A diverse staff with both University and industry experience comprises the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), which is critical to our mission of promoting and supporting innovation and translation of University discoveries to products and services that impact the world.
Technology Commercialization
The Technology Commercialization staff manage portfolios of technologies and innovations developed by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and staff. This involves developing and fostering relationships, evaluating new discoveries and ideas, evaluating and protecting intellectual property, and marketing and licensing UNC-Chapel Hill technologies to industry and startup companies for their development into products and services.
A lead Commercialization Manager is assigned to each UNC-Chapel Hill school, department and institute as a primary point of contact. You will find the appropriate contact for your area in the technology commercialization contact table.
Jackie Quay, JD
Kelly Parsons, PhD
Natalie Harris, PhD
Peter Liao, MBA
Meredith Noble, MSc
Chance Rainwater, PhD
Dean Stell, MBA
Ji Eun Kim, PhD
Harmen Steele, PhD
Licensing & Innovation Support
The experienced staff provides support for licensing, intellectual property-related contracts, patent filings and prosecution, MTAs, CDAs and ensures compliance with University and government regulations.
Jennifer Dean
Kaye Carver
Carmen Melvin, JD
Alana Towles
Kun Zhang
Carolina Startup Services
KICKSTART VENTURE SERVICES
The team has startup and investment experience and helps UNC faculty and staff interested in commercializing UNC technologies through startups.
Mireya McKee, PhD
Judy Prasad, PhD
Jeff Speakman, PhD
Kyle Glochick
Rachel Mintel
Balaji Vasudevan, PhD
MARKET LANDSCAPE RESEARCH SERVICES
Supported in part by funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, this team provides market landscape analysis services for startups.
Cindy Reifsnider
Patrick Kastian
CAROLINA ANGEL NETWORK
This team leads the Carolina Angel Network, the only official angel investor network for startups and ventures affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill.
ENTREPRENEURS-IN-RESIDENCE
These entrepreneurs serve as advisors to the UNC-Chapel Hill community, providing their expertise and connecting other entrepreneurs with support, management and investment.
Bob Dieterle
Strategic Partnerships
Partnerships with industry, other academic and medical institutions, foundations, investors and regional and national agencies are fundamentally important for us to bring UNC innovations to market.
Bryant Moore, PhD
Administration
Provides administrative support for the team.