Contact Us
Our People
| University of Rochester (River Campus) | |
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Gail Norris |
Corine Farewell |
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Patrick Emmerling, Ph.D., MBA |
Lisa (Sheldon) Peck |
| Courtney Jackett |
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| University of Rochester Medical Center | |
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| Marjorie Hunter |
J.E. (Johnny) Fahner-Vihtelic |
| Michael Rusnak |
Harl Tolbert |
| Karen Grabowski |
M. Zubair Mirza |
| Weimin Kaufman, Ph.D. |
Alexandra Dudman |
| Matan Rapoport, Ph.D. |
Mary Shierloh |
| Beth Race |
Laura McKnight |
| Erin Miterko |
David Englert |
| Alexandra Dudman Licensing Associate for Physical Sciences |
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Alexandra Dudman is the Licensing Associate for the Physical Sciences for the Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is primarily responsible for performing initial evaluations of new invention disclosures in the physical sciences field. Ms. Dudman conducts market assessment searches and surveys for inventions, oversees patent prosecution, and performs a variety of marketing activities in an effort to identify commercial partners. Alexandra received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 2009. She is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and Engineers for a sustainable World. |
| Patrick Emmerling, Ph.D., MBA Technology Licensing Manager |
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Patrick Emmerling is a Technology Licensing Manager for the Office of Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester, with a focus on the College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering. In this role, Patrick works with the University’s faculty and researchers from the numerous scientific disciplines located on the University’s River Campus to protect intellectual property and facilitate its transfer to the market by engaging in the commercialization process. Patrick earned his B.A. in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross, his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, and his M.B.A. from the Simon Graduate School of Business at the University of Rochester. |
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David Englert Senior Information Analyst |
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David Englert is a Senior Information Analyst in the Office of Technology
Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He coordinates the office’s
marketing efforts and is responsible for the critically acclaimed
F.I.R.E. Series — OTT’s educational seminar series. Prior to his arrival at OTT in 2002, David worked as a Compliance and Validation Auditor for a Big Three accounting firm. David earned his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Rochester. |
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J.E. (Johnny) Fahner-Vihtelic Deputy Director and Associate Director for Physical Sciences |
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John Fahner-Vihtelic has been a technology manager and intellectual
property professional for 16 years. He began his career in this field at the NIH where he
managed the device and instrument portfolio for nine years. He was Senior Licensing Manager
for Physical Sciences at the University of Utah, then joined the URMC as Deputy Director
for OTT. Presently he spends most of his time working with new URMC start-up companies, in
a variety of capacities—from business assessment, to IP protection, to fund raising,
and all aspects of corporate management. He was trained as a nurse and EMT. |
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Corine Farewell, DVM, MBA Director |
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Dr. Corine Farewell is Director of the Office of Technology Transfer
at the University of Rochester. In this role, she provides guidance to University researchers on
all aspects of protecting and commercializing University innovations. Dr. Farewell is also
responsible for providing strategic direction for the licensing and commercialization of the
University’s patent portfolio. She works with the business community to identify technology
needs and negotiate technology transfers to meet those needs. Dr. Farewell joined the University
of Rochester in September 2007 from the Cornell University Center of Technology Enterprise and
Commercialization where she was active in technology commercialization for 6 years. Prior to her
technology transfer roles, Dr. Farewell performed technical services, marketing, training and
development functions with scope throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for The Iams
Company. The combination of her scientific and business training along with over 15 years of
international business experience has provided a strong foundation for her role of managing
