[bioundgrd] Fwd: UROP Position Posting

[MacKenzie Outlund]

*UROP D/L/C: MIT Sloan Laboratory for Financial Engineering*

*Faculty Supervisor: Prof. Andrew Lo*

*Project Title:* Cancer research: modeling success, failure and how to use
financial technology to pay for future cancer research.


*Project Description: *This project aims at designing new ways to finance
cancer research.



There are two research assignments for two or more candidates:



1. The UROP will work with researchers from the Laboratory for Financial
Engineering and the Tufts center for Drug Development in the analysis of
cancer research efforts of the last three decades. We will construct and
analyze a database comprising records for cancer therapeutics that were
evaluated in clinical studies sponsored by commercial firms during
1980-2009. Data collected will include current clinical status (e.g., Phase
1, 2 or 3, in regulatory review, approved, discontinued) and milestone dates
(e.g., for entry into clinical study, transition to Phase 2 or 3, filing
date for marketing application, date of marketing approval), which will
allow analysis of probabilities of success over time. Data about the
companies that developed the drugs will be included (e.g., licensing, merger
and acquisition activity, financing and, if possible, company valuation at
different points in time, e.g., if they IPO, merged or were bought. This
data will allow analysis of the economics of deals and valuations over time.




The UROP will acquire a deep understanding of the history of modern cancer
research efforts, biotech and pharma companies ecosystem as well as of how
scientific research is financed and of the FDA regulatory process.



2. The UROP will help program a simulation module to evaluate the risk of
default of a portfolio of bonds. He/she will acquire an understanding of how
to design a structured finance vehicle and of how to evaluate financial
risks



Both positions will provide candidate with insightful knowledge for future
careers in finance and in biotech.



The UROP can be for pay or credit. Start date would be as early as possible,
in IAP and probably continuing spring semester based on project needs and
student availability.


*Prerequisites:*

Preferred background for project 1: biology, economics, statistics or
business.  Other backgrounds will be considered



Preferred background for project 2: statistics, programming skills in Matlab


*Contact:* Please send a resume and statement of interest to Jayna Cummings
(jcummin at mit.edu)



----------

Jayna Cummings

Administrative Assistant to

John C. Cox and Andrew W. Lo



MIT Sloan School of Management

100 Main Street, E62-611

Cambridge, MA 02142

T: 617-258-5727

F: 617-258-6855
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