Hear from Harvard Griffin GSAS alumni about navigating career opportunities outside of the tenure track and maximizing the skills acquired from a degree in the natural sciences to find success in variety of professions. Whether you are thinking about leaving academia, are already in industry and still adapting to a new environment, or want to position yourself for promotion, tune into this event to leverage your alumni network by learning the various pathways that are available to you and how to take that next step.
Next Steps in Your Career is an event series that aims to explore career pathways across a diversity of fields and industries. This session is geared towards alumni with degrees in the natural sciences, though attendees from all disciplines are welcome to join.
Panelists
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry
Executive Director, Science Club for Girls (SCFG)
Luke Bruneaux, PhD ’13, physics
Senior Director of Analytics, Integra Community Care
Michelle Soriano, PhD ’07, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology
Head of Respiratory Franchise (AIR), Chiesi Group
Moderated by Cammi Valdez, PhD ’14, medical sciences.
This is a webinar event.
Register here
Harvard University and the Graduate School Alumni Association encourage people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you have questions about the access provided, please email us at gsaa@fas.harvard.edu. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please reach out at least seven days in advance of the event to describe the type of accommodation needed.
Panelist bios
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry, has been the Executive Director with Science Club for Girls (SCFG) since 2019, after previously serving as the Board Chair in 2018. She has ushered in a new era of growth at SCFG, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to increasing the accessibility of quality STEM programming and mentorship to girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. Under Dr. Bertolaet’s leadership, SCFG has experienced continuous expansion, increasing youth participation from communities underrepresented in STEM and increasing representation from these same communities in SCFG’s mentor corps (including a Harvard mentor chapter), staff and Board of Directors. Dr. Bertolaet has also overseen the successful addition of virtual programming in response to the pandemic, including the addition of spring and summer vacation programming and creation of a weekly online TV show, all while expanding engagement from corporate and community partners. SCFG’s current K-12 strategy, building on its storied 30-year history, places it in a unique position to address systemic inequities in STEM around gender, race and socioeconomic factors to transform the face of STEM and build the pipeline for the future, diverse, skilled STEM workforce.
Prior to SCFG, Dr. Bertolaet conducted research in cancer and inflammation in the fields of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and as a drug discovery scientist in biotech before transitioning to STEM education. She worked with educational organizations in public and private schools in a variety of roles before then moving to the non-profit sector and joining leadership at Science Club for Girls. Dr. Bertolaet received her bachelor's degree from Amherst College and her PhD from Harvard University, and trained as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the University of California San Diego and the Scripps Research Institute. She also currently serves on the Graduate School Alumni Association Council for Harvard University.
Luke Bruneaux, PhD ’13, physics
Luke Bruneaux is a healthcare data scientist and entertainment entrepreneur. At Harvard, Luke investigated bet-hedging strategies in the bacterial genome at the FAS Center for Systems Biology. Previously, Luke earned his MSc, physics, at the University of Chicago, and BA Summa Cum Laude, physics, at the University of Pennsylvania.
Luke’s focus is the application of data analytics to improve patient care and drive down healthcare costs. Following his PhD, he started in healthcare analytics at Athenahealth in Watertown, then served as Director of Data Quality & Analytics at the Rhode Island Healthcare Information Exchange, providing data transparency to the state’s patients, providers and insurers. He subsequently reimagined the predictive analytics engine at Decision Point Healthcare Solutions, leading to its successful acquisition by the healthcare technology company mPulse in 2023. He is currently Senior Director of Analytics at Integra Community Care, an Accountable Care Organization within the Care New England health system, Rhode Island's second largest healthcare provider. A lifelong devotee of music and theatre, Luke co-owns a comedy venue in Rhode Island, Kismet Improv, with his wife Taylor, where they present nationally recognized comedians as well as a strong community of students and performers of improv. While a student at Harvard, he was a frequent performer at ImprovBoston in Central Square.
Luke split his time growing up in Rhode Island and Morocco. He is fluent in French and English.
Michelle Soriano, PhD ’07, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology
An accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of global experience in strategic leadership roles across vaccines, established products, and innovative specialty care. Currently serving as Executive Vice President at Chiesi Group, Michelle leads the global Respiratory Strategy, overseeing end-to-end portfolio management, pipeline development, and resource allocation, while driving full P&L accountability. She manages key global functions, including commercial, medical affairs, value & access, and business excellence & customer experience, to ensure the seamless execution of the company's growth strategy. Based in Cambridge, MA, she holds a global role within the organization.
Before joining Chiesi, Michelle spearheaded strategy and operations for Dupixent® and Sanofi's Immunology Franchise, delivering business results across more than 50 countries. She brings deep expertise from top-tier management consulting at McKinsey & Company and IQVIA, combined with leadership experience across vaccines, general medicine, and specialty care business units. Her international career includes senior roles in Mexico for Latin America, in France for mature markets (Europe, the US, and Japan) and in Boston, MA for a Global Franchise before moving to the US affiliate in the Dupixent® respiratory business.
Michelle holds a PhD from the Biological and Biomedical Science program at Harvard University, obtained in 2007, and a BSc from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
A mother of two, she is a passionate advocate for women leaders in science, healthcare, and academia. Michelle actively contributes to organizations across New England that support leadership growth and mentorship for emerging talent.