university intellectual property and venture development. Dr. Farewell earned Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Business Administration degrees from Cornell University. She has been an invited guest speaker for both scientific and management topics throughout Europe and the US including lectures at the Johnson Graduate School of Management, Krouse Graduate School of Management at Syracuse University, North American and European Veterinary and Animal Health Industry conferences. She has served on the Alumni Association Executive Committee for the Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, the Johnson Graduate School of Management BR Incubator Advisory Board and the campus-wide Cornell Entrepreneurship and Personal Enterprise Program. |
| Karen Grabowski Assistant to Marjorie Hunter, John Fahner-Vihtelic, and Michael Rusnak |
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Marjorie D. Hunter, Esq. Associate Vice President |
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Marjorie Hunter directs the URMC Office of Technology Transfer with over 25
years of experience in intellectual property matters and technology transfer. She has served in
many capacities including: Patent Attorney for Amoco Corporation, Corporate Counsel for Baxter
Diagnostics Inc./Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Senior Technology Licensing Specialist at the
Office of Technology Transfer, National Institutes of Health, Director of the Technology Transfer
Office, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and most recently as the Senior Licensing
Manager for the Technology Transfer Office at the University of Utah. She is a registered
patent attorney and a member of several bar associations as well as the Association of
University Technology Managers (AUTM) and the Licensing Executives Society (LES). Marjorie
received her BS in Honors Biology from the University of Illinois in 1978, and went on to earn
her JD at the Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University in 1981. |
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Courtney Jackett Technology Transfer Specialist |
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Courtney Jackett is the Technology Transfer Specialist in the Office of
Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester. As the specialist, she is responsible for
administrative support to the office by managing the daily operations of the office and
coordinating technology transfer support services. She provides guidance to faculty and staff
with respect to routine University technology transfer procedures and services. Courtney has been with the University since 2003. She holds an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, and is a Notary Public. |
| Weimin Kaufman, Ph.D. Licensing Associate for Biological Sciences |
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Weimin Kaufman joined the URMC OTT in October of 2011. She manages biomedical sciences technologies under the supervision of the Associate Directors for Biological Sciences. Her primary responsibilities include invention disclosure evaluation, market research, patent prosecution, and commercialization. Previously, she was the technology commercialization and liaison for the Weill Cornell Medical College at the Cornell Center for Technology Enterprise and Commercialization. Before that, she interned here at the URMC OTT while performing postdoctoral research at the Center for Pediatric Biomedical Research. She also worked briefly at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Weimin holds a Ph.D. in biology from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine and Berlin Free University in Germany. |
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Laura McKnight Intellectual Property Assistant |
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Laura McKnight is the Intellectual Property Assistant for the Office of
Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She provides administrative
support to the IP Administrator and Licensing Managers and is responsible for managing records
pertaining to invention disclosures, domestic and international patent prosecutions, and other
URMC intellectual properties. Laura was previously an estates and trusts paralegal at a
Rochester law firm. She received a B.A. in Political Science from St. John Fisher College, a
Paralegal Studies Certificate from Monroe Community College and is a registered Notary Public. Laura is a recipient of the University's prestigious Meliora Award for 2011. |
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M. Zubair Mirza Senior Manager for Physical Sciences |
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Zubair Mirza has a diverse professional experience of over 28 years in
medical technology innovation, engineering, development, and management as well as business and
organizational development and strategizing. He has served in various capacities in technology,
scientific, corporate, entrepreneurial, clinical, consulting, and non-profit environments
including: as Manager Advanced Development Engineering with Becton-Dickinson, VP R & D at
Critichem, President of Natural Solutions, VP/Chief Technology Officer for Life Products and as
a researcher on projects for WHO, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield Illinois Board of Education.
He co-founded three medical start-ups, sold one to BD, licensed technologies to and from
corporations, has served on various corporate and community boards and holds six patents.
