Scientific Leadership • Research Strategy • Scientific Operations

Navneet Jawanda, PhD, PMP

From doing science → enabling science → orchestrating science → reimagining science with AI.

Scientific leader with 15+ years spanning molecular biology, translational research, drug discovery, scientific operations, program management, and AI-enabled biomedical research.

Career Story

I began my career at the bench, building a deep foundation in molecular biology, protein sciences, virology, cell biology, structural biology, bioassay development, and translational research. That scientific foundation led naturally into hands-on therapeutic and preclinical drug-discovery work, including anti-HIV interventions spanning small molecules and novel bi-functional antibody-recruiting HIV-envelope attachment inhibitors. Alongside my experimental training, I developed hands-on expertise in computational biology and structural bioinformatics during my PhD and postdoctoral research, using computational approaches to investigate biological systems, protein structure, and drug inhibitors. This early integration of computational and experimental approaches has continued to shape how I approach complex biological and therapeutic questions. I then transitioned from doing science in academia to leading scientific teams in industry, working with biotech and pharmaceutical partners while advancing drug-target programs. As the scale and complexity of my work grew, my role naturally evolved towards scientific operations, program and portfolio management, governance, resource planning, stakeholder alignment, and scientific strategy in a large research enterprise. Today, I am looking to bring these complementary capabilities together in AI × Biology and next-generation drug discovery—leveraging my deep experimental and translational biology foundation, computational biology experience, and ability to connect scientists, programs, and technologies across disciplines.

Career Evolution

Career progression from bench science to AI-enabled biology
$20M–$30M Portfolio Managed
Research Enterprise Growth
10–12 Concurrent Scientific Programs
~$1M Scientific & Business Plan Supporting Investor Approval for a NewCo

What I Bring

Scientific leadership and AI-enabled biology capabilities
Molecular & Cell Biology Protein Sciences Virology & Immunology Bioassays Small & Large Molecule Therapeutics Computational Biology Translational Research Program & Portfolio Management Team Building & Mentoring AI/ML & Scientific Workflows Pharma Regulatory Affairs

Selected Impact

Scientific Operations & Program Infrastructure

Built and implemented program-management and governance infrastructure for a rapidly growing multidisciplinary research organization, establishing processes for project planning, cross-functional coordination, resource management, deliverable tracking, hiring and onboarding, vendor engagement, and team development.

Translational Drug Discovery & Biopharma Strategy

Hands-on preclinical drug-discovery experience in Infectious Diseases (HIV-1), including small-molecule interventions and a novel bi-functional antibody-recruiting HIV-envelope attachment inhibitor platform (ARM-H). Delivered strategic scientific consulting and due diligence for major U.S. biopharmaceutical clients across oncology, immuno-oncology, infectious diseases,neurodegeneration, immunology, and rare diseases, evaluating therapeutic opportunities acrosssmall molecules, mAbs, bispecifics, ADCs, CAR-T, RNA therapeutics, and cell & gene therapies

Cross-functional Enterprise Operations

Partnered across IP & Technology Transfer, HR, Finance, Procurement, Regulatory & Compliance, and external vendors/CROs to align scientific programs with organizational, operational, and business requirements, enabling research teams to move complex initiatives from strategy through execution.

Leadership Philosophy

“My impact has expanded from generating discoveries myself, to enabling teams, to orchestrating scientific enterprises— and now to exploring how AI can amplify what science makes possible.”

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Postdoctoral Fellowships: Yale University School of Medicine | Drexel College of Medicine

Education: Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Houston

Certifications: PMI-PMP | MIT Sloan (AI in Pharma & Biotech) | Regulatory Affairs Certificate