Strategic Management in the Life and Engineering Sciences - Student Profiles

Oliver Richards, PhD
Class of 2011
Most Recent Title: Scientist, American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc.
orichards@wisc.edu

Oliver is a first year student in the SMILES Program.  He graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 2000 with bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Biological Chemistry.  Upon graduation, Oliver worked to bring new generic drugs to market as a scientist in the Formulation Group of American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc., a Chicago pharmaceutical firm (currently APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).  In 2009 Oliver completed his PhD through the Cellular and Molecular Biology Training Program via the UW-Madison Biochemistry Department.  His doctoral thesis focused on discovering and describing new genes related to type 2 diabetes.  Oliver joined the SMILES Program to gain sound business acumen that will complement his scientific experiences.  He looks forward to a future career in biotech business development.

“I have a strong desire to bring new medical technologies to market.  The SMILES Program is perfect for someone like me who has a strong grounding in science and is looking for an equally great business education.  Ideally upon graduation, I will hold a leadership position at the intersection of the science and business worlds.”

Evan is a first year MBA in the SMILES Program and is dually working towards the completion of his PhD in Medical Physics from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.  After graduating from the University of Iowa with bachelor’s degrees in Physics and in Mathematics, he went on to obtain his MS in Medical Physics from UW-Madison.  Evan’s research is focused on proton radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer and he has become involved in the development of a new compact proton radiation therapy treatment system based around technology that is currently being developed jointly by researchers at the University of Wisconsin and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.  Evan joined the SMILES Program to gain the business knowledge and skills necessary to bring emerging technologies in the biotechnology and medical device fields to market.

“For the past two years I have conducted research in medical physics at the University of Wisconsin under the tutelage of an advisor who has founded several medical device companies.  Through that work, I have been exposed to the business aspects of bringing scientific research and new technologies from the laboratory to market.  The SMILES Program is an excellent match for my interests as it provides strategic management training with an emphasis on science and innovation that I believe will provide me with the skills needed to become a leader in developing new medical technologies.”