Our Team

Curtis Broadbent is the Lead Technology Licensing Specialist at UR Ventures, where he oversees the commercialization of research and technologies from the Rochester’s River Campus. He has been a licensing manager at the University since 2015 and previously served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Rochester, where he focused on advanced research topics in quantum physics.

Curtis holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Rochester and specializes in optics, quantum technologies, volumetric displays, laser systems, custom vapor cell design, acousto-optic modulators, polarization analysis, quantum key distribution, atomic physics, time-tagged time-resolved detection, and single-photon technologies. He earned a BA in Physics from Brigham Young University before pursuing his doctoral studies.

McKenna Geiger is a Senior Technology Licensing Specialist at UR Ventures, where she manages and licenses research and technologies from the University’s River Campus and Medical Center.

She earned a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Denison University and an MS in Technical Entrepreneurship and Management, with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, from the University of Rochester, where she is also pursuing an MBA. Prior to joining UR Ventures, McKenna worked as the commercialization lead for a local biotech startup, where she led the development of a business model for a novel breast cancer detection technology.

Saurin is a Senior Technology Licensing Specialist at UR Ventures, where he facilitates the commercialization of life science innovations developed at the University of Rochester.

With a background in medicine, engineering, and computational biology, he applies his expertise to advance healthcare solutions in digital health, medical devices, and gene therapy. His experience with startups and regulatory submissions strengthens his ability to bring innovations to market. Driven by his medical training, Saurin is dedicated to improving the healthcare system and positively impacting patient lives.

Blaze is a Senior Technology Development Specialist at UR Ventures, where he helps commercialize cutting-edge medical research and technologies developed by faculty and researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

He has extensive bench scientist experience, holding a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from The Johns Hopkins University, where he participated in the Chemistry-Biology Interface Predoctoral Training Program, focusing on cardiology, redox biology, and small molecules. As a Graduate Research Assistant at Johns Hopkins, Blaze designed and executed in-vitro assays and ex-vivo methodologies for screening reactive sulfur species aimed at treating myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from SUNY Geneseo.

Erin is a Senior Licensing Specialist at URVentures, where she advises on case file reviews, oversees actions requiring specialized training, and monitors compliance with standard operating procedures and government regulations. She manages certain financial aspects of the University of Rochester’s intellectual property portfolio and leads the office’s participation in the United Way campaign.

Erin holds a certificate in Trademark Paralegal Studies and Patent Paralegal Studies from IPlegaled.com, a Paralegal Studies certificate from Monroe Community College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Communicative Disorders from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Mary Shierloh is the Senior Licensing Specialist at UR Ventures, where she provides administrative support related to the generation, maintenance, and compliance of contracts and licenses. She is responsible for designing and implementing internal control systems to safeguard the University of Rochester’s intellectual property assets, monitoring license compliance, and providing financial oversight and reporting to senior leadership.

With over 20 years of experience in technology transfer and commercialization, Mary ensures adherence to University policies and applicable federal and international regulations. She has been with the University of Rochester since 2000.

As the Technology Development Program Director at UR Ventures, Dina Uzri is eager to support the advancement and commercialization of new technologies from the University to address real-world market needs.

Prior to moving to Rochester, Dina spent 12 years in San Diego where she worked at the cross-section of business and science in both early-stage biotech startups and at a large global healthcare firm. Most recently, Dina was the Site Head for BioLabs San Diego where she supported biotech startups and promoted innovation and entrepreneurship in the SoCal ecosystem. Dina holds a Ph.D. in Virology from Harvard University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University. Dina also earned a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the Stanford Ignite Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and an MBA from UC San Diego’s Rady School of Management.

Kate Jordon is the Senior Business Development Specialist at UR Ventures, where she manages strategic collaborations, oversees programming and events, and leads marketing initiatives to foster innovation and entrepreneurship across the University community. Additionally, Kate serves as the University’s “Innovation Concierge” for the NY SMART I-Corridor’s Collaboration and Commercialization Center (C3), facilitating collaborations between small and medium-sized semiconductor companies and regional universities.

Kate holds an MS in Health Systems Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a BS in Biology and Medical Technology from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Prior to joining UR Ventures, Kate was the Business Manager for BRDO at URMC, where she built strategic partnerships and advanced research initiatives, and has also worked as a board-certified medical laboratory scientist in Rochester General Hospital’s Transfusion Services.

Cynthia H. Zhang has tremendous experience in IP and transactional matters. Before coming to Rochester, she had worked as an in-house patent attorney at Agilent Technologies, Inc., Gilead Sciences and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., handling global patent portfolio development, IP due diligence, IP and business strategic counseling, Hatch-Waxman related IP matters, ANDA litigation, FDA issues and agreements. Prior to that, Cynthia had been a patent attorney at law firms working on patent prosecution, IP opinions and patent litigation. Cynthia’s extensive and diversified scientific training prepared her well for, and gave her a unique advantage to, her career as a patent attorney.

Cynthia earned her B.S. & M.S. in Chemical Engineering & Chemistry from Tsinghua University, China, and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (RNA research with Dr. Tom Blumenthal) from Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana. She then did her postdoctoral research in the field of cancer biology with Dr. Geoffrey M. Cooper at Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard medical School/Boston University. Cynthia received her J.D. in 2001 from University of Houston Law Center.

Lisa Peck is the Sr. Business Administrator for UR Ventures. As such, she oversees the flow of all office activities, particularly the detailed, complex financial functions for the department. Lisa processes incoming receipts from royalty payments, performs personnel administrative functions, and assures compliance with all applicable office, University, Federal, and international policies, and procedures, including compliance reporting for sponsored research. Lisa oversees the management of the URV accounts, including encumbrance recording, as well as auditing and reconciliation of accounts to ensure accuracy of the data.

Lisa has been with the University since 1992. She holds an associate’s degree in liberal arts and has a certificate from the IPLegalEd Patent Paralegal Course. Lisa was the recipient of the prestigious University of Rochester Witmer Award for Distinguished Service in 2016.