Our Team

Director, Business Development & Licensing

Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing

Ryan Luebke serves as the Associate Director of Licensing and Business Development at Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing, where he leads commercialization efforts for a diverse technology portfolio. With extensive technology transfer experience and industry expertise, Ryan specializes in developing strategic partnerships and executing licensing agreements in advanced materials, energy storage solutions, chemical processes, and software and hardware innovations.

As a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), Ryan brings a unique combination of technical knowledge and business acumen to his role. He manages relationships with faculty inventors, industry partners, and investors, focusing on transforming innovative research into market-ready solutions. His primary areas of expertise include chemistry, materials science, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable technologies, while maintaining a broad portfolio of innovations across multiple disciplines.

Prior to joining Cornell in 2017, Ryan gained valuable energy sector experience at Saudi Aramco and Imperial College London, where he led technical teams and managed industry-sponsored research projects. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and an MBA from the University of South Florida, complementing his strong technical background with strategic business development skills.

Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing

Albert is an Associate Director of Business Development and Licensing. His primary focus is on advancing Cornell’s plant variety portfolio and assists in the management of other agriculture-related technologies and supervising outgoing MTAs.

Prior to joining CTL, Albert managed and licensed intellectual property developed by Washington State University faculty for a period of 7 years. Prior to WSU, Albert was a Patent Adviser for almost a decade for USDA-ARS and was based in the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois, and part of the ARS Technology Transfer Office. Prior to joining the Federal government, Albert was in private practice at a boutique IP law firm in Chicago.

Albert obtained his Juris Doctor from DePaul College of Law and is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a registered Patent Attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Albert is also a USDA Plant Variety Protection Board member.

Associate Director, Business Development and Licensing

Aris is an Associate Director of Business Development and Licensing. His focus is on advancing CTL’s business development efforts with corporate partners and the commercialization of life science technologies.

Prior to joining CTL, Aris was managing partner in a consulting firm that worked with governments, universities, and companies to develop strategies to commercialize and monetize technologies and intellectual property. He has monetized IP portfolios for clients including GE Transportation, and spent 10 years at a public technology commercialization company with increasing responsibilities ranging from Consultant to EVP Business Development. He has licensed and/or launching technologies in the areas of diagnostics, renewable energy, FDA cleared medical devices, therapeutics, software, and financial technology.

Aris earned an EMBA from Rutgers University, and MSc in organic chemistry from the University of South Carolina, and a BA in chemistry from Washington & Jefferson College. He is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and also holds certificates in CLP, PMP, and CPVA.

Interim Manager, Business Development & Licensing

Marie Donnelly is an Interim Business Development and Licensing Manager at Cornell University’s Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) in Ithaca, NY. In this role, she manages a diverse portfolio of technologies spanning Food Science, Animal Health, and Medical Technologies, working to bridge academic innovation with commercial opportunities. Since joining CTL as an Innovation Fellow in Life Sciences in November 2020, she has contributed to licensing several technologies and earned her Certified Licensing Professional accreditation in 2024. Marie brings valuable startup experience to her role, having spent three years at Zymtronix, a Cornell-based biotechnology startup. There, she demonstrated versatility across research and development, business development, and communications functions. She also led product development research for Agrynex, an agricultural biotechnology spin-out company of Zymtronix. Her strong technical foundation includes a PhD in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, complemented by postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Institute. She began her academic career with a BS in Environmental Engineering from UC Riverside, establishing a strong background in both engineering and life sciences that informs her current work in technology commercialization.

Interim Manager, Business Development and Licensing

Sarah Ward is a Business Development and Licensing Associate on the Life Sciences team. In this role, Sarah supports the Business Development and Licensing Officers in identifying, assessing, and marketing technologies from Cornell researchers. In addition, by engaging with Cornell faculty and students and attending and participating in on-campus seminars and meetings, Sarah will increase CTL’s on campus visibility and as well as CTL’s awareness of the cutting-edge research being conducted on the Ithaca campus.

Sarah has a Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where her research focused on the development of novel polymer-drug materials. She holds an M.S. in Polymer Science and Engineering (UMass Amherst) and a B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University (College Station, TX).

Interim Manager, Business Development and Licensing

Stephen Nowak is a Business Development and Licensing Associate specializing in therapeutic, agriculture and biotech innovations. For the past three years, he has supported Cornell’s Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) in identifying, assessing, and marketing intellectual property from university researchers.

Stephen is dedicated to helping faculty and students navigate the commercialization process, offering guidance and support to unlock their entrepreneurial potential. He excels at identifying high-potential innovations, negotiating strategic partnerships, and facilitating commercialization efforts that create meaningful impact for researchers, industry partners, and the broader community.

Before joining CTL, Stephen was a lecturer at a Catholic university, teaching Genetics and Physiology. He earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Clemson University and holds a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona.

Business Development & Licensing Associate for Plant Variety and Research Material

Emily serves as Business Development and Licensing Associate at CTL, where she has been advancing Cornell’s plant innovation ecosystem since March of 2022. She supports CTL’s plant variety portfolio, specializing in intellectual property management for seed-propagated crops, including vegetables and potatoes, as well as the ornamental varieties. Emily works at the intersections of technology transfer and variety development, bridging the gap between Cornell University’s plant breeders and the commercial adoption of their varieties.

In her role, she also oversees the outgoing Material Transfer Agreements for both the Ithaca and Geneva campuses, facilitating crucial research collaborations.

Innovation Fellow

Tian Tang is an Innovation Fellow with the Physical Sciences team. Her role involves identifying Cornell research with commercial potential, assessing markets, and developing innovation roadmaps for IP protection and marketing.

Tian obtained a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Cornell University in 2024. Her research focused on developing sustainable rechargeable batteries by suppressing physicochemical instabilities at electrochemical interfaces. Tian was a CTL practicant before joining the Physical Sciences team full-time. Prior to coming to Cornell, Tian earned a B.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from Zhejiang University.

Senior Intellectual Property Officer, Life Sciences (Ithaca)

As Senior Intellectual Property Officer, Eugene (Gene) Masters works closely with inventors and the CTL team to evaluate new technologies submitted to CTL.  Gene then strategically secures, manages, and maintains intellectual property protection to maximize value for licensing and new venture formation. Gene is a registered patent attorney and worked in private and corporate patent practice before joining CTL in 2019.  Gene’s expertise encompasses domestic and foreign utility patents, design patents, plant patents, plant breeder’s rights, trademarks, and know how in the fields of molecular diagnostics, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food science, nutraceuticals, water treatment, lab-on-a-chip, genetic engineering, and mechanical devices.Prior to practicing patent law, Gene trained as a biochemist specializing in structural biology utilizing the techniques of protein X-ray crystallography. His doctoral work focused on structural studies of the proteasome in complex with activator complex. His postdoctoral training centered on therapeutic targets in M. tuberculosis.

Education

• J.D., J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
• Ph.D., Biochemistry, University of Utah
• B.S., Chemistry, Arizona State University

Intellectual Property Officer, Physical Sciences (Ithaca)

As an IP Officer, Zoe manages patent activities such as patent applications and prosecutions for physical sciences inventions, working closely with the Physical Sciences Technology Licensing Officers to align IP protection process of specific technology with its commercialization strategy.

Prior to joining CTL, Zoe was a patent analyst for Cardinal Intellectual Property in Evanston, Illinois where she provided patent search and examination of PCT patent applications and generated PCT/ISA reports for United States Patent and Trademark Office. She also conducted patentability, invalidity and landscape searches and analysis for law firms, universities and companies.

Zoe is a registered US patent agent. She has a broad education and research background in chemistry, engineering, computer science, and biology areas. Zoe’s expertise includes, but not limited to, chemicals and materials, engineering and manufacturing devices, software, computer systems, control systems, imaging systems, battery, textile, pharmaceuticals, medical and biological technologies.

Education

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University

M.S., Computer Science, Georgia Institute of Technology

M.S., Biochemical Engineering, Zhejiang University

B.S., Bioengineering, Zhejiang University

Intellectual Property Officer, Biomedical Sciences (WCM)

Eric Bryant is an intellectual property officer for Cornell University’s Center for Technology Licensing. He holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering from New York University (NYU), a Juris Doctor from New York Law School, and is a registered patent attorney.

Mr. Bryant joined the Center for Technology Licensing May 2022, and he works closely with the Weill Cornell Medicine business development and licensing team to execute on intellectual property strategy, review submitted invention disclosures, and manages domestic and foreign patent filings and patent prosecution. Prior to joining Cornell University, Mr. Bryant practiced as an intellectual property attorney and as in-house IP counsel managing health care-focused IP portfolios. Mr. Bryant’s expertise encompasses a variety of technologies including, but not limited to, diagnostics tools and methods, pharmaceuticals, controlled release therapeutic devices, respiratory devices, surgical tools, biological technologies and nanotechnology.

Intellectual Property Services Manager

Michelle manages Cornell’s Intellectual Property Services group to ensure all IP applications are properly filed, prosecuted, and maintained. She coordinates the efforts of Cornell, CTL, and a variety of external legal resources to accomplish broad protection of Cornell’s inventions, trademarks, and copyrights. Budgetary control is also part of her responsibilities.

