Chen Bai Email & Phone Number

• Worked closely with the Senior Director of Chemistry to determine strategy, guide research associates, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the Chemistry group• Managed one direct report and mentored other junior staff• Represented the Chemistry team in cross-functional collaborations with Discovery, Analytical Development, and Process Development teams• Developed, optimized, and troubleshot methods for synthesis, purification, and conjugation of long 140mer guide RNAs and other modified oligonucleotides• Supervised and executed production of guide RNAs with equal or superior quality attributes, on shorter lead times, and at lower cost compared to externally sourced material• Evaluated enzymatic and click chemistry ligation methods for convergent synthesis of long RNAs• Set up a laboratory with end-to-end oligonucleotide synthesis capability at a fast-growing startup, engaging with Facilities on build-out, Operations on support workflows, and external vendors on equipment installation, instrument service, application support, and supply chains

• Led the bioconjugation function, training other scientists, coordinating in-house efforts, and managing 2-4 CRO FTEs• Developed and optimized methods for synthesis, purification, and analytical characterization of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates• Played a major role in developing the degrader-antibody conjugate platform and its translation into two ADCs now in clinical evaluation by designing payloads, collaborating with Biology teams on lead selection, and ensuring the timely delivery of test articles for preclinical studies• Co-led a platform chemistry project team that developed proprietary linker chemistry, evaluated targeted protein degraders as ADC payloads, and explored new bioconjugation methodologies• Served as the bioconjugation subject matter expert on CMC teams, vetting CDMOs, directing external conjugation process and analytical development, and acting as person-in-plant for engineering runs, leading to the successful GMP manufacture of two ADCs for Phase 1• Worked with external vendors and facilities consultants to set up laboratories with full conjugation, purification, and analytical capabilities, first in a startup incubator and then in a dedicated facility

Waltham, Ma

• Filled a gap in the company’s technical capabilities by establishing methods for synthesizing and characterizing site-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). • Developed and optimized processes for preparing ADCs of indolino-benzodiazepine DNA alkylating agents that were inaccessible by well-established methods, enabling their rapid evaluation and integration into the company’s technology platform.• Played a crucial role in advancing IMGN632, an ADC incorporating multiple unfamiliar technologies, into development on a highly aggressive timeline.• Proposed, won endorsement from upper management for, and led, as the most junior project leader in the organization, an exploratory project on alternative tumor-targeting scaffolds.• Quickly established the technical foundation and generated proof of concept data for an exploratory project on modulating antibody-antigen affinity via chemical modifications.• Contributed to the development of high throughput methods for preparing and analyzing ADCs.• Delivered multiple oral presentations to the entire research and development organization.

Urbana, Il

Advisor: Professor John F. Hartwig. • Developed and expanded the scope of regio- and enantioselective iridium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions. • Taught organic chemistry to undergraduate students through online problem-solving sessions, one-on-one discussions, and hands-on instruction in the laboratory.