Distinguished Alumni Award

Laura Bloem, ’81, has steadily moved up the ranks at Eli Lilly and Co. of Indianapolis since 1997 and is currently a principal scientist, working in cardiovascular research.

She visits CMU as a member of the College of Science and Technology Alumni Board, and she lends her financial support to the college as well.

Laura worked at The Dow Chemical Co. following graduation from CMU. She earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of South Carolina, was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, and held various scientist positions at the Indiana University School of Medicine before joining Eli Lilly.

She has written dozens of articles for scientific journals and has given dozens of presentations for conferences and association meetings.

Laura is a member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; the American Heart Association; and the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Her nominator for the award wrote, “She is a wonderful resource for the college. She has many ideas and suggestions and relates what is pertinent to scientists in the work world.”