Chetana Rao, Ph.D.
About Chetana Rao, Ph.D.
Chetana Rao, Ph.D., is the Director of Business and Research Operations at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Redwood City, California, with extensive experience in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Current Position at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Chetana Rao, Ph.D., currently serves as the Director of Business and Research Operations at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Redwood City, California. In this role, she manages multiple functional areas including Finance, Accounting, Administration, and Diversity & Inclusion strategy for the Bay Area Discovery sites. She oversees the execution of a budget exceeding $100 million, which covers research, capital, and service expenses. She also develops and maintains strong partnerships both within the company and with external stakeholders, acting as a key conduit for state and government affairs.
Previous Roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Prior to her current position, Chetana Rao held several key roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb. She served as the Director of Protein Engineering from 2015 to 2018 and as Associate Director from 2009 to 2015, all based in Redwood City, California. In these capacities, she was involved in leading teams and projects that contributed to the company’s research and development efforts.
Academic Background and Research
Chetana Rao earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where she studied from 1989 to 1994. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Biochemistry from GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry & Botany from the University of Mumbai. Over the course of her career, she has published over 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals and holds more than 25 patents globally.
Early Career and Academic Positions
Chetana Rao began her career at Boots Pharmaceuticals as a Research Associate from 1985 to 1988 in Mumbai, India. She then moved to the United States, where she worked as a Teacher at La Petite Academy in Tampa, Florida from 1988 to 1989. She later held post-doctoral positions at the University of Florida College of Medicine (1994-1996) and the University of California, Davis (1996-1999). Her research experiences at these institutions laid the foundation for her subsequent roles in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
Industry Experience
Chetana Rao's extensive industry experience includes positions at Corixa Corporation as a Sr. Scientist from 2001 to 2002 and at Coulter Pharmaceuticals as a Research Scientist from 1999 to 2001, both in South San Francisco, California. From 2002 to 2009, she worked at Medarex, Inc. in Sunnyvale, California as an Assistant Director. Throughout these roles, she has consistently contributed to advancements in biomedical research and development.