Meet your Match: Science

Katka Franke | Director Immunology, CureVac

Katka Franke obtained her PhD in Immunology from VU University in Amsterdam and continued her academic career for several years in the field of immune-oncology. After that, she transitioned to industry and her first role was as oncology drug development consultant, assisting start-ups and small biotech companies to launch their pre-clinical projects into first-in-human studies. In 2020 she joined a start-up company Frame Therapeutics, where her major responsibility was to establish in-house immunology research into tumor neoantigens identified through a proprietary genomic and bioinformatics pipeline. Frame Therapeutics was in July 2022 successfully acquired by CureVac, the global mRNA company. In her current position as Associate Director Immunology in CureVac Netherlands, she is heading Human Immunology Department focusing on in vitro validation of targets for cancer vaccines.

Meet your Match: Science

This Meet your Match session will focus zoom in on the field of science in the healthcare industry, offering an in-depth look at what it means to work in scientific roles within healthcare, covering responsibilities, work-life balance, salary expectations, flexibility, and career progression. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the various career paths available and what it takes to succeed in these roles. During the session, you will understand how these roles contribute to the broader goals of healthcare and what skills are needed to excel. 

With an informal setting, this session encourages interaction and questions, providing ample opportunities for an interactive and engaging session. If you're considering a career in science or seeking to learn more about this area, this session is an excellent chance to gain valuable insights and find the path that suits you best.