Following a PhD in biochemistry from Lancaster University, Claire moved into scientific technical marketing to the UK biotechnology sector where she undertook activities including:

•    Event management
•    Corporate and technical promotion
•    Technical writing for print and online

She then became the industrial biotechnology National Contact Point for FP5 – where responsibilities included:

•    Pre-screening of FP proposals
•    UK-wide training for biotech companies seeking FP funding
•    FP analysis and reporting
•    Event management – international conference in food safety

Dr Skentelbery now splits her time between:

Freelance proposal writing (from 2000-present) concentrating on proposals for FP6 and 7 for biotechnology companies, hospitals and universities, plus proposals for UK cancer charities, Regional research funds, the Wellcome Trust and NIH.
Her work includes full proposal writing, mentoring, training, proposal and consortium management.

Business Development Manager at ERBI Ltd. (2000-present)
ERBI is the biotechnology network for Cambridge, the largest biotech cluster in Europe.  ERBI is the largest and most mature cluster network in Europe, founded in 1997 and Claire has worked with ERBI since its launch through her work in marketing.
Since joining ERBI in 2000, Claire has undertaken the following activities:

•    Event management: ERBI’s annual biopartnering exchange – Claire managed the conference between 2001 – 2005, undertaking all event management with a conference support team

•    Website development and management: Claire managed the development of ERBI’s current website and undertakes all maintenance and updating

•    Human resources Special Interest Group:  Claire developed a HR SIG for ERBI Full Members, through which ERBI has now developed a full training portfolio for members.

Since 2004, Claire has worked within ERBI to develop the Council of European BioRegions (CEBR), a network of biotechnology cluster support organisations of which she is Network Manager and which is currently funded through an FP6 SSA, administered by ERBI and which will move to financial independence in 2008.

•    Her activities within CEBR include:
•    Development of original FP6 proposal
•    Management of FP project
•    Launch of network and management of steering committee
•    Development of CEBR website – now a database-driven website hosting jobs, news and events for members with further development of online SIGs and libraries
•    Management of CEBR’s launch conference
•    Event management – Regular SIG meetings, steering committee meetings, project development meetings
•    Management of all CEBR activities including:
•    Development of special interest groups in Finance, Incubation, Human Resources and Business Development
•    FP7 and CIP project development and submission
•    Partner calls across Europe
•    Development of long term financial independence for CEBR