Translating science into solutions.
The Solution Lab specializes in healthcare and life sciences consulting. We have successfully problem solved for a diverse set of companies, including top ten pharma firms, biotechs, seed-funded health tech startups and patient advocacy organizations.
Consulting
Our volunteers contributing to solve challenging problems for our partner organizations
Professional Development
Providing real-world consulting experience, training network building to life sciences community in NYC
Volunteer
Join a valuable peer-to-peer networking model and active alumni community
Helping our clients climb mountains
Landscape analysis for big pharma client
Approach
Deliverables
Objective
Impact
Landscape analysis of a particular therapeutic area, including in-depth company profiles for possible partnerships or acquisitions
Secondary research
Internal education deck, landscape analysis output, company profiles to jumpstart client’s market entry
Short-term and long-term strategies with continued dialogue between client and TSL
White paper for startup client
Approach
Deliverables
Objective
Impact
Help build our client’s brand and presence in the medication adherence intervention marketplace
Primary research through interviews with Key Opinion Leaders and Industry Experts
Analysis of primary research and recommendations integrated into a white paper
White paper published on client website leading to increased brand awareness
Revenue model for nonprofit client
Approach
Deliverables
Objective
Impact
Think through potential revenue streams and project cash flows in a revenue model to allow for nonprofit startup to apply for government funding
Secondary research
Extensive Excel based revenue model with assumed costs and linked financial statements
Client used model as financials section in an actual response to RFP. Client continued to grow under the umbrella of a successful regional company
Client Testimonials
CEO at a healthcare analytics company
TSL executed a first person research study for us. They were able to navigate hard-to-reach survey respondents within health insurance companies and delivered a high quality study. Hiring TSL gets you two thirds the value of hiring McKinsey at an extremely small fraction of the cost.
CEO of health tech startup, market leader
We've worked with TSL on three unique projects, and each one has had a direct and immediate benefit on our company. The consultants on our projects were all experts in healthcare, business, and research. The deliverables were top notch, and the value was truly off-the-charts.
Big Pharma Executive (top 15 big pharma)
TSL helped our team understand the emerging area of personalized medicine and identifying more than one prescient opportunity, and highlighting other important implications. They brought competent and dynamic individuals to the table and ran an impressive project with a great deliverable.
Founder of Biotech Accelerator
We engaged TSL to perform a landscape analysis and to develop a detailed financial model. In addition to the analysis and financial forecasting tool, the team provided meaningful recommendations that we could immediately integrate into our overall business strategy. We highly recommend!
Collaborating with thought-provoking experts
The Solution Lab has built a community of like-minded, talented individuals across different business and scientific disciplines. We offer workshops and seminars on professional development and career topics to broaden the skill sets of our volunteers.
Workshops
Past workshop examples
-
Creative Thinking for Scientists - New York Academy of Sciences & The Solution Lab
-
Career Services Boot Camp - The Solution Lab
Networking Events
We hold several social and networking events during each training cycle to facilitate networking with past and present members of The Solution Lab, in addition to outside members of the science and business communities. These events also provide current volunteers with a chance to meet their peer volunteers who are working on other projects.
Build skills beyond academics
We provide opportunities for our volunteers to work directly with our clients to solve real challenges facing their business. In doing so, our volunteers build their skill sets beyond the academic and help them prepare for a career in business. We work with a diverse set of companies, including top ten pharma firms, biotechs, seed-funded health tech startups and patient advocacy organizations.
Why volunteer at
The Solution Lab?
1.
Learn to structure business problems
2.
Build client relationships
3.
Work with smart, interesting people with diverse backgrounds
4.
Acquire valuable consulting skills
5.
Be part of a community of people who are learning together
What Volunteers Say
Former PhD student, currently working at Navigant Consulting
TSL offers real-world consulting projects. My first one was with a Top 5 Pharmaceutical client who was interested in novel technologies - it was a great combination of deep scientific expertise in a business context. The team was great and I learned so much.
Former Genetics postdoc, currently working at McKinsey and Company
We explored ways to better utilize a big pharma’s scientific assets and capabilities. It turned out that the best thing to do was to divest a subsidiary and shortly after our project ended, that’s exactly what they did! So rewarding to see our project work in the news.
Former Pharmacy Intern, currently working at HMO VNSNY
TSL has allowed me to utilize my knowledge of pharmacokinetics to provide big pharma with novel product repurposing ideas. It was a great experience to leverage my PharmD expertise to assist with product research and development.
MBA student, currently working at Goldman Sachs
It was definitely a challenging semester but when I look back on it I have only very positive memories. I not only learned a lot about the subject matter but also how to conduct client meetings and how to lead a team. It was a tremendous learning experience and I appreciate all the help you gave me over the course of the project.
Joining The Solution Lab
About
Our Volunteer Analysts and Project Leaders participate part-time on small, interdisciplinary teams to scope out and deliver a challenging project for a given client in the biopharma or healthcare industries. Projects currently are offered in three cycles: Spring, Summer and Fall.
Lifestyle
Projects may include strategy formulation, market sizing, competitive analysis, equity research/financial modeling, pitch decks, white papers, primary market research (focus groups, surveys, informational interviewing), and secondary research, etc. Volunteers should be willing to commit 10hrs/week for 10-12 weeks.
Eligibility
Advanced degree students, recent graduates, and postdocs who are extremely motivated. Backgrounds of interest include: MPH/MPA, Early Childhood Dev, Psych, OT/PT/Speech, Nutrition, Nursing (GNP/ FNP/DNP/RN), MD/PA, DDS, PharmD, PhD as well as MBA and JD (with any specialization). Clinical backgrounds in allied health fields also of interest.
Application
While we are excited to stay in touch, at this time we are not accepting any applications or starting any new projects. We are currently on a business break.
Meet The Team
Saskia Houwing, Ph.D.
Saskia is a Compound Development Team Lead at Johnson and Johnson. Previously she was heading up Pre-launch Operations at a small pharma company and was a management consultant at McKinsey and Company. She holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Utrecht University and a Postdoc in stem cell research from NYU.
Stefanie Mazlish, MBA
Stefanie is a Director of Operations in Skilled Nursing Facilities and Specialty Hospitals in NYC. Previously she was CEO of The Solution Lab. She holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA from The University of Chicago.
Kate Rochlin, Ph.D.
Kate is currently COO at IN8bio. Previously she was Curadigm, where she was Chief Business Officer. She has also served as Director of Scientific Affairs at Filament BioSolutions and is an advisor to Immunovent, which she co-founded. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Weill Cornell Medical College.
Eric Schafler, Ph.D.
Eric is a Medical Director at a healthcare communications company. He was previously in life sciences consulting at ClearView. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from NYU School of Medicine.