Title: Contract Specialist
Company: Washington University in St. Louis
Education: JD, Harvard Law School (2023); Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University (2020)
Career History: Contract Specialist, Joint Research Office for Contracts (JROC), Washington University, St. Louis (2024-Present); With, Morrison Forrester
Amanda Williams, Contract Specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of law.
Since 2024, Ms. Williams has worked in the university’s Joint Research Office of Contracts, managing several contract portfolios and negotiations between the university and other academic institutions. Having recently started here, the role excites her as it focuses on critical areas that involve complex intellectual property and funding mechanisms, providing unique insights that are often unavailable to lawyers not directly engaged with university research. She aims to ensure that legal considerations are adequately addressed during research collaborations.
Wielding a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Pennsylvania State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Harvard Law School, Ms. Williams attributes her success to her ability to prioritize, work hard, and always recognize where to direct her energy and efforts. In addition to her current position, she’s been active as the founder of Nucleate, a nonprofit organization that empowers people to pursue careers or startups in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries, since 2021. The nonprofit began as a small program within the Harvard Biotech Club, with which she became involved in 2020, that aimed to provide resources within the Harvard and MIT ecosystem.
Over the years, Nucleate has expanded to include 42 chapters, supporting more than 255 biotech centers globally, making it the largest global biotech accelerator; the initiative has also already fostered more than 100 new biotech companies. It assists students and academic trainees in commercializing their technologies and exploring entrepreneurship and provides free, open-access resources to facilitate the process. She believes the community and experiences that have emerged from the nonprofit have been instrumental in preparing her for her career as a lawyer.
Looking ahead, Ms. Williams is committed to deepening her understanding of the legal landscape with a specific focus on the university research setting, which plays a pivotal role in the biopharmaceutical industry. She aims to understand the complexities surrounding federal funding, research collaborations, and clinical trials. Her ultimate ambition is to become a leading lawyer in the biotech sector, dedicated to solving existing problems and contributing to innovation.