Case Studies in Biotechnology

Casey Roehrig teaches introductory biology in the premedical program and has taught introductory through graduate-level courses at Harvard College and in the Harvard Extension School. She earned her undergraduate degree in biology from New York University, where she studied plant biology, then came to Harvard University, where her PhD research focused on the genetics of animal development in the nematode C. elegans. After graduating, Roehrig taught in the undergraduate life sciences program at Harvard College, where her work focused on developing new, engaging, hands-on learning opportunities that allow students to apply what they learn in class to learn about themselves. Today, she works in the office of the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning, developing courses that use more scalable solutions to increase student engagement, and making them accessible to participants beyond the walls of Harvard.

Beth Zielinski-Habershaw received her MA and PhD in medical science from Brown University in 1993 and 1997, respectively. She also earned a certificate in biodesign from Stanford University in 2014. Following postdoctoral research in muscle cell tissue engineering, she proceeded to develop her expertise in higher education and professional industry training. Zielinski-Habershaw has served at institutions of higher education such as the University of Rhode Island, Brown University, Northeastern University, Harvard University's Extension School, and Johns Hopkins University. Zielinski-Habershaw has held titles of Senior Lecturer and Advisor at Brown University, co-developer of the MSc in biotechnology at Brown University, instructor and thesis director at Harvard Extension School, coordinator of training in the Pharmaceutical Development Institute in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island, and adjunct lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. At several junctures in her career, Zielinski-Habershaw transitioned to industry in entrepreneurial, analytical chemistry, and business development roles. From 2017-2019 she studied ethnopharmacology in the Peruvian Amazon focusing on the development of plant-based therapies for psoriasis. In early 2024, this research was submitted as a Patent Cooperative Treaty (PCT) Application and will support the commercialization of a product for the symptomatic treatment of plaque psoriasis and eczema.