Zubair received his bachelors in Biology and masters in Industrial (medical product) Design
from the University of Illinois and also has a degree in Respiratory Therapy. |
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Erin Miterko Administrative Assistant |
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Erin Miterko is an Administrative Assistant in the Office of Technology
Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Her responsibilities include processing
invoices and agreements, providing assistance to visitors and staff, and maintaining the smooth
functioning of the office. Erin earned her B.S. in Speech Pathology from SUNY Geneseo and is a recent graduate of the Paralegal Studies program at Monroe Community College which provides her with a solid background for her position. |
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Gail Norris, Esq. Vice Provost-Technology Transfer Policy |
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Gail Norris is Vice Provost for Technology Transfer Policy at the
University of Rochester. As Vice Provost, she provides leadership in developing strategies for the
licensing and commercialization of Intellectual Property developed at the University, fostering
corporate collaborations and assisting in the establishment of start-up companies which use
technology developed at the University. Ms. Norris was a partner of the law firm of Nixon Peabody from 1990 until 2000 specializing in all aspects of corporate law. She represented clients in a broad range of business transactions, in technology licensing, in corporate formation and governance and in many other types of business negotiations. In 2000, Gail became the General Counsel for the US operations of Celltech Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company based in the UK where she was responsible for all legal matters for the Company's US operations. In 2005, Gail joined the Office of Counsel at the University of Rochester in August to assist the University with its business transactions, especially in the area of technology transfer. She served as Director for the Office of Technology Transfer from 2006 through 2009. Ms. Norris is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys and the Association of University Technology Managers. She received her B.S. in Management from Syracuse University and her J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University. |
| Lisa (Sheldon) Peck Technology Transfer Administrator |
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Lisa (Sheldon) Peck is the Technology Transfer Administrator in the Office of
Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester. As the administrator, she is responsible for
licensee and client liaison, data management, agreement monitoring, and financial oversight for
the protection and commercialization of intellectual property created by the University of
Rochester faculty, staff and students. She provides data analysis, financial agreement
invoicing/tracking, and royalty allocations and distribution. Lisa also coordinates specialized
technology transfer projects. Lisa has been with the University since 1993. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts and is a Notary Public. |
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Beth Race Intellectual Property Administrator |
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Beth Race is the Intellectual Property Administrator in the Office of
Technology Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. As the administrator, she is
responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the IP section of the office. She monitors
and facilitates communication between outside counsel, inventors, and OTT licensing staff. Beth
is responsible for the details surrounding patent protection and ensures University compliance
with reporting requirements arising from external funding of research. Beth also coordinates our High School Volunteer and Paralegal Internship Programs. She has been with the University since 2006, and before that spent ten years as an intellectual property paralegal. Beth holds a B.S. in Business Administration and is a 2010 graduate of the Simon School MBA program with concentrations in Computer Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, and Operations Management. She is also a recipient of the University's prestigious Meliora Award for 2011. Beth is a Notary Public. |
| Matan Rapoport, Ph.D. Licensing Associate for Biological Sciences |
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Matan Rapoport is responsible for assisting in the commercialization of biomedical technologies. He evaluates invention disclosures, performs market assessments, manages patent prosecution, and performs a variety of marketing activities in an effort to identify licensing opportunities. Matan has broad biomedical research experience. He holds a PhD from the Hebrew University Medical Faculty in Jerusalem. In addition, Matan gained industrial experience working as a postdoctoral researcher in a UR spin-off startup company. |
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Michael G. Rusnak Associate Director for Biological Sciences |
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Michael Rusnak has over 23 years of professional experience—most
recently holding the position of Venture Consultant with BCM Technologies, Inc., the venture
subsidiary of Baylor College of Medicine. He has held senior positions in biotech business
development with Ceros, CombiChem, and Lexicon Genetics where he has been involved with over
$100 million of partnering activity. Prior to Lexicon, he has held various positions in
marketing, sales, and project management with Baxter, Bayer, and Cetus. Michael received his MS
in Clinical Science from San Francisco State University and has a B.S. in Microbiology from
St. Bonaventure University. |
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Mary Shierloh Administrator |
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Mary Shierloh is the Financial Administrator in the Office of Technology
Transfer at the University of Rochester Medical Center. As the financial administrator, Mary
oversees the flow of all office activities. She is responsible for the design, execution, and
effectiveness of internal controls. She manages the OTT accounts, including the preparation and
management of capital, operating, and patent budgets. She monitors license compliance and
provides financial oversight for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property
created at the University of Rochester Medical Center. This includes analyzing data, as well as
allocating and distributing royalties. Mary assures compliance with all applicable office,
Medical Center, University, federal, and international policies and procedures. Mary also
supervises the administrative support staff. She has over 20 years experience in medical office
management and administrative support. Mary joined the Office of Technology Transfer in 2001.
She is a Notary Public. |
| Harl Tolbert Associate Director for Biological Sciences |
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Harl Tolbert is responsible for the commercialization of biological science technologies developed at URMC. He holds a masters degree in Animal Sciences and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Prior to working in academic technology transfer, Harl worked in sales and marketing at Abbott Laboratories. He also worked in the business development group at Pierce Chemical where he in-licensed technology from universities and life science companies. |