Name: Robin Lorenz (she/her)
PhD: Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, MD/PhD 1990
What was your main area of research?
I worked on the processing and presentation of self-proteins. This research was initiated at a time when it was widely believed that normal individual’s T-cells were tolerant to self-proteins, but the mechanism(s) by which this tolerance was unknown. This work demonstrated that self-proteins are continuously processed and presented by MHC molecules and that several different types of thymic cells are involved in this self-protein processing and presentation. Our findings demonstrated the continuous presence of self-antigens/MHC on antigen presenting cells and allowed the field to rule-out absence of self-antigen as a mechanism of tolerance. This led the field to propose alternative hypotheses and design studies that have led to our current understanding of the multiple mechanisms of T-cell tolerance.
What is your current job?
I am the Executive Director of Research Pathology at Genentech, Inc. in South San Francisco, California.
This position is equivalent to a department chair in academics. I am responsible for the objectives, strategy and implementation of all Research Pathology efforts that support lab scientists engaged in drug discovery within the Genentech Research organization. I am also responsible for ensuring that high quality pathology support is provided to laboratory and clinical scientists engaged in biomarker strategy/development/deployment across the drug development pipeline. These latter activities are carried out within the Genentech Development organization and can extend into late stage and clinical development efforts (Phase III clinical trials). The Research Pathology department provides Research and Development personnel with intellectual and technical expertise concerning pathology-related study design, tissue selection, microscopic interpretation, analytical techniques, and support for regulatory and clinical queries.
I love developing long term strategies to meet Genentech goals, helping each member of the department achieve their individual career development goals, and seeing scientific discoveries transformed into drugs to help treat and cure patients.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found this job through direct contact by the previous department director asking if I might be interested in the position.
MD/PhD graduate ➡️ Clinical Pathology Residency ➡️ Assistant/Associate/Full Professor ➡️ Assistant/Associate Dean ➡️ current position
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
I had a ~25 year career in academics and had never considered moving to biotech. At the time I interviewed and took this position, I was looking at multiple Pathology Chair positions. This job at Genentech was a way to be a leader in Pathology, still be involved in scientific discussions, but now having a more direct impact on future treatments for patients.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
See this commentary (Perspective on Careers in a Large Biotechnology Company focused on Research and Development; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356145638_Perspective_on_Careers_in_a_Large_Biotechnology_Company_focused_on_Research_and_Development).
Also, this new book has chapters on many different careers that utilize the skills and talents of someone with a scientific PhD (Life Science Careers, Perspectives in Physiology, Eds. Jasna Markovac, Kim E. Barrett, Howard Garrison, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-50694-9)