definitive reports, which prove the benefit of using PRP in sinus augmentation procedures. In addition, no systematic literature review has been done to report the benefit of treatment outcome in patients who received PRP in conjunction with bone/bone substitutes in maxillary sinus augmentation procedures. Therefore, it can be rightly stated that evidence for an adjunctive benefit of using PRP with bone grafts in sinus augmentation procedures is equivocal and inconclusive.

    AIM: The objective of this systematic literature review was to examine this literature in determining whether PRP with bone and bone substitutes leads to more rapid and effective bone regeneration clinically, radiographically, and histologically with sinus augmentation procedures and was there any clinical data parallel to animal experiments providing clinical evidence in sinus augmentation procedures?

    CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of clinically controlled trials regarding benefits of PRP in sinus augmentation procedures. Theoretically, it seems to have significant beneficial effects on the soft and hard tissue healing; however, the disparity in study design, surgical techniques, and different outcome assessment variables used, makes it difficult to assess the practical benefit of its clinical use. Although no obvious positive effects of PRP on healing of bone graft material in maxillary sinus augmentation procedures were noted, the handling of the particulate bone grafts was improved.

    Other authors
    See publication

  • Platelet-rich plasma: a literature review.

    Implant Dentistry

    Abstract

    Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of platelets in concentrated plasma, which is extensively used to promote soft and hard tissue healing. The significance behind its use refers to the abundance of growth factors present in a well-prepared PRP concentrate. These growth factors enhance the rate and quality of wound healing by different mechanisms. The objective of this review article is to explain the biological aspect of hard and soft tissue healing by…

    Abstract

    Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of platelets in concentrated plasma, which is extensively used to promote soft and hard tissue healing. The significance behind its use refers to the abundance of growth factors present in a well-prepared PRP concentrate. These growth factors enhance the rate and quality of wound healing by different mechanisms. The objective of this review article is to explain the biological aspect of hard and soft tissue healing by application of PRP in conjunctions with its molecular basis.

    Other authors
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  • Diversity of the FcR- and KIR-related genes in an amphibian Xenopus.

    Frontiers in Bioscience

    Abstract

    Receptors subdivided into inhibitory and activating forms play important roles in the regulation of leukocyte development and effector functions. Two prototypic examples of paired receptors are Fc-receptors (FcR) and Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). FcRs are cell surface proteins that bind to the constant regions of IgG and IgE. Classical KIRs recognize MHC class I molecules and regulate natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic functions. The evolution of these…

    Abstract

    Receptors subdivided into inhibitory and activating forms play important roles in the regulation of leukocyte development and effector functions. Two prototypic examples of paired receptors are Fc-receptors (FcR) and Killer cell Immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). FcRs are cell surface proteins that bind to the constant regions of IgG and IgE. Classical KIRs recognize MHC class I molecules and regulate natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic functions. The evolution of these proteins and the time of their origin remain enigmatic. So far, molecules unequivocally related to mammalian FcRs and KIRs have been identified in chicken and an amphibian Xenopus. The lineage-specific evolution of the FcR and KIR families apparently led to the generation of unique sets of receptors in all species studied. Members of both families show extraordinary diversity of domain architectures. This structural diversity makes elusive the functional relationships between the highly specialized mammalian FcR and KIR genes and their homologs in nonmammalian species.

    Other authors
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  • The Xenopus FcR family demonstrates continually high diversification of paired receptors in vertebrate evolution.

    BMC Evolutionary Biology

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed an unexpected diversity of domain architecture among FcR-like receptors that presumably fulfill regulatory functions in the immune system. Different species of mammals, as well as chicken and catfish have been found to possess strikingly different sets of these receptors. To better understand the evolutionary history of paired receptors, we extended the study of FcR-like genes in amphibian representatives Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus…

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed an unexpected diversity of domain architecture among FcR-like receptors that presumably fulfill regulatory functions in the immune system. Different species of mammals, as well as chicken and catfish have been found to possess strikingly different sets of these receptors. To better understand the evolutionary history of paired receptors, we extended the study of FcR-like genes in amphibian representatives Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis.

