College of LAS alumnus Jacob Bercraft's undergraduate research in chemical engineering launched his career in mRNA biotech. Since 2019, he has served as CEO and co-founder of Strand Therapeutics, which uses synthetic biology to improve mRNA therapeutics. The company is developing the first platform for programmable mRNA drugs that could deliver multifunctional, precise, and curative treatments with a single dose.
College of LAS alumnus Amy Best (BA, '89, speech communication) serves as senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Exelon Corporation. Best offers valuable insights and practical advice on effective strategies for getting hired in today's competitive job market.
At the University of Illinois College of LAS, innovation continues beyond graduation. Chemistry alumnus Dan Heller (PhD, '10) heads the Cancer Nanomedicine Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, using nanotechnology and immunotherapy to diagnose and treat cancer. "What we're doing in our lab I hope can play a part in all the really fast-paced innovation that's happening in cancer research," Heller said.