Asha Nigh, PhD

Asha Nigh is a scientific writer and consultant with over twenty years of experience advising researchers at universities, biotech companies and nonprofits. At SEN she drives client recruitment and manages a portfolio of biotech and academic projects. She has broad experience with different funding mechanisms, particularly with CIRM awards. Given her background in neuroscience, stem cell therapies and drug discovery, she particularly enjoys collaborative research projects with a cross-disciplinary focus.
 
Dr. Nigh was previously a scientific officer at the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), where she managed a $30 million grant portfolio in neuroscience aimed at supporting the development of cures based on stem cell research. She was also responsible for organizing conferences and for preparing workshops and reports to inform CIRM’s strategic decision-making. Most recently, she served as the Director of Grants and Research at the climate solutions incubator HEET, where she was principally responsible for fundraising for the organization’s extensive research portfolio. Dr. Nigh’s doctoral work at Harvard focused on the molecular basis of learning and memory and of maternal behaviors. As an undergraduate at Stanford, she studied glial cells, the “other” cell type in the brain. She also completed internships at Sandoz and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital, and worked on drug development related to cell signaling and gene expression at the biotech company Tularik.

Education

• BS in Biology from Stanford University
• PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University

Professional experience

• Scientific Officer, CIRM
• Director of Grants and Research, HEET
• Intern, Sandoz
• Intern, Veteran's Administration Hospital
• Research Associate, Tularik, Inc.

 Expertise

• CIRM grants
• Biotechnology and drug development
• Neuroscience, stem cell research, and cell signaling
  
• Climate solutions