Mehrnoosh Rayner is Head of Alumni Relations at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) — an intergovernmental life sciences institute with six sites across Europe and support from more than 30 countries, including the UK.

Over the past 20+ years, she has built EMBL Alumni Relations from a small project into a strategic programme that plays a central role in delivering EMBL’s mission to support life sciences in Europe and beyond. Her work now increasingly focuses on alumni fundraising, both to advance EMBL’s initiatives and to demonstrate the power of alumni engagement as a driver for institutional growth. She has also helped emerging life science institutes establish their own alumni relations programmes and is passionate about developing the advancement sector across Europe through knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

Mehrnoosh has worked in higher education for over 30 years, leading stakeholder engagement, designing and growing programmes, and overseeing conferences, events, publications, and data management.

Prior to joining EMBL, she worked at the University of Edinburgh, where she graduated with an MA Honours degree and was later awarded a PhD.

Mehrnoosh is currently Chair of the CASE Europe Council.