After the rapid progress of AI in the life sciences, the next wave is the application of quantum computing. Join our expert panel to explore how quantum technology builds on AI and learn about current uses and future applications.

Disclaimer: This event may be recorded, and your image and/or voice may be included in that recording. If you are uncomfortable, please be sure to turn off your webcam.  

Speaker Bios

Andrea de Souza, Chief Corporate Development Officer for Qubit Pharmaceuticals

Andrea is the Chief Corporate Development Officer for Qubit Pharmaceuticals, an early-stage molecule discovery company focused on accelerating the use of AI, physics-based and Quantum AI at scale. As a tenured executive, her career focus has included leadership roles with transformative impact at Amgen, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, NVIDIA, and Eli Lilly. Andrea also serves as an advisor to T.Rx Capital and advises companies working at the intersection of life sciences, technology, and new market development. She serves on the board of InSpek, a French company creating a transformation platform with photonic sensors for real-time bioprocess manufacturing. A champion for women and minorities in STEM, she speaks globally as we advance the use of transformative technologies for therapeutics discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization.

Dina El Ahdab, PhD, Research Scientist at Qubit Pharmaceuticals

Dina is a TechBio innovator and Research Scientist at Qubit Pharmaceuticals, where she works at the intersection of computational drug discovery, R&D innovation, and business development. Her role includes analyzing the global quantum ecosystem to help position advanced technologies in the market. She specializes in using computational methods, molecular dynamics, and AI workflows to accelerate drug discovery, with peer-reviewed publications covering target research in COVID-19, cancer, and aging. To bridge the gap between breakthrough science and scalable healthcare investments, Dina is expanding her business acumen through an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship; a dual expertise that drives her commitment to empowering women leading the commercialization of deep-tech and life science innovations.

Ieva Liepuoniute, PhD, Staff Research Scientist at IBM Quantum

Dr. Liepuoniute is a Staff Research Scientist at IBM's Almaden Research Center, where she is part of the Quantum Science for Materials Research and Engagement team. Her research focuses on leveraging quantum computing algorithms for chemistry applications, with current projects centered on electronic structure problems, including the study of chemical reactions as well as molecular and material properties. Additionally, she conducts quantum chemistry benchmark studies on state-of-the-art quantum hardware. Dr. Liepuoniute has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals and holds multiple patents for quantum algorithm development. In recognition of her exceptional contributions, she received the IBM Research Accomplishments Award in 2022 and 2024.

Lais Lopes, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Qnity

Laís holds a PhD in chemistry and is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Qnity, an innovative startup applying quantum electrochemistry to next-generation affinity assays for drug discovery. Her work integrates fundamental electrochemistry with quantum-level insights to enable highly sensitive and selective molecular detection. With over 13 years of experience in research and development, her expertise spans nanomaterials and 2D systems, particularly graphene, and the investigation of quantum properties using spectroscopic, electrical, and electrochemical techniques.

Shayne Gilbert, Founder of Convergence Quantum Center

Shayne founded the Convergence Quantum Center in 2025 following earlier work in the international quantum community. Leveraging her experience and connections in technology and the life sciences through the communities she founded, the Chatham Conference (formerly the Nantucket Conference) and the Convergence Forum, she has built a quantum community of industry leaders and quantum innovators through the Convergence Quantum Center. With a specific focus on applied quantum in the life sciences, she has engaged biopharma executives, quantum founders and investors to assess opportunities, define breakthrough points and understand relevant applications. Shayne is a graduate of Wellesley College and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Kamayani Gupta, Co-Founder of KAMI Think Tank, Moderator

Kamayani is the co-founder of KAMI Think Tank, an AI research organization in the healthcare life sciences. She has been in the life sciences area for the past 14 years and uses data-centric approaches to optimize complex business processes. Over the past decade, she has enjoyed working with new technologies to reduce redundant workflows and biases in the drug discovery to commercialization pipeline. She was one of the first members of Watson for Drug Discovery and the former Head of HCLS R&D at Slalom.

Laura Matz, Chief Science and Technology Officer for Merck KGaA

Dr. Laura Matz is the Chief Science and Technology Officer for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, driving innovation and digitalization across the 3 business sectors, Life Sciences, Healthcare, and Electronics. Serving as an Executive Vice President within Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, she is responsible for the corporate innovation teams, including new digital business models. Until early 2025, Laura was also CEO of the data-sharing platform company Athinia®, which focuses on enabling secure data sharing within the semiconductor ecosystem. She possesses 20 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing and a decade of experience in running semiconductor materials businesses. Prior to becoming the Chief Science and Technology Officer, she was a Senior Vice President within EMD Electronics (previously Versum Materials and Air Products Electronics division). She has always been a key contributor to the growth in semiconductor materials, driving a strong R&D presence to enable business growth. Laura is a strong advocate for young talent in science and engineering. As a leader, she builds teams to find innovative solutions to the problems facing humanity and implement them with the discipline and rigor to create the greatest impact. In 2023, she joined SEMI Impact for Skills as a board member, a governance program to support upskilling and reskilling, to attract new talent, and to unlock EU and national/regional funding. In addition, she is a board member of AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), a leading organization for chemical engineering professionals. Laura has a PhD in analytical chemistry from Washington State University and an undergraduate degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Stephanie Oestreich, Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund, Moderator

Stephanie is Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund (MIF) and is the chair of the McCloy Alumni Association. She is also on the faculty of MIT, a member of SpringBoard Ventures, an advisor at grIP Venture Studio, to Biognosys (a Bruker company), Invitris, the CART company CelineTx, and to the drug development and investment company OrangeGrove Bio. Previously, she was Chief Business Officer at Galecto, Vice President at cell therapy company Mnemo Therapeutics, a Venture Partner at RA Capital, and Executive Vice President at Evotec, where she built its North American investment arm and started an incubator with Samsara BioCapital. She also worked as an international business leader at F. Roche Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and for Novartis in business development and commercial. Stephanie conducted the research for her PhD in biochemistry in the lab of a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard Medical School and obtained an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.

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