2025 Doctoral Ceremony

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Time: 3:30-4:45 p.m. (doors open at 3:00 p.m.)
Location: Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA

Keynote Speaker

Dafni Bika (GR’92)

Dafni Bika is a pharmaceutical executive with more than 25 years of experience in Development and Manufacturing Science and Technology. She is currently Senior Vice President and Global Head of Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D) in AstraZeneca’s Global Operations. In this position, she leads a global, integrated network of scientists and engineers (1500+) in 8 countries, who transform synthetic molecules into medicines and secure approval and robust supply across the product life.

In her current role, Bika has designed, developed and launched more than 20 new products since 2016, which have led the return and sustainable growth for AstraZeneca. Her organization has been at the forefront of CMC innovation, agile clinical materials supply, new product acceleration to market, AI-enabled drug development and sustainability. More recently, she is leading the development and implementation of continuous manufacturing in AstraZeneca and acceleration of new modalities/platforms into the network of the future.

Bika was recognized as one of the most Influential Women in Manufacturing in 2020, with a record nine nominations, and is an eight-time recipient of the AstraZeneca CEO Award. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Rochester, NY, and a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece.