Alumni Spotlight: James Warren ’94, M.S. ’98, Biotechnology

The Journey to WP

James never expected to go to William Paterson University. With a family legacy of WP Pioneer graduates including his grandparents and parents, James was looking for something different. After a year studying engineering at Rutgers, he decided to take a gap year and worked in a warehouse, taking some time to ponder his next move. James came to the realization that his passion was in the recently established field of biotechnology and saw that only a few universities offered this program. Because William Paterson was one of three schools in the Northeast that offered a biotechnology program at that time, and it was undoubtedly engrained in his family history, James transferred to WP. The transition would prove to be life-altering for his career trajectory.

 

How WP Was Different

James quickly felt at home at WP, even as a commuter student. He describes the experience of studying in Science Hall as sitting comfortably in his own dining room. James’ professors seemed to care about his success as a student, and his small class sizes afforded the opportunity to gain knowledge and express ambition. He references many renowned WP professors and mentors who provided encouragement and direction, including the late Professor Emeritus John Rosengren, biology, whom he refers to as a “legend.” While James initially expected his rigorous organic chemistry courses to be drudgery, valued mentor and Professor Emeritus Robert McCallum and Professor Emeritus Ashot Merijanian, who taught organic chemistry, inspired and challenged him to excel in the coursework. The late Professor Emeritus Gurdial Mal Sharma, biotechnology, and research associate Mukesh Sahni hired James to work in the biochemistry research laboratory, a job that not only deepened his scientific acumen but also helped to finance the remainder of his undergraduate education. These professors assisted James by providing real-life lab experience, instruction on resume writing, and advice on how to best market his skills to pharmaceutical companies. James took several classes with Professor Miryam Wahrman, molecular biology, who he described as “tough and incredibly knowledgeable with a big heart.” Lastly, James calls Professor Emeritus David Weisbrot, who taught molecular genetics, a “true Pioneer,” who conducted doctoral and post-doctoral research on genetics at Columbia University and University of California Berkeley, respectively, funded by fellowships from the National Institutes of Health.

 

Where James is Today

James feels fortunate to have known since 1982 that he wanted to be a scientist, as he was consumed by the concepts in his seventh-grade science class. William Paterson was ahead of the cutting edge, offering a stellar biotechnology program along with institutions such as Rochester Institute of Technology and Rutgers. The education and research experience gained at WP was the kick-start to what has since become a 30-year career in the biotechnology industry. James specializes in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of gene therapy viral vectors and live viral vaccines, with applied focus on bioprocess development and chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) development strategy. Currently at Ultragenyx, James leads a team of 80 scientists and engineers who are responsible for all early- and late-stage process and analytical development of gene therapy portfolio products as well as pilot scale manufacturing in Woburn, Massachusetts. Prior to Ultragenyx, James held leadership positions at bluebird bio, Shire, Merck & Co., and Schering Plough, leading process development and manufacturing teams responsible for development of several clinical candidates as well as the licensure of RotaTeq®, Varivax®, ProQuad®, and Zostavax®. In addition to his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in biotechnology from William Paterson University, James holds a PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Lehigh University.

 

Advice for Future WP Graduates

The most valuable piece of advice James can offer is the power of authentic networking, which he refers to as trustful relationship building. “Branching out, broadening your knowledge, and building upon it by seeking guidance from others is mutually beneficial,” he says. He was 15 years into his career before he realized that networking was crucial to achieving his professional goals. “We need each other,” he adds. For science majors, James suggests starting broad and focusing later. “Take advantage of research assistantships early on,” he says. When asked what he is most proud of in his career, James’ reply is a testament to his professional success: “The impact I have had on other people—to empower young leaders and inspire future scientists.”

 

10/10/23