Leen Kawas Channels Her BioScience Background To Build Career
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Leen Kawas is the founder of Propel Bio Partner, an award-winning science communication agency that helps scientists make the message of their research more accessible to a broader audience.
- Leen Kawas’ Bioscience Career
Kawas describes the first time she participated in a competition in her life. It was at MassBio, the annual bioengineering conference held by the Massachusetts Bioengineering Council. She and other high school students were tasked with creating a marketing plan for a company developing an enzyme that helps break down solid wastes. After securing funding and expanding their business plan, they presented their research to judges and industry professionals at the event.
- Departure from Athira
Leen Kawas dreamt of becoming a neurosurgeon growing up. But after completing her bachelor’s in neurobiology at Princeton and Ph.D. in neurobiology at Yale, she pursued a career as a science writer and public relations director for a pharmaceutical company. She learned more about life sciences companies when she worked with the National MS Society. She realized the importance of communicating the discoveries these companies were making to those not directly involved in research.
- Kawas Embarks on a New Life Science Venture
After a short stint with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dr. Kawas embarked on her science venture. She founded Propel Bio Partner, specializing in marketing science to the public. The idea for Propel Bio Partner was hatched during a visit of Leen Kawas to Amgen, where she worked as a science writer. She participated in a competition, and it provided her with some inspiration that led her to join forces with fellow scientists to create Propel Bio Partner.
- A Retrospective Look at athira’s Mission and Bioscience Leadership
Leen Kawas and other scientists and business people developed a shared vision for creating an organization to help scientists make their research available to the public. Athira was launched when she incorporated the organization and waited for various foundations to board. She put her efforts into building up Athira and assembling a team, which she did by hiring two investors and two part-time employees.
Leen Kawas sees Propel Bio Partner as an extension of her efforts to promote bioscience and medical research, as well as a way to help other science communicators and entrepreneurs. Her company has helped organizations like UCSF grow their outreach programs and helped scientists get funding for their work. She hopes to continue her work with scientists and biotech companies and help more scientists become successful entrepreneurs.
Leen Kawas is the founder of Propel Bio Partner, an award-winning science communication agency that helps scientists make the message of their research more accessible to a broader audience. Leen Kawas’ Bioscience Career Kawas describes the first time she participated in a competition in her life. It was at MassBio, the annual bioengineering conference held…
Leen Kawas is the founder of Propel Bio Partner, an award-winning science communication agency that helps scientists make the message of their research more accessible to a broader audience. Leen Kawas’ Bioscience Career Kawas describes the first time she participated in a competition in her life. It was at MassBio, the annual bioengineering conference held…