We combine expertise in management consulting with deep understanding of science and the life sciences industry. More simply, we don’t just know the business of science, we understand the science itself. All SciVida team members have strong academic credentials, including degrees in science, engineering, and business, and a passion for impacting human health.
Meet Our Leaders
Kevin Barnett
Co-founder and Managing PartnerResearch Triangle Park, NCLearn More
Kevin Barnett
Kevin has served as a strategic advisor to leading life sciences companies for over two decades. He is highly experienced in building and scaling management consultancies and has worked at both large and small firms, from startup to very mature. His expertise spans a broad array of areas including corporate strategy, commercial strategy, pricing and market access strategy, business development and licensing, and operational effectiveness.
Kevin lives in Raleigh with his wife and their two teenage children—who keep him busy! In his free time, he enjoys exercising, reading nonfiction books, and perfecting his grilling skills.
MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business
BS in Bioengineering from Purdue University
Co-founder and Managing PartnerSeattle, WALearn More
Jeff Liepman
Jeff has spent over fifteen years partnering with executives at life science organizations of all sizes and has particular expertise in novel oncology and specialty drugs. During this time he has also built, led, and mentored several winning teams at small and midsize consulting firms, and he has managed and led hundreds of brand and portfolio strategy, commercial effectiveness, business development, market access, and medical affairs-related strategy consulting engagements.
Jeff lives in the Seattle suburbs with his wife and their three children. He is an avid snowboarder, coaches his kids’ basketball teams, and enjoys listening to Pearl Jam while he runs.
MBS (combined MBA and MS) in the Business of Bioscience from Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences
BS in Biochemistry from Willamette University
Rachel has served as a valuable thought partner and resource to senior executives and commercial leaders of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies across the US and Europe. She has focused her delivery on engagements in the areas of product/portfolio strategy and optimization, competitive strategy and planning, commercial and market access customer engagement strategy, forecasting, and business development. She brings in-depth therapeutic area experience to bear on her projects having worked across a wide array of disease states.
Rachel lives in Cary with her husband, two elementary-aged children, and two energetic dogs. She loves the outdoors and staying active—particularly running, biking, and hiking.
MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business
MS in Chemical Engineering from University of Virginia
BS in Chemical Engineering from University of South Carolina
Jonathan has been dedicated to the life science industry for more than two decades, working with clients of all sizes to advance human health. His consulting practice focuses on pricing, market access, and commercial strategy in rare disease, oncology, and other therapeutic areas. He is known for his team-first approach, collaborative thought partnership, and creative problem solving. Jonathan has held leadership positions at several global consultancies, published articles in both peer-reviewed and industry publications, and spoken at international and domestic conferences such as the European Pricing Forum and DTx West and DTx East.
Jonathan lives in Cambridge with his wife and daughter. When he can find the time and motivation, you will find him running slowly around the Charles River.
MBA from Harvard Business School
BA in Economics from Dartmouth College
BA in Geology from Dartmouth College
Sean has been a strategic advisor to biopharma clients across the life sciences value chain for nearly two decades. He has a strong track record of delivering insights and guidance on the critical decisions that confront biopharma companies in bringing products to market successfully, including launch planning, competitive positioning, demand assessment, tracking, patient journeys, clinical development planning, and new product strategy.
Sean lives in San Francisco with his wife and daughter and their two dogs. He enjoys exploring new food and new restaurants in the Bay Area and likes to stay active outside with the dogs.
MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business
BS in Biology from University of Texas at Austin
BA in History from University of Texas at Austin
Chris has over a decade of experience in the life sciences, serving as a trusted thought partner and strategic advisor to client organizations large and small. He is skilled in supporting clients’ needs across a wide range of therapeutic areas and project types and has deep expertise in global market access strategy, launch planning and execution, market assessment and forecasting, and medical affairs strategy. Chris is a collaborative and communicative partner to his clients, providing a combination of high-level strategic guidance and in-depth subject matter expertise.
Chris lives in Cary with his wife, toddler, dog, cat, and rotating assortment of other pets. In rare moments when his family is not keeping him busy, Chris can be found outside gardening, experimenting in the kitchen, or woodworking in his ever-expanding workshop.
PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University
BS in Chemistry from University of Georgia
A sought-after strategic advisor to both emerging and established biopharmaceutical organizations across a wide variety of business needs, Julia has particular expertise in commercial market access, forecasting, government pricing, reimbursement strategy, product/portfolio optimization, business development, and launch strategy. She has worked across a breadth of indications, most notably cardiometabolic, men’s health, oncology, ophthalmology, and rare diseases, and is particularly knowledgeable about medical benefit products.
Originally hailing from upstate New York, Julia moved to the Raleigh-Durham area for school and never looked back. She currently resides in Cary with her husband and toddler. She stays active by biking, hiking, and rock climbing but also enjoys painting and a good book.
MS in Nutrition from Meredith College
BS in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering from Duke University
Ben is a strategic thought partner for clients in the pharma, biotech, medical device, and life science industries. His areas of expertise include market research insights and analytics, commercial and medical engagement strategy (plus KOL mapping), product and portfolio strategy, and account planning. While his experience spans therapeutic areas and disease states, Ben is a leader in the intersection of neuroimmunology and gene therapy. His collaborative approach emphasizes data, story, and partnership across engagements.
Located in Northern California, Ben enjoys exploring nearby landscapes by foot, by bike, or on skis, with the adventures often ending at a local taqueria or sushi bar.
PhD in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University
BS in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering from Duke University
Vice President of People and TalentResearch Triangle Park, NCLearn More
Kate Nye Jara
The daughter of a teacher and an engineer, Kate was destined to design solutions to help others learn. She started her first training job at the age of 15, teaching etiquette to pre-teens, later taught English in Taipei, Taiwan, and, upon returning to the US, discovered life sciences consulting and has not looked back. During her 15+ years in the industry, Kate has mastered the art of developing consultants, managers, and leaders through training, coaching, and mentorship.
Kate lives in Raleigh and enjoys traveling around the state, country, and world. While her job often puts her in the spotlight, in her personal time she prefers cooking, playing darts at dive bars, and solving puzzles of all kinds.
BS in Education from North Carolina State University
Director of Quality and CommunicationsResearch Triangle Park, NCLearn More
Christina Verni
Christina met PowerPoint nearly 20 years ago and the two have been inseparable ever since. During this time, she has been supporting life science consulting teams with their quality assurance needs, from editing to template development, creative slide design, knowledge management, and more. Christina has built editorial services from the ground up, establishing styles, processes, and procedures, creating tools, building teams, and helping consultants be better writers and slide developers. Prior to meeting PowerPoint, she was a medical research writer and editor in the non-profit sector translating science for mass consumption.
Christina lives in the Raleigh-Durham area and enjoys playing frisbee with her German shepherd, hiking, bowling, and team trivia.
MA in Journalism from Indiana University
BS in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University
We’ve worked with life science organizations of all types, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and diagnostic, and of all sizes—from early-stage companies to large global organizations. Our experience also spans a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from common, chronic ailments to rare diseases across a multitude of therapeutic areas. From small molecules to biologics, vaccines to immunotherapies, even generics and biosimilars, too—we have a breadth of experience and depth of knowledge that clients can rely on.
Bone
Cardiovascular
CNS/Neurology
Dermatology
Diabetes/Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hematology
Immunology
Infectious Disease
Inflammation
Nephrology
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Rare Disease
Respiratory
Rheumatology
Vaccines
Women’s Health
Geographic Span
Our leadership team has delivered thousands of US-focused projects and hundreds of ex-US projects.
Client Perspectives on Our Team
We received a consistent amount of senior level support on this project. Often times, senior folks sell in the project, and then do not help execute on the nuts and bolts. Kevin and Jeff were here every step of the way.
—Director, Health Systems Marketing, Large Global Pharmaceutical Company
The team did exactly what it said it would do according to the (fast-paced) schedule it forecasted. The integrity and thoughtfulness of the team and the ease of communication with them made our experience particularly good, on top of the high quality of the work product.
—President and CEO, Early-Stage Biotech
It was truly a pleasure to work with you and your team. I feel great about this project—both the process and the final deliverable—and am looking forward to working with you again.
