Technology Transfer: From PhD to Commercialization Specialist

Monday, October 13th, 5:30 – 6:30 PM CST
(Virtual)

Are you a STEM PhD interested in turning scientific discoveries into real-world innovations? Technology transfer is the process of moving scientific discoveries from research settings into practical use. It involves evaluating inventions for commercial potential, securing intellectual property protections, negotiating licenses and agreements, and building partnerships with industry. Join us for a panel discussion with professionals in technology transfer, including those working in university offices that guide research from the lab to the marketplace. In this session, panelists will share their diverse paths into the field, how they apply their scientific training in this work, what the day-to-day of the profession looks like, and how you can start a career as a technology transfer specialist following your PhD or postdoctoral training.

Register HERE

Alex Perakis, PhD

Commercialization & Technology Management Associate, Baylor College of Medicine

Dr. Alex Perakis received his PhD in Immunology from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center before transitioning into the technology transfer and commercialization field. His background spans intellectual property assessment, technology management, licensing, and scientific marketing. At Baylor College of Medicine, he serves as a Commercialization and Technology Management Associate, overseeing the university’s intellectual property portfolio and leading efforts to translate innovative life science technologies into market-ready products that advance patient care.

LinkedIn

Hannah Andresen, PhD

Associate Technology Manager, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Technology Management

Dr. Hannah Andresen received her PhD in Biology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the UIUC Office of Technology Management team in 2023 as an Associate Technology Manager. Her work is a cradle-to-grave model of technology transfer: guiding faculty, staff, and students from innovation identification, patent protection, technology marketing, and license negotiations. She draws from her diverse background in geology, biology, and medical imaging to understand inventions from disparate fields and to help translate technical information into business opportunities.

LinkedIn

Justin Luebke, PhD

Technology Commercialization Manager, Indiana University

Dr. Justin L Luebke received his PhD in Chemistry from Indiana University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago. He is a myCHOICE alum and interned as a TechStart Analyst at the Polsky Center. Since then, he has worked in technology commercialization roles in industry and is now a Technology Commercialization Manager in the Innovation and Commercialization Office at Indiana University. There he oversees a portfolio spanning the life sciences, software, and healthcare.

LinkedIn

Phuong Nguyen, PhD

Business Development Manager, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Nguyen is PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Scientist-Entrepreneur and Bench-to-Market expert with 10 years of experience in building, incubating, supporting, advising new tech ventures, academic founders, and first-time founders in a wide range of tech verticals (>50 ventures in the US and globally) and funding the translation of scientific discoveries into commercial opportunities. She is deeply passionate about bench-to-bedside translation, academic-industry partnerships, pre-seed funding, innovation ecosystem building and helped build a large national health accelerator network and national innovation challenges.

LinkedIn

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