    RESULTS: The diploid genome of X. tropicalis contains at least 75 genes encoding paired FcR-related receptors designated XFLs. The allotetraploid X. laevis displays many similar genes primarily expressed in lymphoid tissues. Up to 35 domain architectures generated by combinatorial joining of six Ig-domain subtypes and two subtypes of the transmembrane regions were found in XFLs. None of these variants are shared by FcR-related proteins from other studied species. Putative activating XFLs associate with the FcRgamma subunit, and their transmembrane domains are highly similar to those of activating mammalian KIR-related receptors. This argues in favor of a common origin for the FcR and the KIR families. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the entire repertoires of the Xenopus and mammalian FcR-related proteins have emerged after the amphibian-amniotes split.

    CONCLUSION: FcR- and KIR-related receptors evolved through continual species-specific diversification, most likely by extensive domain shuffling and birth-and-death processes. This mode of evolution raises the possibility that the ancestral function of these paired receptors was a direct interaction with pathogens and that many physiological functions found in the mammalian receptors were secondary acquisitions or specializations.

    Other authors
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  • Phylogenetic conservation of glycoprotein 96 ability to interact with CD91 and facilitate antigen cross-presentation.

    Journal of Immunology

    Abstract

    Although the ability of gp96 to activate APCs and generate CD8 CTLs against peptides they chaperone through interaction with the endocytic receptors CD91 is supported by solid evidence, its biological relevance in immune surveillance is debated. We have used an evolutionary approach to determine whether gp96 interacts with receptors expressed on APCs and promotes MHC class I cross-presentation of minor histocompatibility Ags (H-Ags) to CTLs in the frog Xenopus. We show that in…

    Abstract

    Although the ability of gp96 to activate APCs and generate CD8 CTLs against peptides they chaperone through interaction with the endocytic receptors CD91 is supported by solid evidence, its biological relevance in immune surveillance is debated. We have used an evolutionary approach to determine whether gp96 interacts with receptors expressed on APCs and promotes MHC class I cross-presentation of minor histocompatibility Ags (H-Ags) to CTLs in the frog Xenopus. We show that in Xenopus gp96 binds the CD91 homolog at the surface of peritoneal leukocytes, and that this binding is inhibited by molar excess of unlabeled gp96 or the CD91 ligand alpha2-macroglobulin, by anti-CD91 Ab and by the specific CD91 antagonist receptor-associated protein. Surface binding followed by internalization of gp96 was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of peritoneal leukocytes pulsed with as little as 800 ng of gp96 chaperoning minor H-Ags, but not minor H-Ag-free gp96, induces potent CD8 T cell infiltration and Ag-specific accelerated rejection of minor H-locus disparate skin grafts. Inhibition of gp96-CD91 interaction by pretreatment with anti-CD91 Ab and receptor-associated protein impairs both CD8 T cell infiltration and acute skin graft rejection. These data provide evidence of the conserved ability of gp96 to facilitate cross-presentation of chaperoned Ags by interacting with CD91. The persistence of this biological process for >350 million years that separate mammals and amphibians from a common ancestor strongly supports the proposition that gp96 and CD91 are critically involved in immune surveillance.

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  • In vivo study of T-cell responses to skin alloantigens in Xenopus using a novel whole-mount immunohistology method.

    Transplantation

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: The African clawed frog, Xenopus, is a widely used comparative model for studying the immune response to transplantation antigens.

    METHODS: To better define the effector cells involved in the immune response to skin alloantigens of the frog Xenopus laevis, we have adapted a whole-mount immunohistology procedure used in mice that enables us to visualize leukocyte infiltration into unfixed transplanted skin tissues using fluorescent antibodies. We characterized…

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: The African clawed frog, Xenopus, is a widely used comparative model for studying the immune response to transplantation antigens.

    METHODS: To better define the effector cells involved in the immune response to skin alloantigens of the frog Xenopus laevis, we have adapted a whole-mount immunohistology procedure used in mice that enables us to visualize leukocyte infiltration into unfixed transplanted skin tissues using fluorescent antibodies. We characterized the leukocyte populations present in donor skin at different times after transplantation using anti-class II and CD8 monoclonal antibodies.

    RESULTS: In autografts, only class II Langerhans or dendritic-like cells and very few CD8 T cells were detected. In contrast, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) disparate skin grafts at the peak of acute rejection (seven days posttransplantation, 50% rejection of pigment cells) were infiltrated with a large number of bright class II leukocytes, the majority of which were CD8 T cells. Most of these cells were located outside blood vessels and often near areas lacking pigmentation. Compared to MHC-disparate skin grafts, skin differing from the host only by minor histocompatibility antigens undergoes slower (i.e., chronic) rejection; interestingly, however, it was infiltrated by similar numbers of class II and CD8 T cell effectors, but with delayed kinetics (i.e., peaked around 15 days posttransplantation).

    CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide direct in vivo evidence of marked infiltration of effector leukocytes, a majority of which are CD8 T cells that occurs at the onset of tissue destruction of skin allografts.

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Projects

  • Dr. Reddy’s Expands Strategic Collaboration with Amgen in India

    Under the collaboration, Dr. Reddy’s to commercialise XGEVA® (denosumab), Vectibix® (panitumumab) and Prolia® (denosumab) in India

  • Amgen And Xencor Announce Strategic Collaboration In Cancer Immunotherapy And Inflammation

    Includes Xencor's Preclinical CD38 Bispecific T Cell Engager for Multiple Myeloma
    Xencor to Receive $45 Million Upfront Payment and Up to $1.7 Billion in Clinical, Regulatory and Sales Milestone Payments in Total for Six Programs

  • Building its cardio drug portfolio, Amgen bags Dezima in $1.55B deal

    Amgen struck a deal to buy Dutch biotech Dezima for $300 million up front and $1.25 billion in milestones, for its experimental midstage LDL treatment (deal terms total $1.55 billion)

  • NetApp financing solutions (captive financing, used equipment strategy, leasing house)

  • Microsoft buying Nokia's phone business in a $7.2 billion bid for its mobile future

    Acquisition in Sept. 2013

  • Roche and Inovio Pharmaceuticals partner on Inovio's prostate cancer and hepatitis B immunotherapy products

  • Arsenal Medical’s Foam Technology for Battlefield Injuries Receives $15.5 Million Phase II DARPA Contract

    Arsenal Medical, Inc. (Arsenal) today announced that it has been awarded a Phase II contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to support continued development of its novel product to control intra-abdominal hemorrhage in soldiers injured on the battlefield. This Phase II award, for $15.5M, has resulted from Arsenal’s successful pre-clinical proof-of-concept work in Phase I of the project and is intended to support both late-stage development and regulatory submission…

    Arsenal Medical, Inc. (Arsenal) today announced that it has been awarded a Phase II contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to support continued development of its novel product to control intra-abdominal hemorrhage in soldiers injured on the battlefield. This Phase II award, for $15.5M, has resulted from Arsenal’s successful pre-clinical proof-of-concept work in Phase I of the project and is intended to support both late-stage development and regulatory submission. The Phase II award brings the total amount of money that Arsenal has received from DARPA for this program to $22.5M.

    See project

  • Everyday Health Acquires EQAL

    Everyday Health to Deliver an Enhanced Experience to Consumers and Advertisers By Leveraging EQAL's Digital, Social and Branding Expertise

  • PharmacoFore, Inc. Secures $10 Million in Equity Financing From Founders Fund (now Signature Therapeutics)

    PharmacoFore uses innovative synthetic organic chemistry to create novel medicines for treating a variety of conditions related to the central and peripheral nervous systems. One of its key platform technologies has generated a series of novel molecules that it believes will facilitate prevention of the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs -- now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States , surpassing auto-related fatalities.

  • Arsenal Medical spins out 480 Biomedical

    Arsenal Medical has spun out a new company, 480 Biomedical Inc., to develop a bioresorbable scaffold to treat a form of peripheral vascular disease, called superficial femoral artery occlusive disease. Additionally, both Arsenal and 480 Biomedical took in funding rounds, with the spinout bringing in $15 million and Arsenal Medical raising $3 million.

  • Puma Acquires Global Rights to Pfizer’s Phase III Breast Cancer Drug Neratinib

    Newly established Puma Biotechnology acquired global development and commercialization rights to Pfizer’s Phase III-stage anticancer drug neratinib. The orally administered drug is a multitargeted, irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets the ErbB1 (EGFR), ErbB2 (HER2), and ErbB4 (HER4) kinases. It is an irreversible tyrosane kinase inhibitor, which is in development for the treatment of early- and late-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

  • Out-licensing of registration ready clinical program and NewCo creation

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    Newly Formed Clinical-Stage Biotechnology Company to Develop Treatments for Rare Pediatric Neurodegenerative Diseases

    Enters Licensing Agreement with BioMarin Pharmaceutical for Tralesinidase Alfa, Investigational Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B

    Pappas Capital and Novo Holdings to Join Allievex Board

    See project

  • Out-licensing and NewCo creation with pre-clinical assets (AceLink Therapeutics)

