PhD Career Stories: Careers in Nonprofit Organizations
PhD Career Stories: Careers in Nonprofit organizations
with Rachel Fischer and Roslin Thoppil
Rachel Fischer, PhD, Project Manager, Foundation for the NIH
Roslin Thoppil, PhD, Senior Scientific Program Officer, AACR
Friday, April 11
10:00am
Light Hall 214
Registration kindly requested.
Rachel Fischer received a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of St. Thomas and earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University. Her doctorate studies focused on glaucoma, neurodegeneration, and the physiology of the cells that form the optic nerve. Currently, Rachel is a Scientific Project Manager at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH). She is responsible for the day-to-day operations and strategic decision making for the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® in Common Metabolic Diseases. She is also leading a new initiative for the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium on refining definitions of prediabetes. Prior to joining the FNIH, she was the Associate Director, Scientific Program & Registry at the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA), where she managed MRA’s research grants program, supporting both individual investigator and collaborative team projects focused on translational research for the prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of melanoma. She was also responsible for the development and management of RARE, a registry for patients with acral and mucosal melanoma. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading, cooking, trying new restaurants, and traveling.
Roslin Thoppil, PhD, is an experienced cancer biologist and scientific program manager with expertise in oncology research, scientific communication, and non-profit research administration. After earning her BS in Biotechnology in 2009 from Sathyabama University in India, she pursued a PhD in biomedical sciences at Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Medical University, where her dissertation explored the role of TRPV4 mechanosensitive ion channels in tumor angiogenesis. Her postdoctoral work at Vanderbilt University, as a T32 training grant awardee in the Kaverina lab, focused more on the basic sciences exploring CLASP protein interactions in microtubule regulation. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Thoppil has authored over 15 peer-reviewed publications and secured multiple grants, advancing both cancer research and its application in prevention and treatment. Passionate about cancer research, science communication and education, Dr. Thoppil is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange, and supporting the next generation of cancer researchers. Currently, as Senior Scientific Program Administrator at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), she leads the development and execution of national and international scientific conferences and educational initiatives. Her role involves close collaboration with top cancer scientists and clinicians from across the globe, ensuring the delivery of high-quality programs that drive meaningful progress in cancer research. Her expertise in developing educational content for workshops and training programs, securing federal and CME funding, and managing cross-functional projects plays a key role in her continued contributions to the global fight against cancer.