STEM Fellows

Mr. K. Vijayaraghavan is the Chairman of Sathguru Management Consultants, a leading Consulting firm founded in 1985 to integrate proficiencies in Science & management to help create and nurture Innovation enterprises, by adopting next generation technologies for product development & providing strategic ideas. Being an eminent technology management professional with over two decades of experience. Mr. Vijayaraghavan Profoundly helps in facilitating technology transfer between industry and academia. He is also an active member of International Transfer Organization (IFFTO). His outstanding achievements include creating several public – private partnerships on the global level to help the communities utilize the benefits of technological innovation in the field of life sciences, where resources is very limited.

Dr. R. K Gupta holds the prestigious position of being the head of intellectual property management division of the counsel of scientific & Industrial research. He has the credit of having more than 20 research papers on the operation of IP laws and management of intellectual property published in various national & international Journals. Dr.Gupta has lectured widely at various IPR issues around the world for the ultimate benefit of technology transfer processes. With this Specalized training in International patent examination, administration of Industrial property and IP management at European, Japanese and Swedish patent offices, USPTO and at WIPO he has used his expertise for more Than two decades in international patent filing of CSIR inventions. At present he is engaged on research. In the area of Innovation management.

KV works in International Programs, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850. He has over three decades of experience in managing and implementing International Agriculture & Rural Development Projects. As the International Representative in the Society for Technology Development (STEM) he provides technical support to all its stake holders in technology transfer. He currently manages several projects involving technology transfer in Latin America; Africa and Asia and coordinates a course “Agriculture in Developing Nations” which includes participation of Cornell students and students/ faculty from several State Agricultural Universities in India. He is a board member in “Cornell Sathguru Foundation For Development” and served as an advisor to several international development agencies such as FAO; World Bank; International Finance Corporation; Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research; and many others. His past jobs have included working in Ibadan, Nigeria for the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture; and later in Lima, Peru with the International Potato Center. He considers “STEM” as a major driver of economic development in India and beyond. His passion is to engage young students and budding entrepreneurs in business development. He derives satisfaction when graduating students are not job seekers but are job creators by setting up their own businesses to promote India’s growth. He has a BSc in Agriculture from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (now PJTSAU); Hyderabad, India; M.S. & Ph.D from University of Reading in U.K. and Post Doctorate from Cornell University, US. He has published widely with over 100 publications including two books and won several international awards

Dr. Richard Cahoon is an eminent name where technology management, Commercialization and Technology assessment are concerned. He is the CEO and the president of RS Cahoon & Associates and also, the director of technology transfer office of the renowed Cornell University. Dr. Cahoon has more than 25 years of experience and expertise in the sector where he has proactively helped in transforming over 300 inventions into intellectual property packages which generates high revenue. He has also been the catalyst for the startup of nearly 40 new technology companies. Dr. Cahoon has been awarded with several accolades for his distinctive contribution to tech transfer and Intellectual property Right activities.sa

Dr. Kiran K. Sharma, is the principal scientist, in International Crop Research Institute (ICRISTAT), Patancheru, with valuable Contributions in genetic engineering for improved disease, Pest resistance And bio fortification researches. He also heads the office of Agri-Science Park in the Same Organization In the capacity of Chief Executive Officer Dr.Sharma is the Head at PTTC. He has kept valuable Contribution in the areas of technology transfer and IP through his vast knowledge and expertise.

Dr. Shashank Mauria is Former Assistant Director General, ICAR for Intellectual Property and International Relations. In ICAR, he brought in much-needed reforms about best IP practices for research and collaboration.

Presently, he is Member-Bar Council of Delhi, and is an independent IP practitioner. His interests include: 1. IP issues in agriculture and biodiversity, 2. Plant variety rights and patents in life sciences, 3. Seed research and development, 4. Genetic modification and regulatory issues, 5. Collaboration and commercialization in public sector R&D, 6. Conservation and utilization of biological resources, 7. Agriculture policies and extension.

Dr. Shirshendu Mukherjee, trained as a Medical Microbiologist brings with him more than 25 years of experience in academic institutes, Pharma companies and decade long experience in national, international philanthropic and Government funding agencies and has been instrumental in supporting the innovation ecosystem in India and beyond. Dr Mukherjee is currently the Mission Director of the Grand Challenges India, the flagship program of the partnership between the Department of Biotechnology, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. This platform supports initiatives that could dramatically change the health and development landscape in India. Dr. Mukherjee holds Ph.D. in Microbiology, Law graduate, leadership course form Said Business school university of Oxford and Global Health Leadership course from London School of Health & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Dr Mukherjee is also the Country Ambassador in India for the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (RSTMH).

