Experience

TechLink

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Lead VA Special Projects

  • Jul 2023 - Present

• Senior Technology Manager

  • May 2022 - Present

  Bozeman, Montana, United States TechLink is a partnership intermediary of the United States Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). At TechLink, my primary role is the marketing and licensing of technologies developed in VA research laboratories. In addition to this, I work actively with the VA TTP to provide support for other pre- and post-commercialization activities such as PI training, IP evaluation, and post-licensing support, as required.



Rutgers University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Licensing Manager

  • Dec 2021 - May 2022

  Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

• Licensing Manager

  • Mar 2021 - Jan 2022

  Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

• Asst. Licensing Manager

  • Sep 2019 - Mar 2021

  Piscataway, New Jersey I have the opportunity to work with diverse focus groups which include research, IP, corporate engagement, and new ventures. I actively work with Rutgers research faculty and inventors to identify promising early-stage research that could be positioned for commercially relevant opportunities and develop a protection strategy that adds market value to the invention. I transition Rutgers innovations to industry partners or university start-ups by performing due diligence and selecting the right… Show more I have the opportunity to work with diverse focus groups which include research, IP, corporate engagement, and new ventures. I actively work with Rutgers research faculty and inventors to identify promising early-stage research that could be positioned for commercially relevant opportunities and develop a protection strategy that adds market value to the invention. I transition Rutgers innovations to industry partners or university start-ups by performing due diligence and selecting the right licensee for an invention. I also negotiate and manage commercial license agreements as well as sponsored research, inter-institutional, and non-disclosure agreements.



Alacrita Consulting

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Life Sciences Consulting Fellow

  • Aug 2019 - Mar 2021

  As a Consulting Fellow at Alacrita, I scout companies and institutes worldwide to identify partnering and in-licensing opportunities. These projects have included identifying therapeutics against endometriosis and pre-eclampsia, and small molecule and antibody therapeutics against cancer in preclinical development. In addition, I support due diligence exercises to help clients develop strategies for product positioning and commercialization.



Princeton University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Technology Licensing Fellow

  • Aug 2018 - Sep 2019

  Princeton, NJ In the Office of Technology Licensing at Princeton University, I evaluate life science and physical science technologies to determine their patentability and commercial viability. I develop commercialization strategies by performing due diligence, obtaining feedback from field experts, and reaching out to potential licensees, and also participate in term sheet discussions and out-licensing agreements with investors.

• Research Scientist

  • Dec 2017 - Aug 2019

  Princeton, NJ We are investigating the role of specific cell types in the dorsal raphe nucleus in feeding and thermoregulation, and how these are affected in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. My first author paper was recently accepted for publication in Cell.



University of Nevada, Reno

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant Professor

  • Aug 2016 - Nov 2017

  Reno, Nevada Area We discovered that selective activation of Protein Kinase A at the mitochondria can protect against amyloid beta-induced neurotoxicity in an in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease. Mitochondrial PKA expression prevented amyloid beta-mediated reduction in dendrite length and impairments in mitochondrial trafficking and fusion, thus establishing PKA as an attractive mitochondrial target for treatment of AD.

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • May 2013 - Aug 2016

  Reno, Nevada Area As a postdoctoral fellow at UNR, I identified a new role of D-AKAP1 in regulating mitochondrial trafficking via Miro2, in addition to its role in mitochondrial fission/fusion. We showed that disruption of D-AKAP1 and Miro2 interaction led to complete inhibition of mitochondrial movement in an in vitro model of Parkinson’s disease. We also showed that PINK1 modulates both cytosolic and mitochondrial pools of PKA to regulate dendrite outgrowth and mitochondrial trafficking, respectively… Show more As a postdoctoral fellow at UNR, I identified a new role of D-AKAP1 in regulating mitochondrial trafficking via Miro2, in addition to its role in mitochondrial fission/fusion. We showed that disruption of D-AKAP1 and Miro2 interaction led to complete inhibition of mitochondrial movement in an in vitro model of Parkinson’s disease. We also showed that PINK1 modulates both cytosolic and mitochondrial pools of PKA to regulate dendrite outgrowth and mitochondrial trafficking, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo activation of PKA, via stereotaxic injection of forskolin, rescued dendrite length of midbrain neurons in the PINK1-KO model of Parkinson's disease. In addition to the above, I independently initiated a collaboration with a faculty at the School of Community Health Sciences to determine the nature of arsenic-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in vascular smooth muscle cells. The study, now published, showed that monomethylarsonous acid decreased mitochondrial respiration and content by elevating mitochondrial ROS.

• Course Instructor

  • Jan 2015 - May 2015

  Reno, Nevada Area Course Instructor, School of Community Health Sciences CHS330- Environmental Health; 43 hours of classroom lectures • Designed course curriculum • Developed course lecture and test materials



Rutgers University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Research Associate

  • Jan 2013 - Apr 2013

  New Brunswick, New Jersey At Rutgers, I investigated the effect of alcohol on neuron-microglia interaction in an animal model of fetal alcohol exposure. We used RT-PCR gene arrays to determine alterations in expression of key genes of the oxidative stress response and apoptotic pathway.



Bayer

• Chemical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Global Regulatory Affairs intern

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  Montville, NJ I actively participated in discussions with regulatory affairs personnel in emerging markets in Latin America. My main goal was to analyze the internal regulatory processes within Bayer HealthCare’s Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Care, Animal Health and Diabetes Care divisions, and developed recommendations for global cross-divisional synergies.



Columbia University Irving Medical Center

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Research Assistant

  • Aug 2010 - May 2012

  New York, NY While completing my MPH in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology at the Mailman SPH at Columbia, I worked as a part-time research assistant in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Here, I developed a method to isolate synaptosomes from brains of rats with chronic early life lead (Pb2+) exposure. I also assisted with protein purification and immunoblotting experiments to determine the age-dependent effect of lead exposure on expression of key synaptic proteins in vivo.



Ambient Group, Inc.

• Environmental Consulting Intern

  • Jun 2011 - Aug 2011

  New York, NY My internship at Ambient was my first foray into the world of environmental consulting. Here, I actively developed an understanding of air quality issues and methodologies, mold sampling and guidelines, and asbestos sampling and standards. I performed activities supporting regulatory compliance and quality assurance/quality control as directed by my supervisor, and also participated in site visits and assisted field technicians in sample collection and completion of reports.



LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans

• United States
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2002 - Dec 2005

  New Orleans, LA As a graduate research assistant at the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, I demonstrated that enhancing the expression of the chaperone protein 14-3-3 enhanced neuronal survival against rotenone and amyloid-beta exposure. These results suggested that neurotoxic insults characteristic of PD and AD compromise 14-3-3 levels and that homeostasis of 14-3-3 protein levels may provide protection against such neurotoxic insults. I also participated and presented research abstracts at Society for… Show more As a graduate research assistant at the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, I demonstrated that enhancing the expression of the chaperone protein 14-3-3 enhanced neuronal survival against rotenone and amyloid-beta exposure. These results suggested that neurotoxic insults characteristic of PD and AD compromise 14-3-3 levels and that homeostasis of 14-3-3 protein levels may provide protection against such neurotoxic insults. I also participated and presented research abstracts at Society for Neuroscience, 2003-2005, and received the Best Poster Award at 2005’s LSUHSC Research Day. Show less