HWS News
14 March 2025 • Alums • Research • STEM Pike '25 Explores New Approaches to Alzheimer's Research By Colin Spencer '19
Independent study leads to career at Back Bay Life Science Advisors in Boston as an investment banking analyst.
Through an independent research project with Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Thomas Jensen, Juliette Pike ’25 examined Alzheimer’s Disease as a multifactorial condition influenced by genetic, environmental and, most notably, immune-related factors. Her work broadens the understanding of the disease beyond traditional causes.
In “An Update on Alzheimer’s Disease: Moving Away from the Central Dogma,” Pike challenges the longstanding belief that amyloid-beta plaques—abnormal protein clumps in the brain—are the primary cause of Alzheimer’s. Her research highlights other significant contributors, including tau toxicity (the accumulation of toxic tau proteins in brain synapses), neuroinflammation (the central nervous system’s inflammatory response) and oxidative stress (cell damage due to an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants). Additionally, she explores genetic mutations in the proteins like APOE and TREM2, which may increase susceptibility to the disease.
“Through this research, my goal was to develop my own understanding of Alzheimer’s and assess the future of therapeutics, ultimately recognizing the need for better approaches to studying the disease,” says Pike, a biology major and an economics minor.
After graduating in January, Pike joined Back Bay Life Science Advisors in Boston as an investment banking analyst. The firm specializes in advising and banking services for life science and healthcare companies. In her role, she supports transactions through primary and secondary research, financial modeling and process management. She also conducts expert interviews, analyzes data and develops models to address project-specific challenges.
Pike credits her independent study as well as Senior Associate Director of the Salisbury Center Shayne Feinberg P'17, P'20 and Associate Director of Career Counseling Chuck Maloy ’90 for helping her secure the position. They connected her with Alex Nugent ’15, an executive director at JP Morgan Chase, and Charles Widing ’22, an investment banking associate at Moelis & Company, who assisted with interview preparations and entry into the field.
“My independent study was a key talking point during my interviews and conversations with the employees at the firm,” says Pike. “When asked about a project I am most proud of, I spoke about my research experience. I want to give a big thank you to HWS for my success in both undergraduate learning experience and my post graduate career liftoff.”
Reflecting on his time mentoring Pike, Jensen notes, “as it was my first semester at HWS, Juliette was a great introduction to the work ethic of HWS students.”
On campus, Pike was a semifinalist in the 2024 Todd Feldman ’89 and Family Pitch Competition for her startup Quiiki, a service that provides at-home testing kits for sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, she worked as a Peer Career Advisor in the Salisbury Center. She was a member of the William Smith soccer team and a part-time assistant coach on the development team.
Top: Associate Professor of Biology Shannon Straub and students listen to Juliette Pike '25 discuss her project in December.
