"There’s a lot of caring in the program and a culture of teamwork and sharing – people want you to succeed." -Elaine Shen
Alumna creates strategic alliances to expand the frontiers of brain science
Now that the Human Genome Project has begun to unlock the mysteries of human genetic code, the Allen Institute for Brain Science has taken genomic information a step forward by mapping the complex expression patterns of 21,000 genes in the brain. Publicly available for scientific inquiry, the Allen Brain Atlas provides a free three-dimensional map of an adult mouse brain (mice and humans share more than 90 percent gene similarity). Research alliance manager Elaine Shen plays a vital role in advancing the mission of the institute founded by Paul Allen and Jody Allen Patton. Shen partners with researchers to spur a deeper understanding of neurological health issues. “I form alliances with external investigators where our scientific interests overlap and I support the Institute’s goals to advance brain science and make the information publicly accessible. It’s really exciting for me to be a part of this – I love it!”
Shen chose the Technology Management MBA Program to parlay her scientific background into a more strategic business role. She holds a Ph.D. degree in neuroscience and has worked as a staff scientist and product manager for biotechnology companies. Acting as a liaison between science and marketing groups, Shen discovered her passion for business. “In science, the focus and strength is in the details,” she asserted. “The questions I’m asking now have to do with the big picture – how the details relate to our mission and strategic initiatives.” The MBA degree also gave her a competitive edge over her peers with only a scientific background.
Shen said she often draws on her TMMBA alumni network for advice and perspective: “I asked a lot of questions when I started my new job and my colleagues provided a wealth of experience,” Shen described. “There’s a lot of caring in the program and a culture of teamwork and sharing – people want you to succeed.”
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