Rebecca Alford

Rebecca Alford serves as a Principal Scientist at Johnson and Johnson, a role she has held for four years. With a decade of experience in drug discovery research and development, including her doctoral studies, she previously completed a postdoc at D.E. Shaw Research, a biotech specializing in long-time scale molecular dynamics. Alford earned her PhD at Johns Hopkins in molecular simulations and design and her bachelor's in chemistry with a concentration in computational chemistry from Carnegie Mellon. In her work, she employs computer simulations and artificial intelligence to design new molecules and accelerate the drug discovery process, collaborating with partners to test candidates in the wet lab. She attributes her success to perseverance, the support of her family, and the right environment to pursue her passion. Alford emphasizes the importance of persistence in the long game of drug discovery and advises focusing on areas of expertise, particularly as a working mother.