{"id":25932,"date":"2026-03-25T12:20:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/?page_id=25932"},"modified":"2026-04-01T16:24:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:24:18","slug":"special-guests-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/special-guests-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Guests | 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Discover the special guests who will take the stage during the event, including our Opening Ceremony speaker, who will share her journey from industry to global health, as well as six panel speakers who will discuss topics such as the transition to the professional world, professional values, networking, career choices, and much more.

The guests will also be present during the Networking and Orientation session, alongside other alumni and invited speakers (full list here<\/a>), giving participants the opportunity to ask them questions directly.
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Opening Ceremony Speaker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\"feb<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Galyna Pidpruzhnykova<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EPFL PhD in Neuroscience | Executive Coach | Strategy Consultant<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategy, Societal Impact & Leadership<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Available to connect during the \u201cCareers in Science\u201d networking session in Zone C<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Galyna Pidpruzhnykova brings together scientific rigor and strategic insight to drive innovation in mental health. As former Senior Director of Business Strategy at atai Life Sciences<\/a>, she led major initiatives in therapeutic development, market access, and product strategy. She is now dedicated to introducing psychedelic\u2011assisted therapies in Ukraine, supporting individuals affected by trauma and depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, as a consultant and executive coach, Galyna helps organizations and leaders cultivate conscious leadership, strengthen their societal impact, and build more collaborative and values\u2011aligned cultures. Known for her integrity, positive energy, and deep commitment, she consistently advances the projects that truly matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Opening Ceremony, she will share her personal journey across countries, sectors, and challenges \u2014 offering insights into how scientists can create meaningful impact while building resilient and fulfilling careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Panel Speakers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Marc Abessolo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNIL PhD in Psychology | Career Counselor & Lecturer, University of Fribourg | Founder, Solo Values<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional Values, Psychology & Career Counseling<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet him at his stand in the hall in the afternoon.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Marc is a psychologist and researcher specializing in career development and the role of values in professional choices. His doctoral work led to the creation of the Career Values Questionnaire (CVQ), a scientific tool that supports individuals in navigating career transitions and proactively managing their career paths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through Solo Values<\/a>, the approach he founded, Marc helps people reconnect with what truly matters so they can make conscious, clear, meaningful, and sustainable choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also teaches at the University of Fribourg, where he contributes to the education of future career development professionals and leads research projects in the field of work values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grounded, authentic, and inspiring, Marc brings a human and practical perspective to contemporary career paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anthony Aho<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EPFL MSc Bioengineering & Biotechnology | CEO & Co\u2011Founder, PB&B<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation, Startups & Tech Entrepreneurship<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Anthony is a Swiss-Canadian bioengineer and deep-tech entrepreneur focused on translating scientific innovation into real-world clinical impact. As co-founder and CEO of PB&B<\/a>, he co-invented a novel soft-tissue drug-delivery platform and has led the company from early research through preclinical and clinical development, international <\/em>partnerships, and multiple fundraising rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His experience spans Europe, the United States, and China, where he has built operations, established strategic collaborations, and navigated cross-border development and manufacturing environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With academic training in bioengineering, biotechnology, and strategic management, Anthony combines scientific expertise with hands-on entrepreneurial execution. He is actively involved in global innovation ecosystems, such as MassChallenge and Stanford\u2019s StartX.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tanika Bawa<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNIGE PhD in Neuroscience | Scientific Communicator & Writer | Junior Medical Copywriter at Infinity Communications<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Science Communication, Education & Science\u2013Society<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tanika began her path in neuroscience, first as a researcher and then as a postdoctoral fellow, driven by curiosity and a love of learning. After completing her PhD at the University of Geneva, she shifted from conducting science to communicating it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now a Junior Medical Copywriter, Tanika blends scientific rigor with creative storytelling to make complex ideas accessible and engaging. Outside her professional role, she writes regularly on her blog Tandem Talks<\/a>, where she interviews inspiring individuals and highlights stories of human connection and authentic conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jean Enno Charton<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNIL PhD in Biochemistry \/ Immunology | Head of Sustainable Business Transformation at <\/em>Merck KGaA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leadership, Business & Sustainability<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jean Enno Charton is a biomedical scientist who has emerged as a leader in responsible business practices. After earning his PhD, he joined Merck<\/a> with the aspiration of contributing to drug development. However, a pivotal opportunity as Chief of Staff led him to explore ethical questions at the intersection of science, technology, and society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this capacity, he established Merck\u2019s digital ethics and bioethics function, positioning the company as a global leader in the responsible handling of data and AI. He spearheaded the development of the pioneering Code of Digital Ethics and designed tools that enable teams to assess ethical risks in AI and data-driven projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading responsible business in a larger dimension, he is now heading Sustainable Business Transformation. This encompasses dimensions such as greenhouse gas emissions, chemicals sustainability, water resilience and circular economy \u2013 with the long term aim of a sustainable product portfolio. He is driven by the belief that innovation has to align with ethics, trust, and societal benefit while safeguarding our environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Max Kr\u00fcger<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSc Sustainable Development (University of Sussex) | BSc Agriculture (ETH Z\u00fcrich) | BA in International Relations (UNIGE) | <\/em>Investment Manager, Spectrum Value Management<\/a> | Board Member, AgroSustain<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finance & Sustainability<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Max is an investment professional with a strong foundation in natural and social sciences. He holds a Master\u2019s in Sustainable Development, a Bachelor\u2019s in International Relations and a Bachelor\u2019s in Agriculture, a combination that fuels his commitment to sustainability\u2011focused innovation and impact\u2011driven business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He began his career at ResponsAbility Investments<\/a>, working on financial strategies designed to generate social and environmental impact. Today, as an Investment Manager at Spectrum Value Management<\/a>, he oversees a portfolio of startup and venture investments and serves on the board of AgroSustain<\/a>. Max is passionate about using capital as a lever for positive, long\u2011term change at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and impact investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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David Nusbaumer<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNIL PhD Ecology & Evolution | MSc Parasitology & Behavioral Ecology (UNINE) | Expert in Animal Reproduction and Conservation,\u00a0AKYmed<\/a>, Expert,\u00a0Sustainable Ocean Alliance<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0Solar Impulse Foundation<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entrepreneurship, Sustainability & Conservation<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

David is a biologist specializing in the intersection of aquaculture, genetics, and reproductive technologies. With a background in ecology, he has built a career focused on helping producers make better, data\u2011driven decisions in animal breeding and conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He leads the scientific activities of Noah Genetics, the applied genomics and reproduction division of AKYmed<\/a>, working on genomic analysis, quantitative genetics, fertility diagnostics, and species\u2011specific cryopreservation protocols. Previously the co\u2011founder of e\u2011Fishency, he managed operations, fundraising, and international projects across three European countries. David also serves as an expert reviewer for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance and the Solar Impulse Foundation. He thrives at the crossroads of science, fieldwork, and real\u2011world application, turning complex biological data into actionable insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Discover the special guests who will take the stage during the event, including our Opening Ceremony speaker, who will share her journey from industry to global health, as…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1003098,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-full-width.php","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25932","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1003098"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25932"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26067,"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25932\/revisions\/26067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.unil.ch\/lifesciencecareerday\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}