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    Acelink Therapeutics, Inc (hereinafter referred to as "Acelink") has completed a multi-million dollar angel round of investment, which was jointly completed by Kaitai Capital and Via Bio, Shengshan Assets and Huaan Bio. Acelink is a biopharmaceutical innovation company focusing on the development of nephropathy drugs. The research direction is currently developing polycystic kidney disease drugs. In the future, the company will extend its product line to other innovative areas for the…

    Acelink Therapeutics, Inc (hereinafter referred to as "Acelink") has completed a multi-million dollar angel round of investment, which was jointly completed by Kaitai Capital and Via Bio, Shengshan Assets and Huaan Bio. Acelink is a biopharmaceutical innovation company focusing on the development of nephropathy drugs. The research direction is currently developing polycystic kidney disease drugs. In the future, the company will extend its product line to other innovative areas for the development of nephropathy.

    See project

  • Design & Execution of the Licensing and collaboration agreement to expand genetic testing initiative

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    Conversion of a Master Services Agreement into a newly design licensing and collaboration agreement to expand BioMarin's genetic testing program, "Behind the Seizure" with multiple industry partners.

    See project

  • Kirin-Amgen Joint Venture To Become Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Of Amgen

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    Kirin-Amgen Joint Venture To Become Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Of Amgen
    $780 Million Payment to be Funded From Joint Venture's Existing Cash Holdings
    Kyowa Hakko Kirin to Continue as Licensee in Asia

    See project

Honors & Awards

  • Honorary Fellow - Global Institute for Entrepreneurship

    West Los Angeles College

    About GIE: The Global Institute for Entrepreneurship is an innovative program focused on entrepreneurship from the perspective of survival. Fewer than half of new businesses survive for even five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. GIE is an essential program that will teach entrepreneurs how to navigate around and survive the potential perils that sink so many startups. The goal is to create entrepreneurs who can mitigate risk to survive–and potentially thrive–in their…

    About GIE: The Global Institute for Entrepreneurship is an innovative program focused on entrepreneurship from the perspective of survival. Fewer than half of new businesses survive for even five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. GIE is an essential program that will teach entrepreneurs how to navigate around and survive the potential perils that sink so many startups. The goal is to create entrepreneurs who can mitigate risk to survive–and potentially thrive–in their business ventures. GIE will help you develop groundbreaking ideas and critical leadership skills, communicate effectively and inspire entrepreneurs to manage their talents and resources to succeed. GIE, through West Los Angeles College has partnered with executives from Fortune 100 companies, various business franchisers, Investment Banks and top-tier law firms to bring best ideas and expertise in entrepreneurship into the program.

    About West Los Angeles College (WLAC): West Los Angeles College is the Jewel of the California college system of 112 colleges that serve 2.4M students, and has several programs that are industry leaders; Aircraft Mechanic, Hollywood CPR, Dental Hygienist program that's double Associates and several others. For the past 5 years, WLAC has outperformed its peers in the California College System in: (i) graduation rate (over 90%); (ii) graduate enrollment rate (over 60%); (ii) job placement rate (over 90%); and (iv) number of classes offered over a five-year period. GIE is the only Federally funded program in the California College System, and is housed under the WLAC.

  • ISDCI - Pre-Doctoral Congress Travel Award

    THE INTERNATIONAL SOCEITY FOR DEVELOPMENAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY

  • Lilli Brann Scholarship in Physical Sciences

    Berea College

    Awarded annually to a student in the physical sciences who has demonstrated superior scholarship in his or her chosen field.

  • The Robert L. and Mary L. Sproull University Fellowship

    University of Rochester

    The University awards its most prestigious fellowship to 6 to 10 incoming doctoral (PhD / MD or both) students in disciplines throughout its schools.

  • Helen Dingman Book Award

    Berea College

    Helen Dingman awards recognize students (or groups of up to five students) whose achievements or accomplishments reflect the effective synthesis of any two of these three components of a Berea College education: learning, labor, and service.

  • Navy V-12 Award for Good Citizenship and Leadership

    Berea College

    This award recognizes an international student and an American student for outstanding contributions to human kinship and international understanding on campus. Chosen in their junior year, these students will be known as Navy V-12/V-5 Memorial Scholars during their senior year. Berea College was one of 131 colleges and universities selected as sites for Navy training programs during World War II.

Languages

  • English

    Native or bilingual proficiency

  • Russian

    Professional working proficiency

Organizations

  • BIO

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    - Present

    https://www.bio.org/

  • Phi Kappa Phi

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    - Present

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