Ms. Chattopadhyay. MD & CEO of IKP Knowledge Parkis famously known for her involvement in Developing the first Life Science Research Park in India. This project is all the more notable for her Utilizing the Public-Private Partnership model and creating a sustainable innovation and knowledge Cluster around the science park. Her deep interest in innovation policy, entrepreneurship and Technology Incubation has led her to several commendable positions like, member of the Committee on Biotech Parks of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Gol; Indo US Science & Technology Endowment Board and the Andhra Pradesh State Biotech Council, and an executive member of the Indian STEPs & Business Incubators Association (ISBA). Ms. Chattopadhyay serves as a Director on the Boards of IKP Investment Management Company Pvt. Ltd. National Research Development Corporation, Government of India and the International Association of Science Parks (IASP).

Dr Kalpana Sastry is currently working as Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad Campus. Graduating from the prestigious Indian Agricultural Research Institute with a specialization in Mycology and Plant Pathology, she joined the Agricultural Research Service in 1984. In 1996, she joined as faculty in National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM) where she worked in various hierarchical roles. Her last assignment was as the Joint Director of the Academy. Her research areas include agricultural innovations, intellectual property management systems and policy issues in agricultural research management. Closely associated in technology backstopping activities for a wide range of stakeholders including grassroots innovators, farmers, students, scientists, academia and entrepreneurs, she is engaged in IP informatics, technology management and in upscaling of innovations for agri-rural sectors. Dr Sastry spearheaded the team to establish the Centre for Agri-innovation (CAI) at NAARM which facilitates several opportunities to the entrepreneurs through various initiatives. She was also associated with ideation and launch of the First Food & Agribusiness Accelerator in 2015. Since last four years, she is also a mentor/advisor to several agri-startups across India. In her current role at TISS, she is engaged in taking these activities forward through teaching and research programmes across the agri-rural sectors and catalyze initiatives towards enhancing livelihoods of all stakeholders in agri-rural communities.

Dr. Immanuel Selvaraj is a veteran in the areas of technology transfer and IP related activities. He works In the capacity of the Manager of Intellectual Property and currently leads a group of IP analysts Supporting all Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) businesses. Dr. Selvaraj is located at Bangalore As part of the Global Research Centre Innovative Plastics Program, GE India Technology Centre (P) Ltd. He received his Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur and before joining GE Plastics in 2000, worked at Reliance Silicones India Ltd. Navi Mumbai and University of Idaho, USA.

Being the senior scientist at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr. Sadhna Srivastava has thorough involvement in ICMR-supported inventions. This leads the scientists here to stay aware about the new innovations in tech-transfer and IP that helps in establishing an IP culture at ICMR. They can identify and protect new knowledge that could lead to IP generation for commercialization and new products and processes for promoting health care in India. Among her valuable contribution towards technology transfer and IP related activities there is the published catalogue of ICMR Technologies available for Commercialization to industrial partners, guidelines on Contract Research, Consultancy and Technology Transfer Policy of ICMR, association with the establishment of the Indian regulatory Authority for medical devices and more. Dr. Srivastava was part of the Inter-Governmental Working Group (IGWG) delegation in WHO on Intellectual Property & Public Health held at Geneva under the Leadership of Health Secretary, Govt of India.

Prior to FSU, he served as: Executive Vice President and co-founder of UTC, Inc., a venture capital backed, North Carolina-based university licensing/technology transfer firm; Vice President of TDC, Inc., a Toronto and Vancouver-based venture capital investment firm. He has co-founded 3 companies, assisted entrepreneurs to launch another 40+ university technology-based firms and created or headed 4 university technology commercialization organizations – 2 in the US, 2 in Canada, 2 for–profit and 2 not-for-profit. In 2006, he served as elected President and Chair of the AUTM Board, the global association of academic technology transfer professionals. John holds a master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of California – Berkeley. He has experience over many years assisting researchers, entrepreneurs and institutions in different countries in product definition, based on market needs; business model and commercialization strategy formulation and implementation; preliminary market assessment, and raising the needed finances from government and private sources to fuel successful commercialization. Still a citizen of Canada, he is very familiar with working in environments which are not resource rich and still growing their innovation eco-systems.

Dr.K.Satyanarayana has kept enormous contribution in improving the health Condition in India through His able leadership in creating a number of highly important Intellectual Property rights activities within The last 20 years. He pioneered in bringing out the first guidelines for contract research, Consultancy and Technology transfer policy of the ICMR (1996) to promote institute-industry partnership in medical Research in India and help the mass. Other distinguishing feats of Dr.Satyanarayana includes Establishing the Intellectual property rights Unit at the ICMR in 1999 and bringing out the intellectual Property Rights policy of ICMR in 2002, and the national policy for the ministry of Health & Family welfare , Govt of India. Dr.Satyanarayana has been associated with several international agencies like The UK based Centre for the management of IP in health R&D (MIHR) and also the International Editiorial Board For the Intellectual Property management in Health & Agriculture.

