CALLING GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCS
WARF Ambassadors enhance the important connection between research on campus and technology transfer at WARF. We’re looking for creative, energetic graduate students and postdocs from scientific or technical disciplines who are interested in learning more about the tech transfer process.
Become an Ambassador
Contact Beth (Werner) Fischer, Director of IP, Life Sciences at [email protected] to learn more.
You will:
- Gain leadership skills by organizing events and leading presentations.
- Build your network of tech transfer professionals and peers across campus.
- Plan to spend about 10 hours per month on Ambassador projects.
- Help PIs and graduate students understand how their technology can positively impact the world through technology transfer.
We will:
- Teach you about patents, licensing and related career opportunities.
- Use your firsthand insights to inform new initiatives at WARF.
- Facilitate networking and career and social opportunities to help you build your resume.
Meet Our Current WARF Ambassadors
Amanda Allender
Department: Medicine – Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Major Professor: Michelle Kimple
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies G protein signaling pathways in pancreatic islet endocrine cells in mouse models of diabetes.
Ali Altamimi
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Major Professor: Reid Van Lehn
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops computational methods for advanced plastics recycling combining molecular simulations, thermodynamic calculations, and agentic AI.
Ania Bialic
Department: Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Major Professor: Laura Knoll
Email: [email protected]
Background: Uses microphysiological devices and pathogenicity assays to assess the effects of the microbiota and host immune response on Entamoeba histolytica infection.
Roma Broadberry
Department: Morgridge Institute, Biophysics Program
Major Professor: Tim Grant
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops cryo-EM methodologies for structural determination of biomolecules.
Haley Deorio
Department: Biomolecular Chemistry
Major Professor: James Keck
Email: [email protected]
Background: Uses single-molecule biophysics and in vitro biochemistry to interrogate protein complexes that restart failed replication events.
Anna Dickfoss
Department: Medical Microbiology & Immunology
Major Professor: Mark Mandel
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the regulation of biofilm formation in a bacterial symbiont to determine the mechanisms behind bacterial colonization and host specificity.
Daniel Idowu
Department: Genetics/ GLBRC
Major Professor: Timothy Donohue
Email: [email protected]
Background: Utilizes the genetic and metabolic mechanisms of Novosphingobium Aromaticivorans for bioproduct synthesis and alternatives to petrochemicals.
Chenli Jia
Department: Materials Science & Engineering
Major Professor: Xudong Wang
Email: [email protected]
Background: Investigates the self-assembly and block copolymer-guided crystallization of piezoelectric biocrystals.
Drew Jordahl
Department: Biomolecular Chemistry
Major Professor: Josh Coon
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops mass spectrometry technology and methodology to measure protein expression in biological systems.
Aiping Liu
Department: Surgery
Major Professor: Angela Gibson
Email: [email protected]
Background: Researches wound healing, focusing on burn wounds.
Sarah Lofland
Department: Pediatrics
Major Professor: Jingshing Wu
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the effects of preterm birth on cardiac development.
Tara Loughery
Department: Neuroscience Training Program
Major Professor: Tim Gomez
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the cell and molecular pathways involved in pioneering motor neuron axons exiting the spinal cord.
Sarah Noga
Department: Chemical and Biological Engineering
Major Professor: Quentin Dudley
Email: [email protected]
Background: Utilizes cell-free protein synthesis to study enzymes prevalent in plant natural product biosynthesis.
Yalmarie Numan-Vazquez
Department: Biomedical Engineering, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Major Professor: Maria Virumbrales-Muñoz
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops microfluidic models to study female reproductive diseases like ovarian cancer, breast cancer and preeclampsia.
Usha Polaki
Department: Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Program
Major Professor: Daniel Matson
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the role of GATA2 in Uterine Serous Carcinoma.
Owen Schneider
Department: Biomolecular Chemistry
Major Professor: James Keck
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies how bacteria replicate and protect their DNA in response to DNA damage using biochemical and biophysical methods.
Rithvik Turaga
Department: Biomedical Engineering and Dermatology
Major Professor: Jose Ayuso
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops microphysiological platforms to study the evolution of the tumor microenvironment, its impact on memory-like NK cells, and strategies to enhance NK cell resilience in hostile tumor conditions.
Holly Weilbaker
Department: Chemistry
Major Professor: Andrew Buller
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops enzyme biocatalysts to synthesize noncanonical amino acids.
Seth Zima
Department: Biomedical Engineering and Dermatology
Major Professor: Jose Ayuso
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops microfluidic platforms for immune cell metabolism investigation, cell manufacturing, and cancer immunotherapy screening.