Non-Traditional Postdocs

Speakers

Uzi de Haan, PhD

Director of Entrepreneur Postdoc Program
Cornell Tech

Professor Uzi de Haan is an international leader in technology entrepreneurship, founder and head of the Bronica Entrepreneurship Center (BEC) at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and director of the Runway Program at the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Innovation Institute in NYC. His particular expertise is in the early stages of entrepreneurship and commercialization of intellectual property at universities. Prof. de Haan conducts research on technology transfer and emerging ventures, established a minor track in Entrepreneurship at the Technion and was involved as advisor/mentor in numerous student initiated startups. In February 2014, at the Jacobs Institute, he launched the Runway Program, an innovative postdoctoral program, which he directs. The program enables postdoctoral students to work on the application and commercialization of their research. Presently 11 postdocs participate in the Runway Program. A member of the Technion Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management since 2003, he focuses his research on technology transfer and emerging ventures. Prof. de Haan holds a Masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Delft in the Netherlands, and a Doctorate in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technion. Following postdoctoral work at the University of California, Los Angeles, he joined Philips Electronics, where he served in a number of business development and general management positions in various countries. During his 27- year career at Philips, he was the business development manager of Philips Japan, responsible for initiating R&D activities in Japan, among other roles. His last assignment was as founder and CEO of Philips in Israel, which he helped build into a $350 million company. He also served on the boards of several startup companies.

Karen Hanson Widbin

Manager of Postdoctoral Program Operations
Pfizer

Karen Hanson Widbin is the Manager of Operations for Pfizer’s Worldwide R&D Postdoctoral Program. Interfacing with the Program’s director and governance team, Karen is responsible for leading program development as well as the day-to-day activities of the program office. She has provided organizational oversight for industry postdoctoral programs since 2007, including Pfizer’s R&D program since its formal launch in 2010.

Susan D. Croll, PhD

Director, Pain, Addiction & Neurology, Postdoctoral Program Director
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Susan Croll received her BA from SUNY Geneseo followed by a PhD in Neuropsychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY).  From 1992-2001, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow and then as a scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals where she studied the therapeutic potential of protein growth factors.  She left her full-time position at Regeneron after 9 productive years in industry (15 publications) to begin an academic career in 2001.  She started her own laboratory at Queens College of CUNY where she undertook a focused study of the effects of the growth factors BDNF and VEGF in epilepsy and other neurological diseases.  While there, she published 20 articles and one book, obtained NIH funding, won awards for her classroom teaching, spearheaded the establishment of a research-based Neuroscience major, and secured tenure.  Throughout her time in academia, she maintained her association with Regeneron, continuing as a consulting scientist. After 10 years at Queens College, Dr. Croll chose to return to Regeneron full-time in 2011 to work toward rapid advances in human health using Regeneron's innovative technologies.  In addition to her role in research at Regeneron, she has redefined and directed multiple educational programs within the company such as Regeneron's Postdoctoral Program, Kids' Science Day Program, and High School Mentorship Program. Currently, Dr. Croll plays the dual roles of Director, Pain, Addiction & Neurology and Postdoctoral Program Director at Regeneron. She also still serves as an adjunct member of the Neuropsychology doctoral faculty at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.