Boya Lin, a Ph.D. candidate at HOBI, is working as an intern this summer with EMD Serono in Billerica, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. The company is building on a legacy of deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology to develop new oncology, immunology and immune-oncology medicines. EMD Serono has a strong pipeline with more than 20 projects in development, including therapeutic options for psoriasis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.
Lin works with the Global Evidence & Value Development team on assignments supporting patient-focused drug development and economic impact of immunotherapy in oncology. The full-time 13-week internship began in mid-May.
Lin earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the China Pharmaceutical University and a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in biostatistics from the University of Florida. Prior to beginning the Ph.D. program at HOBI, she worked as a research coordinator at the Institute on Aging at UF, assisting with research on functionality of older adults.
Her current research interests include maternal opioid use, health outcomes measurements in clinical trials and drug development. Her mentor is Matthew Gurka, Ph.D.