MENTOR PROFILE

Konstantina M. Katcheves
Attorney,
Saul Ewing, LLP
Baltimore, MD

 

When did you first realize you wanted to go into science? Were you a child, adolescent, young adult?

 I wanted to go into science since I was in kindergarten when I drew plans for a massive vacuum that sucked the pollution out of the atmosphere.  It sounded like a great idea to a five year old.  I only wish it could be that easy.

 

What was the MOST effective attribute/characteristic of your FAVORITE career mentor, and how did that help you?

I have had a number of career mentors, but my favorite by far is my Hopkins professor Fredric Abramson.  He has an enthusiasm for the business of science that is infectious.   He helped me fully appreciate the value those of us that have technical backgrounds but provide ancillary services such as attorneys  really give the industry.  Ultimately, the science is an asset to all companies in the biotech industry and it is my job to secure and protect that asset.

 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Boston, MA.  When I was three, my parents moved to Albuquerque, NM, where I lived until I went to college.

 

Where did you receive your formal educational training?

I received a B.S. in cell biology and biochemistry from the University of California at San Diego.  I earned my M.S. in biotechnology from the Johns Hopkins University and my J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.

 

Who do you most admire, and why? (It can be a living or deceased person – someone famous or whom you know personally and does not have to be a scientist)

My mom.  She is a tough cookie, yet kind and compassionate.  She has achieved a lot in her life and is very successful despite set backs that would have derailed most people.  She  always believed and made decisions as if success was the only option.

 

Once you retire professionally, what would be the ONE thing you want people to most remember about you?

She  was great at facilitating solutions for her clients.