Meet our Team
President
Theresa Chen
Theresa is a Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD student in the Cherry Lab at Seattle Children's Research Institute. Before UW, Theresa received a BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University and worked at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for three years. Theresa is passionate about community outreach and diversity in STEM and healthcare and is interested in venture capital investing, technology commercialization, and business development.
VP of Development
Serwah Danquah
Serwah is a PhD student in the Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease Program at the University of Washington. Before joining UW, Serwah earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Rowan University and worked at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, developing a high-throughput pooled assay to screen morphological features associated with schizophrenia and autism in induced human pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons.
VP of Relations
Dorice Goune
Dorice is a Bioengineering PhD Candidate at the University of Washington. Before beginning her PhD, Dorice earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Oregon State University. Dorice is passionate about building connections between academic research, industry, and entrepreneurship and is particularly interested in research and development, technology commercialization, business development, and the translation of biomedical innovations into practical healthcare solutions.
VP of Finance
Oliva Di
Olivia is a Mechanical Engineering PhD student in the Qu Lab at UW Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Olivia received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and B.A. in Economics from the University of Rochester. Olivia is interested in making science education and technology more accessible for the public. She is also interested in venture capital investing, turning scientific discoveries into real products, and growing businesses.
VP of Membership
Angad Wadhwa
Angad is an engineering student at the University of Washington with a strong interest in computing and mathematics. His research interests lie in the intersection of computing and medicine. He is currently involved in two labs in the Bioengineering Department, where he works as a programmer and research assistant. Angad plans to pursue a doctorate after completing his undergraduate degree.
VP of Marketing
Armina Moghadasi
Armina is majoring in Electrical & Computer Engineering and minoring in Business Administration at the University of Washington. In addition to being involved in SEBA, she is an Undergraduate Research Assistant at UW BioRobotics Laboratory, with her work revolving around surgical robotic control system development.
ADVISORY BOARD
Amy Sallin
Amy Sallin is director of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship in the UW’s Foster School of Business. With over 18 years in higher education, her background includes academic marketing, fundraising, relationship building, and program development, both at UW and Portland State University. Amy discovered her passion for entrepreneurship during a stint in Silicon Valley in the early 1980s, and has channeled that interest into helping students grow into entrepreneurs and change-makers. She’s been working with student entrepreneurs and the Seattle startup community for over seven years.
Jeff Chamberlain
Jeff Chamberlain works in Business Development at Seattle-based Pacific Biomarkers, supporting the biotech, pharma, and diagnostic industries in the development of their drug or diagnostic products. Prior to Pacific Biomarkers, Dr. Chamberlain worked for Zwitter Technology as Project Leader and Manager of Business Development. Dr. Chamberlain earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at the University of Washington and concurrently obtained the Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate from the UW Foster School of Business and served as president of the UW Science & Engineering Business Association (SEBA).
Drake Glesmann
Drake Glesmann is a Counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he focuses on representing emerging companies and entrepreneurs throughout all stages of their lifecycles. He advises clients on formation, venture and growth equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate and governance matters.
Jeff Chamberlain
Jeff Chamberlain works in Business Development at Seattle-based Pacific Biomarkers, supporting the biotech, pharma, and diagnostic industries in the development of their drug or diagnostic products. Prior to Pacific Biomarkers, Dr. Chamberlain worked for Zwitter Technology as Project Leader and Manager of Business Development. Dr. Chamberlain earned his Ph.D. in Bioengineering at the University of Washington and concurrently obtained the Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate from the UW Foster School of Business and served as president of the UW Science & Engineering Business Association (SEBA).
Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts is Senior Vice President and co-head of the Innovation Group at Xinov. Brad has a PhD from the University of Washington’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the synthesis and characterization of transition-metal-doped-oxide semiconductors for use in spin-based electronics. While at UW, Brad also completed a Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate at the Foster School of Business, earned a Washington Research Foundation Capital Gates Foundation Fellowship in Technology Commercialization, and served as president of UW SEBA.
Clarisse Benson
Clarisse Benson manages the Washington Research Foundation’s portfolio of student and postdoctoral programs. In addition to program oversight, she supports the Director of Grant Programs and Internal Grants Team in areas of grants management, including documentation, review, decision-making, notification, and tracking of outcomes. Prior to joining WRF in 2021, Clarisse worked in finance and operations for Seattle-based nonprofit, ArtsFund. Clarisse has a background in music performance, including a master’s degree and advanced music studies certificate from Carnegie Mellon University. Outside of WRF, she also serves as Director of Finance & Operations for the North Corner Chamber Orchestra, a nonprofit organization that presents immersive, collaborative, and vibrant musical performances throughout the greater Seattle area.
Dan Ratner
​Dan leads the College of Engineering’s academic programs and initiatives to support student success. Dan manages Academic Affairs’ strategic planning, student-oriented educational processes, implementation of ABET processes, and educational innovation as we continue to shift from a two-year to a four-year academic experience. He works closely with key stakeholders both within and outside the UW, such as Washington’s unique network of 34 community and technical colleges.
Passionate about improving the student experience, Dan is strategic, thoughtful, and skilled in moving impactful programs forward within the university. Through his roles in faculty governance and administration, he has been focused on addressing matters of diversity, equity, and access in university admissions policy and practice.