Entrepreneurial Fellows

Updated: February 17, 2023

The CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows (EF) Award program identifies and supports the professional development of junior life sciences researchers who are keen to develop the skills and experiences needed to move translational projects from a university lab toward commercialization and potentially into a Chicago-based biotech start-up. The program exposes Fellows to a breadth of real-world experiences across the CBC institutions and connects trainees to the Chicago biomedical community.

*Please note: The EF program is not a postdoc position and does not offer bench work opportunities.

Meet the CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows

2025 Entrepreneurial Fellows  I 2024 Entrepreneurial Fellows  I Entrepreneurial Fellow Alumni

2025 CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows:

TAYLOR BROWN
taylor.brown@northwestern.edu

Taylor is a regenerative engineer who earned her B.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. Her doctoral work in Dr. Bin Jiang’s lab explored new vascular therapies inspired by the way sympathetic nerves naturally regulate vascular smooth muscle cells. She has experience working with small molecules, biomaterials, and medical devices to develop healthcare solutions that enable the body to regenerate itself. Alongside her research, Taylor has built skills in science communication, commercialization, and mentorship. Her internship experiences at Baxter (2018) and Dimension Bio (2023) informed her decision to pursue a career in biotechnology. Taylor is excited to join the CBC and help Chicagoland innovators mature their discoveries into therapeutics that impact patients.
▸ More on LinkedIN

WILLIAM CORCORAN
william.corcoran@northwestern.edu

Will is a biological engineer with a background in synthetic biology, protein engineering, and cell therapies. He earned his PhD at Northwestern University in Biology, where his research focused on engineering receptors for applications in cell therapies. During his PhD he worked with Northwestern’s Innovations and New Ventures Office, ARCH Venture Partners, and ARTIS Ventures to evaluate and build early-stage therapeutics companies. Prior to pursuing his graduate studies, he earned a B.A. from Carleton College in Biology and held various roles at Amyris creating renewable products through metabolic engineering. He is excited to work with other skilled scientists and strategists to help grow the biotechnology and therapeutics ecosystem in Chicago, and more broadly, the Midwest.
▸ More on LinkedIN

JULIO MIRANDA-ALBAN
julio.mirandaalban@northwestern.edu

Julio is a versatile life scientist who earned a BS in Genetics and Biotechnology from San Marcos University in Peru and a PhD in Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology from the University of Chicago. His research background spans targeted protein degradation, cell signaling, cancer biology, population genetics, and public health. During his internship at the Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC), Julio gained first-hand exposure to early-stage science commercialization by working with cutting-edge biomedical innovations emerging from Chicago’s leading academic institutions. Inspired by this experience, he has now returned to the CBC as an Entrepreneurial Fellow and is excited to help position Chicagoland globally as a leading biotech hub.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 

CRISTINA VACA
cristina.vaca@northwestern.edu

Cristina earned her bachelors in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and her PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. Her thesis work in the laboratory of Richard D’Aquila focused on developing novel functional cure strategies for HIV by studying the biology of HIV viral rebound. During her PhD, Cristina also led the Research team at Nucleate Chicago—a student-run accelerator program that educates academic trainees in biotech commercialization and on how to turn their technology into a life science startup. Cristina is passionate about biopharma, vaccine development, and the intersection between biotechnology and sustainability initiatives.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 

back to top

2024 CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows:

ELENA BOSELLI
elena.boselli@northwestern.edu

Elena Boselli, PhD is a biomedical engineer passionate about sensor technologies for point-of-care applications both in the healthcare and environmental sector, with a focus on solutions with impactful public health implications. Interested in applying a problem-solving and evidence-based mindset in bioentrepreneurship and translating promising research into commercial life sciences solutions that can directly impact and benefit people’s lives. Constantly amazed by the magic of Chicago.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 
 
 

JORDAN FAUSER
jordan.fauser@northwestern.edu

Jordan is a protein engineer and synthetic biologist focused on developing tools to address human health challenges. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Chemistry from St. Edward’s University and an M.S. in Chemistry from DePaul University. Jordan earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of Illinois-Chicago, designing optogenetic and chemogenetic tools to study spatiotemporal effects of protein phosphorylation under Dr. Andrei Karginov. Her work at an early-stage startup, developing cell-free biosensor assays, sparked her interest in biotech commercialization. As an Entrepreneurial Fellow at the CBC, Jordan aims to enhance her skills in commercializing innovative biotechnologies while supporting Chicago’s growing biotech ecosystem. She is committed to translating cutting-edge research into practical solutions that impact human health.
▸ More on LinkedIN

