Elizabeth Orchard
About Elizabeth Orchard
Elizabeth Orchard is the Group Lead of Fermentation at Ligand Pharmaceuticals, where she has worked since 2021. She holds a PhD in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has extensive experience in fermentation and data analytics across various organizations.
Current Role at Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Elizabeth Orchard serves as the Group Lead for Fermentation at Ligand Pharmaceuticals. She has held this position since 2021, contributing her expertise in fermentation processes within the pharmaceutical sector. Based in San Diego, California, she plays a key role in advancing the company's fermentation capabilities, focusing on the development and optimization of bioprocesses.
Education and Expertise
Elizabeth Orchard earned her PhD in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she studied from 2004 to 2010. Prior to her doctoral studies, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Biophysics at Cornell University from 2000 to 2004. Her educational background provides a strong foundation in both biological sciences and analytical techniques, which she applies in her professional work.
Previous Experience in Fermentation and Data Analytics
Before joining Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Elizabeth Orchard accumulated extensive experience in fermentation and data analytics. She worked at Synthetic Genomics in various roles, including Scientist II in Fermentation and Senior Scientist in Data Analytics. Her tenure at Synthetic Genomics spanned from 2012 to 2019, during which she developed skills in production R&D and data-driven decision-making.
Postdoctoral Research and Early Career
Elizabeth Orchard began her career with a postdoctoral position at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 2010. This role lasted for four months and marked her transition from academia to industry. She subsequently joined Synthetic Genomics as a Scientist I in Production R&D, where she worked for two years before advancing to higher roles within the organization.
Leadership at AbSci
From 2019 to 2021, Elizabeth Orchard served as Group Lead for Fermentation at AbSci in Vancouver, Washington. In this role, she was responsible for leading fermentation projects and managing a team focused on bioprocess development. Her leadership experience at AbSci further solidified her expertise in the fermentation field.