Career Talk: Beyond the Bench – From Academia to Biotech
What does a career beyond academia look like, and how can scientific expertise open doors to new opportunities in biotech?
Join us for a Career Talk – Beyond the Bench: From Academia to Biotech, featuring Dr. Bahareh Eftekharzadeh, Head of Research USA at BioMed X.
In her talk, “From the Bench to Startup Building: My Journey from Academia to Biotech” Bahar will share experiences and insights from her own career transition, followed by a fireside chat with Christian Tidona, CEO of BioMed X. The event will also feature an introduction to BioMed X Venture Labs by Michal Preminger offering insights into venture creation in biotech.
The session will conclude with networking and snacks, providing an opportunity to connect and continue the conversation.
This event will be jointly hosted by Ann-Kristin Mueller, Site Head of BioLabs Heidelberg and Christian Tidona, CEO of BioMed X.
About the Speaker
Bahareh Eftekharzadeh is Vice President, Head of Research USA at BioMed X, where she leads research activities and strategic collaborations with pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, and investors. She is responsible for advancing industry-sponsored research programs and helping translate breakthrough science into therapeutic opportunities.
With more than 13 years of experience spanning neuroscience, oncology, drug discovery, and biotech, Bahar has built a career at the intersection of scientific research and industry. She has helped build and scale several biotechnology companies, including Nereid Therapeutics, Neuron23, and ProFound Therapeutics.
Before joining BioMed X, Bahar held scientific and leadership roles across academia and industry, including at AstronauTx, Biogen, and Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Her scientific work spans neurodegeneration, protein phase separation, biomolecular condensates, and translational biomarker development and has contributed to high-impact publications, patents, and novel therapeutic programs.
Bahar holds a Pharm.D. from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and a Ph.D. in Structural Biology and Biophysics from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine and the University of Barcelona.
Throughout her career, she has experienced firsthand the transition from academic science to industry and biotech leadership. At Beyond the Bench, she will share lessons from that journey and perspectives for scientists considering where their own careers could take them next.
Event Details
- Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Time: 10:00 – 11:45 AM CET
- Location: BioLabs Heidelberg
Registration link: https://mailchi.mp/bmedx.com/j3qk13mlts
Spots are limited. Register now to join the conversation.
This event is open to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, scientists, and life science professionals interested in exploring career opportunities in biotech and learning from different paths across academia and industry.