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, 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
Mohannad Alhanahnah
Department: Computer Science
Major Professor: Somesh Jha
Email: [email protected]
Background: Improving software and systems security by applying program analysis techniques.
Pallavi Chhabra
Department: Curriculum and Instruction
Major Professor: Carl Grant
Email: [email protected]
Background: Researches the use of technology in K-12 education settings and teacher preparation for diverse classrooms.
Jorge De Los Santos Funes
Department: Animal & Dairy Sciences
Major Professor: John Parrish
Email: [email protected]
Background: Maternal-fetus communication in mammalians. Our approach involves study cells, miRNAs and DNA, in the maternal plasma coming from the fetus at the early stage of pregnancy. Domestics animals present different types of placentas and represent an excellent model to study these fascinating biochemical interactions.
Graham Delafield
Department: Chemistry
Major Professor: Lingjun Li
Email: [email protected]
Background: Develops novel separation strategies for biomolecules prior to mass spectrometry to aid in the discovery of potential biomarkers for neurological disorders and disease progression.
Claire Erickson
Department: Medicine – Geriatrics
Major Professor: Sterling Johnson
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies modifiable factors in Alzheimer’s disease that may affect disease trajectory.
James Finn
Department: Bacteriology
Major Professor: Briana M. Burton
Email: [email protected]
Background: Investigates the molecular and biological function of the Type VII protein secretion system to improve our understanding of bacterial cooperation and competition.
Daniel Huff
Department: Medical Physics
Major Professor: Robert Jeraj
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the role of molecular imaging with 18F-FDG PET/CT in the management of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy.
Emily Kaufman
Department: Chemistry
Major Professor: John Wright
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the catalytic properties of vitamin B12 using novel multidimensional spectroscopic methods.
Jill Kyzer
Department: Pharmacy
Major Professor: Cody Wenthur
Email: [email protected]
Background: Investigating novel treatments for substance use disorders through both traditional pharmacotherapy and vaccine-based approaches.
Aiping Liu
Department: Surgery
Major Professor: Angela Gibson
Email: [email protected]
Background: Researches wound healing, focusing on burn wounds.
Sophie Mancha
Department: Biomedical Engineering
Major Professor: Melissa Skala and Paul Campagnola
Email: amma[email protected]
Background: Studies the role of remodeled collagen architecture on pancreatic cancer migration and metabolic activity to better understand pancreatic cancer progression mechanisms for future development of novel treatments.
Jeanette Metzger
Department: Cellular and Molecular Pathology
Major Professor: Marina Emborg
Email: [email protected]
Background: Investigates mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease-associated cardiac sympathetic nerve loss using a nonhuman primate research model; learned about WARF through peers and the 2018 Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp.
Laura Muehlbauer
Department: Chemistry
Major Professor: Joshua Coon
Email: [email protected]
Background: Uses mass spectrometry to accurately interrogate proteomes to inform and influence our understanding of health and disease.
Jessica Parrott
Department: Molecular & Environmental Toxicology
Major Professor: Christopher Bradfield
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the genetics and genomics of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway involved in xenobiotic metabolism and cancer.
Virginia Pszczolkowski
Department: Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Graduate Training Program
Major Professor: Sebastian Arriola Apelo
Email: [email protected]
Background: Studies the nutritional regulation of lactation, with a focus on energy and protein metabolism in dairy cattle.
Celeste Underriner
Department: Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP)
Major Professor: Laura Hernandez
Email: [email protected]
Background: Focuses on determining the mechanisms underlying serotonin signaling in the mammary gland resulting in exacerbated bone loss during pregnancy and lactation.