Hear from Harvard Griffin GSAS alumni about navigating career opportunities outside of the tenure track and maximizing the skills acquired from a degree in the natural sciences to find success in variety of professions. Whether you are thinking about leaving academia, are already in industry and still adapting to a new environment, or want to position yourself for promotion, tune into this event to leverage your alumni network by learning the various pathways that are available to you and how to take that next step.
Next Steps in Your Career is an event series that aims to explore career pathways across a diversity of fields and industries. This session is geared towards alumni with degrees in the natural sciences, though attendees from all disciplines are welcome to join.
Panelists
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry
Executive Director, Science Club for Girls (SCFG)
Luke Bruneaux, PhD ’13, physics
Senior Director of Analytics, Integra Community Care
Michelle Soriano, PhD ’07, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology
Head of Respiratory Franchise (AIR), Chiesi Group
Moderated by Cammi Valdez, PhD ’14, medical sciences.
This is a webinar event.
Register here
Harvard University and the Graduate School Alumni Association encourage people with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you have questions about the access provided, please email us at gsaa@fas.harvard.edu. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, please reach out at least seven days in advance of the event to describe the type of accommodation needed.
Panelist bios
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry
Bonnie Bertolaet, PhD ’94, chemistry, has been the Executive Director with Science Club for Girls (SCFG) since 2019, after previously serving as the Board Chair in 2018. She has ushered in a new era of growth at SCFG, while maintaining a steadfast commitment to increasing the accessibility of quality STEM programming and mentorship to girls and gender-expansive youth from underrepresented communities. Under Dr. Bertolaet’s leadership, SCFG has experienced continuous expansion, increasing youth participation from communities underrepresented in STEM and increasing representation from these same communities in SCFG’s mentor corps (including a Harvard mentor chapter), staff and Board of Directors. Dr. Bertolaet has also overseen the successful addition of virtual programming in response to the pandemic, including the addition of spring and summer vacation programming and creation of a weekly online TV show, all while expanding engagement from corporate and community partners. SCFG’s current K-12 strategy, building on its storied 30-year history, places it in a unique position to address systemic inequities in STEM around gender, race and socioeconomic factors to transform the face of STEM and build the pipeline for the future, diverse, skilled STEM workforce.
Prior to SCFG, Dr. Bertolaet conducted research in cancer and inflammation in the fields of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and as a drug discovery scientist in biotech before transitioning to STEM education. She worked with educational organizations in public and private schools in a variety of roles before then moving to the non-profit sector and joining leadership at Science Club for Girls. Dr. Bertolaet received her bachelor's degree from Amherst College and her PhD from Harvard University, and trained as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at the University of California San Diego and the Scripps Research Institute. She also currently serves on the Graduate School Alumni Association Council for Harvard University.
Luke Bruneaux, PhD ’13, physics
Luke Bruneaux is a healthcare data scientist and entertainment entrepreneur. At Harvard, Luke investigated bet-hedging strategies in the bacterial genome at the FAS Center for Systems Biology. Previously, Luke earned his MSc, physics, at the University of Chicago, and BA Summa Cum Laude, physics, at the University of Pennsylvania.
Luke’s focus is the application of data analytics to improve patient care and drive down healthcare costs. Following his PhD, he started in healthcare analytics at Athenahealth in Watertown, then served as Director of Data Quality & Analytics at the Rhode Island Healthcare Information Exchange, providing data transparency to the state’s patients, providers and insurers. He subsequently reimagined the predictive analytics engine at Decision Point Healthcare Solutions, leading to its successful acquisition by the healthcare technology company mPulse in 2023. He is currently Senior Director of Analytics at Integra Community Care, an Accountable Care Organization within the Care New England health system, Rhode Island's second largest healthcare provider. A lifelong devotee of music and theatre, Luke co-owns a comedy venue in Rhode Island, Kismet Improv, with his wife Taylor, where they present nationally recognized comedians as well as a strong community of students and performers of improv. While a student at Harvard, he was a frequent performer at ImprovBoston in Central Square.
Luke split his time growing up in Rhode Island and Morocco. He is fluent in French and English.
Michelle Soriano, PhD ’07, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology
An accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with over 20 years of global experience in strategic leadership roles across vaccines, established products, and innovative specialty care. Currently serving as Executive Vice President at Chiesi Group, Michelle leads the global Respiratory Strategy, overseeing end-to-end portfolio management, pipeline development, and resource allocation, while driving full P&L accountability. She manages key global functions, including commercial, medical affairs, value & access, and business excellence & customer experience, to ensure the seamless execution of the company's growth strategy. Based in Cambridge, MA, she holds a global role within the organization.
Before joining Chiesi, Michelle spearheaded strategy and operations for Dupixent® and Sanofi's Immunology Franchise, delivering business results across more than 50 countries. She brings deep expertise from top-tier management consulting at McKinsey & Company and IQVIA, combined with leadership experience across vaccines, general medicine, and specialty care business units. Her international career includes senior roles in Mexico for Latin America, in France for mature markets (Europe, the US, and Japan) and in Boston, MA for a Global Franchise before moving to the US affiliate in the Dupixent® respiratory business.
Michelle holds a PhD from the Biological and Biomedical Science program at Harvard University, obtained in 2007, and a BSc from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
A mother of two, she is a passionate advocate for women leaders in science, healthcare, and academia. Michelle actively contributes to organizations across New England that support leadership growth and mentorship for emerging talent.