The expert judges

Kristie is a scientific editor at BioTechniques, a molecular biology journal that publishes novel methods in various life science fields. She assesses scientific manuscripts submitted to the journal and coordinates the peer review process for papers selected for publication. She also writes many of the feature articles that appear in the journal.

Kristie completed a BS degree in Molecular Biology from Brigham Young University, and received a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, based on research performed  at UCLA and at the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences. Her research focused on neural development, using genetically modified mouse models. She has been with BioTechniques since 2007.

Dr. Nick Thomas, Principal Scientist, GE Healthcare

Dr. Nick Thomas is Principal Scientist in Cell Technologies at GE Healthcare based in Cardiff. He has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow and a PhD from the University of Wales College of Medicine. 

During a 27-year career with Amersham International, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Nycomed Amersham, Amersham, and GE Healthcare he has held a number of positions in Operations, Marketing, and Research and Development.

He is the inventor or co-inventor on more than 60 patents covering a wide range of technologies including microfabrication, molecular and cellular sensors, and cellular imaging. Dr. Thomas has worked on development of cellular analysis instrumentation, software, and reagents for the past decade, and has published a number of review papers and book chapters on the subject.

Carmen Laethem, Aerie Pharmaceuticals

Carmen Laethem is an Associate Scientist at Aerie Pharmaceuticals in Research Triangle Park, NC.  She has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Case Western Reserve University. 

Over the past 20+ years, she has worked at Oregon Health Sciences University, CIIT, and Eli Lilly in the Assay Development Cell Technologies group, where she helped pioneer the use of cellular imaging for drug development. 

In her work at Aerie, Carmen uses the IN Cell Analyzer 1000 in pursuit of drug therapies for the treatment of glaucoma.  The images obtained from the IN Cell Analyzer helped Carmen become a previous winner of the IN Cell Analyzer Image Competition.