Additional Bios - Smith Biotech.

Amanda Smith

Amanda is the Founder and Creative Director of Smith Biotech. She obtained a BSc. in Biology from Acadia University and possesses a diverse background in scientific, marketing and business development initiatives. Her passion for science and experience in assisting companies promote their research programs resulted in the establishment of Smith Biotech.

Smith Biotech grew from the need of British Columbia’s biotechnology community for a flexible, knowledgeable consultant to take over the numerous communications projects that can overwhelm early-stage companies. Amanda’s broad background in scientific writing, media relations and design has proven invaluable to the many science-based companies she has launched into the forefront of their desired audiences.

Amanda has developed an essential array of services with her client’s needs in mind. Amanda’s goal with Smith Biotech is to not only provide traditional marketing products but to also encourage dialogue between industry professionals, researchers, partners, investors and consumers in order to foster continued growth within the industry.

Amanda is actively involved in the promotion of the science and technology industry. Amanda is currently the Past President of the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology and in previous years also served as President (2 terms) and the Vice President Programming (2 years). She is a former Vice President of the Wired Woman Society (3 years) and a previous board member of the Science Fair Foundation of BC (1 year). She is a telementor and speaker for various events encouraging young people to pursue careers in technology. Amanda was presented in 2005 with a Gold award from the Burns Bog Conservation Society honouring her achievements as a Woman of Influence for the Science & Technology industry in British Columbia.

Amanda is also the mother of 2 beautiful daughters ages 2 1/2 and 10 months.

Elana Brief, PhD

Elana Brief is a subcontractor of Smith Biotech. She earned her PhD in physics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and took on postdoctoral fellowships at Orsay (Paris, France) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) (Burnaby, Canada). Her research has focused on medical imaging of demyelinating diseases using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and on the biophysics of human skin employing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques. She has collaborated with biochemists, statisticians, endocrinologists, neurologists, radiologists and other physicists. Elana is inspired by the ideas that emerge when disciplines meet.

Elana is motivated by the challenges put forth by Smith Biotech. How can we communicate the meaning of a scientific concept to the media, and by extension, to the public? What will inspire a venture capitalist to invest in a new idea? What can enable the directors of large health organizations listen and respond to their staff? How should we design websites, PowerPoint presentations and posters to get the message to the audience?

Cross-disciplinary research requires unambiguous communication: experts must speak without jargon and should listen with curiosity. Elana continues to develop and teach the skills to bridge the gaps between student and expert, and between expert and expert. She has taught various courses at UBC and SFU including The Physics of Music for art students, Physics by Inquiry for education students and Physical Laboratory Techniques for engineering students. During her PhD studies she won the UBC President’s Award in Teaching Excellence. Through the SFU Learning and Instructional Development Centre, she developed and offered courses in PowerPoint for Technical Speakers and group dynamics (Loudmouths, Contrarians, and Complainers: Managing Disruptions in the Classroom). Elana has created PowerPoint presentations and scientific posters for medical doctors, psychologists and physicists.

Elana is committed to creating a more scientifically literate society. She is works as a Research Director at the Women’s Health Research Network. In this role, Elana is bringing people together to increase research activity focused on the health of girls and women in British Columbia. Elana is passionate about offering scientists the skills they need outside (and inside!) of academia. She has won grants to offer the workshop series Bridging Transitions: Soft Skills for Hard Scientists and she is currently serving as treasurer for the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology. Elana is also a graduate of the 2005/06 Leadership Vancouver program.