An interview with Elizabeth Morse, Director of Business Development at Olema Oncology
Boston, the world’s largest biotech hub, also boasts some of the industry’s top talent. CHASM chatted with Elizabeth Morse, Director of Business Development (BD) at Olema Oncology, about her career path and advice for students aspiring to join the biotech industry.
Morse’s interest in biotech began at Dartmouth University, where she majored in biology. She spent summers working in an immuno-oncology lab at the National Cancer Institute near Washington, D.C. While she loved drug discovery, Morse realized she “would prefer to work with people rather than fruit flies,” so she ventured into healthcare roles beyond the lab. Her first job out of college as a life sciences strategy consultant gave her valuable insight into the biotech industry. Morse later left consulting to obtain an MBA from the Wharton School before landing her first job in biotech.
In her current role, Morse collaborates with both internal teams—Investor Relations, Program Management, Legal, Finance, and Research & Development—and external contacts. She evaluates new drug targets, arranges meetings with potential partners, and manages deals. Morse loves working with other people and contributing to a mission-driven organization bringing innovative medicines to patients. However, biotech’s obstacles—including macroeconomic factors, the competitive landscape, and luck—can hinder and even prevent opportunities. “The challenges,” she says, “make successful deals that much more rewarding.”
To stay updated on industry trends, Morse reads FiercePharma and Endpoint News, follows updates from scientific conferences, and networks with others in the field. She anticipates that policy changes under the new political administration will shape drug development by prioritizing or deprioritizing certain drug modalities.
For students hoping to pursue biotech careers, Morse recommends being curious and open to learning about different career paths: “Biotech offers so many careers—BD, lab work, clinical development, and even commercial roles. Many roles require a breadth of experience, especially in both business and science, to make informed decisions.”