SAFFRON LITTLE
saffron.little@northwestern.edu

Saffron Little earned her B.S. in Chemistry and M.A. in Biology from Fisk University and her Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the University of Michigan. She conducted her thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Morgan DeSantis, where she developed microscopy-based assays to study the assembly of the activated dynein transport complex, a key player in cellular organization whose disfunction is implicated in several neurological diseases including Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Throughout her graduate career Saffron demonstrated her passion for research and education by volunteering in science outreach and mentorship programs aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists. Now back in her hometown of Chicago, she is excited about gaining expertise in bringing scientific innovations to real-world application through commercialization with the CBC.
▸ More on LinkedIN

RICHARD MARTINEZ
richard.martinez@northwestern.edu

Richard holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology from the University of Minnesota. His doctoral research, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Ryan Hunter, centered on host-pathogen interactions in chronic respiratory infections, with a strong emphasis on proteomic analysis in the context of cystic fibrosis. This work provided him with hands-on experience using advanced techniques such as substrate-analog labeling, and it allowed him to collaborate with both patients and healthcare providers. Before earning Bachelor’s degrees in Microbiology and Biochemistry from Colorado State University, he served eight years in the United States Army Reserve, completing multiple tours with the Army Corps of Engineers. He participated as both a Fellow and a Mentor in the American Society for Microbiology’s Future Leaders Mentoring program. Driven by a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration, Richard is eager to further develop skills translating biomedical research to the commercial space through his role with the CBC.
▸ More on LinkedIN

SATEJA PARADKAR
sateja.paradkar@northwestern.edu

Sateja Paradkar is a cancer biologist with experience spanning early drug discovery to drug delivery. She earned her Bachelor in Pharmacy from BITS Hyderabad, India, and shortly after, started her PhD at Yale in Experimental Pathology. She conducted her dissertation research in Ranjit Bindra’s lab on exploiting DNA repair vulnerabilities in cancer to develop novel therapies. During her time at Yale, the Bindra lab spun out multiple academic discoveries, which allowed Sateja to gain exposure to building start-ups. She applied to the Entrepreneurial Fellows program to get more hands-on experience moving science from the bench to the bedside. Outside of work, Sateja enjoys running by the lake, doing crosswords, and catching Chicago Sky games.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 

AMANDA PINHEIRO
mandy.pinheiro@northwestern.edu

Mandy Pinheiro earned a PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry from Boston University. She is trained as a biomedical engineer, physiologist, and biologist and is passionate about translating biomedical discoveries into commercial therapies to improve human health and well-being. She brings a unique combination of scientific expertise and business acumen. Her doctoral research focused on the coordination of mitochondrial respiration and epigenetic modifications via a non-coding RNA cluster in muscle cells. Complementing her scientific training, she has diverse start-up experiences and worked to commercialize early-stage technologies at Mass General Brigham Innovation in Business Development and Licensing. She is excited to contribute to the CBC and the Chicagoland biopharma ecosystem!
▸ More on LinkedIN

TANVI POTLURI
tanvi.potluri@northwestern.edu

Tanvi Potluri is a skilled life scientist with expertise in women’s health, microbiology, and immunology. She earned her PhD in Life Sciences from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where she specialized in skeletal muscle physiology and estrogen signaling. She also holds a master’s degree in microbiology & Immunology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Tanvi’s diverse research background encompasses endocrinology, fibrosis, immunology, virology, and bioinformatics. She aims to apply her expertise to make impactful contributions to the biotech sector, advancing healthcare through innovative research and solutions.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 

ASHLEY SHANNON
ashley.shannon@northwestern.edu

Ashley earned her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign. She worked at Epic in Madison, Wisconsin, supporting several healthcare organizations with long-term optimization and providing technical expertise for Epic’s clinical and anatomic laboratory application. She recently completed a PhD in the lab of Anna Huttenlocher at University of Wisconsin – Madison, where her thesis work focused on using organotypic models to understand the cell-cell dynamics regulating neutrophil migration. She is excited to be working at the CBC with such a talented EF class to evaluate some of the innovative science being done in Chicago, and to live closer to family and friends in the area.
▸ More on LinkedIN
 

back to top

CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows Alumni:

back to top

The Entrepreneurial Fellowship

What it is I What you will do I What you need I What you get I What you will send in
How to get it to us I How we choose I When you start I FAQs

What it is:

CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows will:

• Be recent recipients of a PhD, MD, PharmD/PhD, MD/PhD, or MS with extensive research experience and/or a thesis, or will have recently completed an initial postdoc in the biomedical sciences (no more than 4 years from terminal degree conferral),
• Have a strong interest and passion for driving innovative and transformational biomedical research from the university toward clinical and ultimately commercial applications,
• Be exposed to fundamentals of early-stage drug development and the business of biotech,
• Support the identification and program management of research programs at NU, UIC and UChicago that have therapeutic and commercial potential,
• Have an active and central role in the development, refinement and implementation of CBC funded awards focused on translational research including:
  • The development and refinement of proposals from university faculty,
  • The collection and assessment of data supporting the unmet medical need and commercial opportunity of the proposed therapeutic or diagnostic,
  • The development of work plan which advances the science toward pre-clinical proof-of-concept while assessing and addressing drug discovery/development risks.

