Former Scientists Join Savills as Lab Planning Consultants

Savills has announced that Sharon Wilhelm and Ryanne Boursiquot joined T3 Advisors, A Savills Company, as lab planning consultants. Wilhelm, having more than 20 years of experience in chemistry, and Boursiquot, having 10 years of experience in molecular biology, are the latest scientists to transition to Savills. The firm employs former scientists as consultants to help occupiers in the life sciences sector navigate the complexities of identifying spaces that align with their respective research and business uses.

“Despite a robust amount of appetite for quality space, very few assets – especially in high-demand areas – have the right infrastructure to support life sciences operations. This dilemma often leaves companies feeling rushed and frustrated due to unnecessary capital expenditures for either too much or too little space,” said Austin Barrett, executive vice president and North American life sciences practice lead at Savills, in prepared remarks.

“It is imperative that occupiers are guided not only by real estate experts but also former scientists who understand this unique and complex landscape from a granular level. Professionals like Sharon and Ryanne know how to ask the right questions because they’ve been in the client’s shoes,” said RJ Panzo, corporate managing director at Savills, who oversees the firm’s lab and facilities planning services.

The lab planners come from the life sScience industry, which means they understand the science and the lab infrastructure required to support the experimental design and execution, RJ Panzo, corporate managing director at Savills, who oversees the firm’s lab and facilities planning services tells GlobeSt.com. “The scientific expertise they possess, integrated with our site selection efforts, ensures that the spaces we identify for our clients meet the critical requirements from a size and infrastructure standpoint. This ultimately saves companies time and money as they scale their science,” he says.

Prior to joining Savills, Wilhelm served as a chemistry lab operations manager at MERCK Exploratory Science Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In her role, Wilhelm developed fully operational and compliant chemistry and analytical laboratories through coordination and collaboration with site operations; facilities; procurement; environmental, health and safety; and the lead scientists. She was also a scientist specializing in molecular chemistry and held several roles at Immunogen, Inc. She earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Boursiquot served as a lab manager at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, before Savills. She was responsible for overseeing general lab operations, experimental support and advancing the functionality of existing systems. She’s worked with research space management and design teams to optimize lab spaces. Boursiquot was also the senior research lab technician at Brandeis University/Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where she procured and maintained instruments used for animal behavior studies. Boursiquot holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Pine Manor College.

Wilhelm will spend the majority of her time supporting Boston and the firm’s East Coast accounts in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Boursiquot will initially support the Boston site but will relocate next May to support accounts in the Research Triangle Park region in North Carolina.