Wendy Young
About Wendy Young
Wendy Young is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry's Drug Annotation Series and an advisor at Google Ventures. She has extensive experience in medicinal chemistry, having held leadership positions at Genentech, MPM Capital, and Johnson & Johnson, and has been an advocate for women in science through her work with the American Chemical Society.
Current Role at American Chemical Society
Wendy Young serves as the Associate Editor for the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry - Drug Annotation Series at the American Chemical Society. She has held this position since 2020, contributing to the publication's focus on medicinal chemistry and drug annotation. Her role involves overseeing the editorial process and ensuring the quality of published research in the field.
Experience at Genentech
Wendy Young has extensive experience at Genentech, where she held several key positions. She worked as Executive Director of Discovery Chemistry from 2006 to 2015, followed by roles as Vice President of Discovery Chemistry from 2015 to 2018 and Senior Vice President of Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Research from 2018 to 2021. During her tenure, she was part of the R&D leadership team and contributed to the discovery of over 25 clinical candidates that progressed into development.
Educational Background
Wendy Young pursued her education in Chemistry at Wake Forest University, where she earned her BA and MS degrees from 1984 to 1989. She furthered her studies at Princeton University, obtaining her PhD in Chemistry from 1989 to 1993. This strong academic foundation has supported her extensive career in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
Previous Positions and Leadership Roles
Wendy Young has held various leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry. She worked at Johnson & Johnson as Director of Medicinal Chemistry for nine months in 2006 and served as Senior Director of Medicinal Chemistry at Celera Corporation from 1995 to 2006. Additionally, she was an Executive Partner and CEO of Stealth Newco at MPM Capital from 2021 to 2023. Her experience spans multiple organizations and includes significant contributions to drug discovery.
Advocacy and Contributions to Science
Wendy Young has been an advocate for increased scientific opportunities for women, championing and shaping conference policies through her involvement with the American Chemical Society. She has authored published perspectives and has been invited to lecture on related topics. Her commitment to supporting women in science reflects her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in the field.