From chemical engineering to AI-driven drug development: PharmSci grad launches career at Acceleration Consortium

Photo by Shichen Ma

Zeqing Bao moved to Canada from China after completing his undergraduate degree. He first earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Ottawa, then started his PhD at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy with Professor Christine Allen, where he studied using robotics and machine learning to optimize drug formation development.

He is currently a research scientist at the Acceleration Consortium, a global network of government, academia and industry, where he is focused on using self-driving labs to accelerate the development of new drug formulations.

Bao shared his experience at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and how his education has helped prepare him for his new career.

Why did you decide to pursue a PhD at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy?

The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy is globally renowned for its cutting-edge research, and it consistently ranks among the world’s top pharmacy schools. Its extensive health care network – including hospitals, research institutes, and pharmaceutical companies – offers unique opportunities for learning and networking.

When selecting a potential supervisor, I reached out to Professor Allen because her research spans a wide array of disciplines and includes both academic projects and strong industry collaborations. I believe that exposure to these industry perspectives will enrich my research and support my future career. Additionally, Professor Allen leads a diverse group with lab members from various backgrounds worldwide, fostering a collaborative environment where unique perspectives contribute to innovative ideas. I believe that diversity in discussion often sparks the most impactful solutions.

What was your PhD research about?

Drug formulations are critical in developing safe, effective and stable medicines. Optimizing these formulations allows pharmaceutical scientists to enhance the drug performance, often marking the difference between clinical success and failure. However, designing these formulations is a complex, resource-intensive process. To address this, my research focused on streamlining this development process through machine learning and robotic systems, aiming to accelerate drug formulation design.

What were some of the highlights of your time at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy?

I was honoured when Professor Allen entrusted me, as a leading student, with the opportunity to initiate our lab’s first machine learning and robotics projects. This was both exciting and challenging, as I had no prior experience with coding or robotics, and there were few relevant studies in this emerging field to guide us. Believing strongly in the field’s potential, I committed myself fully to the work, collaborating closely with my supervisor and lab members on these interdisciplinary projects. Through these efforts, we positioned our lab as one of the early leaders in the field. Our research has since gained recognition through multiple publications and successful academic and industrial collaborations.

What have you valued most about your education at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy?

I have the power of mutual support. Throughout my PhD, the support from my lab members, especially Pauric Bannigan and Sungmin Jung, was invaluable; without their help, many of my projects would not have been possible. Inspired by their encouragement, I have also tried my best to assist others whenever possible. I firmly believe that this culture of mutual support is key to creating meaningful and impactful work.

How will your education at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy help in your new career?

My education has certainly strengthened my scientific and research skills, which are essential for my future career. Beyond that, the most valuable lesson I have learned here is the importance of courage in stepping outside of my comfort zone. Although challenging, this approach often leads to the most significant accomplishments. Embracing a mindset of continuous learning and exploration will be my guiding force as I advance in my new career.