The CBC Entrepreneurial Fellows will gain a network by:

• Working with the CBC Executive Director and Associate Director of Entrepreneurship,
• Partnering with our member institution tech transfer and entrepreneurship offices: (1) NU Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO) (2) UIC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Office of Technology Management (OTM) (3) UChicago Polsky Center,
• Integrating with members of the EF Advisory Board and industry mentors,
• Working with university faculty and experts in the greater Chicago bio-entrepreneurship community.

The Fellows will participate in CBC-sponsored events such as CBCAN (CBC Accelerator Network), CBC scientific symposia and workshops, and CBC Award review sessions. Fellows will actively engage with each other to share learnings and experiences, and to explore opportunities for synergistic collaborations in areas of common interest.

back to top

What you will do:

• Work with CBC university investigators in preparing proposals with translational potential to CBC Award programs and other funding organizations.

• The fellows will be exposed to all aspects of drug discovery and early development including:
  • Development of investment thesis and competitive positioning,
  • Development of robust project plans, timelines, project budgets and resource allocations, generate project mitigation plans, competitive landscapes analysis, clinical strategies and regulatory strategy.

• Work with project team members to ensure the project plan incorporates all necessary regulatory requirements for documentation for drug safety, toxicology and manufacturing of clinical candidates.
• Cultivate a drug discovery culture at the CBC universities and beyond by participating actively in CBC-sponsored events, symposia, workshops and review panels.

Forming interactions/meetings between Fellows to provide overviews of current projects, sharing knowledge and discussing ways to move translational projects forward.

back to top

What you need:

• Recent recipient of a PhD, MD, PharmD/PhD, MD/PhD, or MS with extensive research experience and/or a thesis, or recently completed an initial postdoc in the biomedical sciences (biology, molecular biology, biophysics, chemistry, chemical biology or related fields) with a strong interest and passion for driving innovative and transformational biomedical research from the university lab toward clinical and ultimately commercial applications.
• A broad interest in translational research, with a primary focus on development of therapeutics or associated diagnostics and biomarkers.
• Prior exposure to contemporary drug discovery/development is desirable, but a profound interest in furthering this exposure is essential.
• Strong verbal and written communication, along with outstanding analytical skills are critical.
• Detail oriented with strong organization and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and on a self-directed basis, but also as a high-functioning member of a team.
• Have an existing temporary visa or be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of the application.

back to top

What you get:

• Salary of $85K with fringe benefits
• Funds are available for travel associated with program responsibilities
• Office space will be provided and shared with additional EFs
• Appointments are for 12 months but can be renewed for an additional 12 months
• A bird’s eye view of the pipeline of early-stage biomedical applications
• An unparalleled network of peers and mentors in the bio-entrepreneurship space

back to top

What you will send in:

• Cover Letter (no more than (2) pages) which should include an answer to the questions: (1) why biotech/ bio-entrepreneurship, (2) why Chicagoland, (3) how the EF program will help your future career goals, 4) Thesis project and name of faculty advisor. We encourage applicants to use insights from your own journey and graduate career. As applicable, please refer to specific, recent advances in the biotech commercial space that you consider exciting. Include your graduation date or anticipated graduation date as well as availability to begin Fellowship.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Names, titles and contact information of three references to provide letters of recommendation

All materials listed above must be assembled into a single PDF document in the order listed. Name the PDF file with your last and first name (e.g. Last_First.pdf). Formatting of all documents should be in 11-point font, single spaced, 0.5-inch margins, and standard letter size (8.5” x 11”). Embedded figures are acceptable.

back to top

How to get it to us:

A link to submit completed applications will be available in this section when we start accepting applications for the next round.

back to top

How we choose:

• Applications will be reviewed to build the most diverse, inclusive class that can be assembled.
• After an initial round of screening, select candidates will be invited to interview with members of the selection committee.
• These candidates will be asked to give a 15-20-minute presentation consisting of no more than 3 slides focused on any scientific project of the applicants’ choosing
  • Delivered in easy-to-understand lay language
  • Concluding with commercial potential or lack thereof (if the project has no commercial potential, be prepared to explain why not)

back to top

When you start:

• Expected start date is early September 2023.

back to top

FAQs:

back to top

Questions about the CBC EF program or application process, should be directed to Eleonora Gatta at eleonora.gatta@northwestern.edu or Michelle Hoffmann at michelle.hoffmann@northwestern.edu.

Questions about the webform should be directed to ckitch1@uic.edu

Updated: February 17, 2023

If you have questions, please contact:

See more:

▸ Funded Entrepreneurial Fellows

PERMALINK