Her Story
About Amanda
Dr. Amanda Robinson, PhD, MBA, MLS(ASCP), is a clinical and translational research scientist specializing in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with a strong focus on antibiotic resistance and the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. Her work centers on bacteriophage (phage) therapy, an emerging approach that uses viruses targeting bacteria while preserving beneficial human microbiota. Through her doctoral research, she examined AMR from multiple angles, including surveillance of resistant infections, economic feasibility of novel interventions, and synthesis of clinical evidence supporting phage-based therapeutics, with the goal of advancing promising discoveries toward real-world clinical application.
Professionally, Dr. Robinson operates at the intersection of clinical research strategy, diagnostics, and translational science. In her role as a Senior Analyst at Scout Clinical, she develops clinical trial budgets and proposal materials for global biopharma sponsors, translating complex protocol assumptions into operationally sound and evidence-based frameworks. Her prior experience spans next-generation sequencing in regulated laboratory environments, clinical trial laboratory operations in oncology research, STEM program leadership in higher education, and adjunct instruction in biology and health sciences. This diverse background enables her to bridge scientific discovery with operational execution and stakeholder communication across the clinical research ecosystem.
Dr. Robinson’s academic and professional training reflects an interdisciplinary foundation in biology, business, and clinical science, including a PhD in Clinical Research and an MBA. She is also an experienced educator and science communicator, committed to making complex scientific concepts accessible to learners, clinicians, and broader audiences. Her overarching mission is to advance patient-centered innovation by improving how scientific discoveries—particularly in AMR and precision medicine—are translated into effective, scalable healthcare solutions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Amanda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my insatiable curiosity and lifelong love of learning, which has guided me since my early education and naturally evolved into a passion for both learning and teaching. My experience mentoring STEM students at the University of Indianapolis reinforced this, as I enjoyed helping them explore career paths while also being re-energized by their enthusiasm. During the COVID-19 period, I chose to turn a challenging time into an opportunity by pursuing a PhD, which I completed in three years, further shaping my growth and commitment to my field.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think probably the thing that held me back the most was just self-doubt. You just have to go for it. There's no reason that they can't do it themselves. Even as I've gotten older, you always fall kind of trapped to comparing yourself to others, and when I finally look at the people I hold in great esteem, I'm not too different from them, and so I felt really kind of reassured that, okay, they're normal people too. So you just have to walk in knowing, I can do that too. It might not look like the same approach, or the same path, but we can certainly end at the same goal. I wish somebody had sat down and told me that earlier. It would have saved a lot of mental anguish.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my field, the biggest challenge is the heavy regulatory and administrative burden in clinical research, which slows the progress of promising discoveries from the lab to patient care. There are also ongoing gaps in women’s healthcare, where research and treatment have not always received equal attention compared to other areas. At the same time, the main opportunity in translational science is improving collaboration across disciplines to streamline the path from research to clinical trials and clinical use, so effective innovations can reach patients much faster.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are curiosity, mentorship and teaching, collaboration, accessibility of science, and uplifting other women. I strive to stay curious and continuously learn, while also sharing knowledge in a way that supports and empowers others. Collaboration is central to how I work, as I believe the best outcomes come from diverse perspectives working together. I am also deeply committed to making science more accessible and ensuring that more women are supported, represented, and elevated in the field.
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