Dr.S.R.Rao, adviser, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of science & Technology, Government of India is an Agriculture Science graduate with a Ph.D. in mycology and plant pathology From the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. He was Post-Doctoral Fellow at Tottori University, Japan and visiting scientist at Waite Agricultural Experimental station, Adelaide, Australia And has specialized in molecular pathology. He served in various positions at the department of Biotechnology, Ministry of science and Technology, Government of India since 1989 and was actively Involved in the establishment of oil palm Cultivation in India , Several Sophisticated Biotech Infrastructure facilities , bilateral collobarations with Asian & European Countries , Introduction of Golden rice for research in India, formulation of National biotech policies, Strategic planning and Investment matters .During his tenure as Adviser for science and Technology he initiated important Programmes on public health access in villages through public-private partnerships , S&T interventions in judiciary reforms , technology assessment of bioenergy & biofuel resources and various issues of S&T and public policy interface . He serves as member of several technical, academic & research Counsils .He Specializes in core & cross sectorial policy issues of Biotechnology development, regulation, Safety, Public private partnership, International relations & biotech R&D innovation and Development , and Public concerns and Consensus building .He is founder and editorial board member of Asian Biotechnology Development review (ABDR) and has published 30 research papers in national & International Journals & made several presentations in various national & international Conferences.

Dr. Aravind comes with 18 years’ experience in R&D, Intellectual property, Innovation, Investment & Strategy. At present Dr. Aravind is working as “Asst. Vice president – Innovations” at Reliance Innovation Leadership Centre (RILC) , Pune. Prior to Joining Reliance, Aravind was leading a team of IP analysts at Honeywell Technology Solutions, Bangalore. He has also worked as “Scientist at General Electric (GE) Global Research Centre, Bangalore, Kimberling Omes Laboratory. Lieden, Netherlands, and Tata Institute of Fundamnetal research (TIFR), Mumbai. Aravind was a visiting scientist at the University Of Oxford. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Southampton University. He has worked on diverse Technology areas in the field of materials, Chemistry, physics, electronics, renewable energy and information technology .Dr. Chinchure has authored 28 research articles published in international Journals in the area of Condensed matter physics and has filled 4 Patents as lead & co-inventor in different geographies including US, Europe , Japan in the area of Solid Oxide fuel cell.

Dr. Ashely J. Stevens has been serving as the Executive Director at the office of Technology transfer, at Boston University since 1995 and was the immediate past president of AUTM. He has a number of research articles & books published to his credit and is also the honorable owner of the Bayh-Dole Award, Association of University technology managers in 2007. Dr. Stevens has also written the AUTM Licensing survey from 2002 to 2006. With his rich expertise, experience and able guidance he has been catalyst to the establishment of several companies that include kytogenics, Inc and Genmap, Inc. Nearly 40 Companies has utilized the University’s research through Dr. Steven’s collaboration since the day he joined the office of technology transfer.

Dr. Karim Maredia, as the program Director of Michigan State University’s world Technology Access Program (world TAP) has vast experience & expertise in the world of technology transfer and Intellectual property rights. This led his appointment at MSU as the training and Technology Transfer Coordinator for the USAID funded agricultural Biotechnology support project for designing and implementing international training and capacity building programs with developing countries for further growth & development. He has made his valuable contribution in various international development projects for the past one decade and more. Dr. Maredia is currently working in the capacity of an eminent professor in the Michigan state university at the Institute of International Agriculture and also collobarating with a number of international development agencies (CGAIR, USAID, FAO, World Bank, USDA-ARS, USDA-FAS, USA-Costa Rica Foundation etc)

Mr. Abhijit Banarjee Currently works as the Director of Business Development at Oregon Health & Science University. His core expertise is in the areas that encompasses extensive phaurmatical R&D and drug development strategy, strategic planning, providing Consultation in strategy & operations to pharmaceutical and biotech industry, deal structuring, negotiations, alliance management, project management and M&A. Mr. Banarjee has sound understanding of the current pharmaceutical market in Asia , academic technology transfer , academic administration and scientific research and utilizes his knowledge and global alliance to identify creativity opportunities to expand and succeed in global market.

Dr. Sadhana Chitale is an Associate Director at the office of industrial Liasion at the Langone Medical Center , New York university and is currently handling the intellectual property generated at NYU. She is also involved in negotiating licenses deals from NYU with various pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Dr. Chitale completed her doctor thesis work at the Cancer research Institute in Mumbai. She then finished her postal- doctoral research at Colorado state University and Cornell medical college. Dr. Chitale has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and was a licensing manager at Cornell University’s office of Technology management before joining New York University as a business venture analyst.

Dr. Tapan Sahoo is currently the General manager & head of the Electrical, Electronics, HVAC and XEV Systems design division of the Gurgaon R&D center of Maruti Suzuki India Limited. In his career, spanning more than two decades at Maruti Suzuki. Dr. Sahoo has made significant contributions in various roles and positions in product design and engineering as well as supplier development. He joined Maruti Suzuki India Limited in 1991 after graduation and spent the initial years in learning various facets of the automobile vehicle systems at Maruti R&D centre. Dr. Sahoo has not only contributed for R&D capability development at Maruti, but also helped develop capability in the value chain. He has guided, supported & facilitated more than 10 auto component suppliers for developing their in-house R&D capability in India. He has also helped various suppliers in enhancing the technology transfer, Technology absorption and technology development process at the supplier end.