Morphosis
Transforming innovations into medicines
We attract brilliant minds from academia, and in our venture crucible, morph their minds to the venture capital path
Supported by:
Introduction
Esco Ventures X
Esco Ventures X is our venture (new company) creation platform, and has launched 3 Singapore-based biotech companies, with more therapeutics (drug discovery / development) companies in the works. Our incubator and laboratory (3000 sq ft of wet lab space) is located at Block 71, Launchpad@one-north.
To further enhance our venture creation portfolio, Esco Ventures X launched the Morphosis Program in 2018, designed for the brightest scientific and budding entrepreneurial minds to embark on biotech venture creation in a VC environment.
Morphosis Program
This full-time program is in 2 phases
Phase 1
In Phase 1 (6 months), Fellows will participate in generating novel venture hypotheses and working closely alongside academic experts and experienced investment professionals in a highly creative and collaborative environment.
Phase 2
At the end of Phase 1, the venture hypotheses will be evaluated and selected projects will be incubated by Esco Ventures X over a period of a year, with the selected Fellow(s) embarking on Phase 2 of the program to lead the R&D towards achieving POC*.
*Funding of up to SGD 500,000 will be awarded for each project. Projects that meet the POC milestones will be incorporated as a new biotech company.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
OUR FELLOWS
BATCH OF 2019
Zhao Peng
Peng is a Venture Fellow at ESCO Ventures and currently formulating ideas on several start-up projects. Peng joined ESCO Ventures in November 2019 as a fellow of Morphosis program. He was trained in developmental cell biology and obtained his B.Sc. and Ph.D. at National University of Singapore and Temasek LifeSciences Laboratory. He loves nature and is amazed by wonders of biology. He believes that nature is the best inventor and we just need to repurpose existing tools to creatively solve problems which matter to mankind.
Akshaya Bansal
Akshaya joined Esco Ventures in 2019 as a Venture Fellow. She trained at NUS (National University of Singapore), earning a Bachelor’s degree in Bioengineering (B.Eng, 1st Class honors) followed by a PhD. During her PhD, she developed novel photocontrolled nanoparticle therapeutics for cancer and gene therapy. She continued her research as a Post-doctoral Fellow, working jointly with iHealthTech (Institute for Health Innovation & Technology, formerly BIGHEART (Biomedical Institute for Global Health Research & Technology)), to develop bioelectronic devices for minimally invasive, remote-controlled light-based therapies. Her work has been published and highlighted in high impact journals like PNAS (proceedings of the national academy of sciences), Nature Communications and ACS Nano.
Marlena N Raczkowska
Marlena is an ESCO Ventures Morphosis Program Fellow, in which she translates her passion to biotechnologies into solutions to deliver value and fuel growth. A scientist and technology entrepreneur she has worked in the life sciences across geographies. She did her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the NUS and Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology, working on closed-loop neuromodulation for neurotechnology and medical device innovation. She completed her Master’s Degree in Biomedical Research from the Popmeu Fabra Univeristy in Barcelona, Spain, studying clinical neuroscience. She also obtained a B.Sc in Biotechnology from the University of Gdansk, Poland.
INAUGURAL BATCH OF 2018
Mayura Wagle, Kathy Su, Tenzin Gocha
MORPHING GREAT MINDS
We are constantly looking for bright minds to join us in our venture creation journey.
ELIGIBILITY
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PhD in life sciences disciplines, with insights and expertise in a particular field of biology such as immunology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology etc.
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Highly inventive and analytical thinker
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Excellent communication skills
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Passionate about value creation through innovative science and improving patients’ lives with disruptive technologies
* PhD candidates who have submitted their theses and awaiting dissertation defense are welcomed to apply
* Applicants of all nationalities are welcomed
APPLICATION
Interested candidates, please submit a cover letter and CV, along with any inquiries to morphosis@escoventures.com
Fellows will be competitively remunerated with a monthly stipend for Phase 1.
Application opening date: 3 Apr 2020
Applications close: 17 April 2020
Phase I Start date: 1 July 2020
WEBINAR SESSION
Friday, 3 April 2020
Time: 12pm - 1pm