Previously, Michelle served as an administrative assistant with the Office of Sponsored Programs at Cornell University.

Education

• BS — Organizational Management, Keuka College (Keuka, NY)
• AAS — Business Administration, Cayuga Community College (Auburn, NY)

Intellectual Property and Governance Assistant

Stephanie is the Intellectual Property and Governance Assistant at CTL. She is responsible for disclosures (birth to grave), funding compliance reporting, and annuities. Prior to joining CTL, Stephanie worked with another university as an administrative assistant for their tech transfer department after having worked as a patent secretary at a boutique IP firm and a general practice firm.

Intellectual Property Assistant

Renee is the Intellectual Property Services assistant at CTL. She is responsible for maintaining all of Cornell’s Intellectual Property within a specialized database that tracks all aspects of the patent application’s life cycle. Renee also assists with gathering formality documents and preparing formal letters.

Prior to joining CTL, Renee working as a real estate administrator for a general practice law firm in Cortland NY.

Education

• BS – Political Science, State University of New York at Cortland
• Post Bachelor’s Paralegal Certificate, Tompkins Cortland Community College

Contract Manager

Raelene Mellott joined the Center for Technology Licensing in May of 2023 as the Contract Manager. She manages the contracts team that supports agreements for IP management and licensing functions for the office.

Prior to Cornell, Raelene was a License Compliance Specialist for the Office of Technology Management at The Pennsylvania State University. There, she was responsible for the agreement data management, material and performance compliance enforcement, the distribution of licensing revenue, and developing revenue projections for management financial forecasts. She also has extensive investment management experience from her many years as an Accountant for Trinity Investments, a division of Oppenheimer-Funds. Raelene holds a BS in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University.

Contract Services Representative

Kimberly is a Contract Services Representative. Her main duties include assisting the Senior Administrator for Contract Services in the management and compliance of CTL’s contracts, including agreement entry, reminding our licensees of upcoming obligations and following up on any outstanding obligations.

Senior Administrator for Contract Services

Danielle is the Senior Administrator in the management of all of CTL’s contracts, including docketing of new agreements and monitoring of active agreements to ensure compliance.

Danielle joined CTL in September 1998 as an Administrative Assistant and quickly expanded her responsibilities. She was promoted to the new position of Licensing Assistant where it was her responsibility to assist the Technology Commercialization and Liaison Officers with managing and licensing their patent portfolios. She moved to Contact Services in August 2007 as the Contract Services Administrator, and was promoted in 2014 to Senior Administrator for Contract Services with the support of a junior member of the group.

Prior to joining CTL, Danielle, a native of Canada, worked for 10 years as an Office Assistant for a sewer and water main wholesale/retail company where her main responsibility was Accounts Receivable management.

Account Representative IV, Financial Services

Angela is responsible for Accounts Payable duties at CTL. In this role, Angela oversees the uploading and reviewing of invoices from attorney firms to ensure that expenses are correctly allocated to the appropriate Intellectual Property accounts. She also manages the export of approved invoices for payment processing and coordinates with attorney firms to request additional information for invoices that are rejected due to missing or incorrect data. Angela identifies and resolves invoice issues, notifies firms of necessary corrections, and ensures the accuracy of related expense records. Additionally, Angela reviews monthly statements for overdue payments, provides payment status updates to firms, and assists with related queries. Angela completes the month-end reconciliation of payments processed in Sophia against those issued in Oracle and provides high-level customer service to attorney firms seeking information or assistance with outstanding payments.

Angela holds an associate’s degree in accounting from Mohawk Valley Community College and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting part-time at SUNY Empire. Prior to joining CTL, Angela worked as an Accountant at The OnCenter in Syracuse, NY, and as a Staff Accountant at Centro Bus in Syracuse, NY. She has extensive experience in the insurance and finance industry and previously held Series 7 and 66 licenses for investment.

Office Manager

Camila Fuhr Diel is the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director and Office Manager of the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) at Cornell University. She provides administrative and business support for the Executive Director’s activities, works as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders and manages operational and HR related activities of the office.

Camila holds a Bachelor in Law degree from Brazil and a Masters of Law degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Before joining CTL in January 2020, Camila worked at South Dakota State University as a Sponsored Program Specialist and Licensing Coordinator at the Office of Technology Transfer and Commercialization. Camila’s tech transfer experience also includes a 2-year term as Patent Coordinator at a venture capital firm located in Brookings, South Dakota.

Administrative Assistant

Elanore provides administrative support to the Center for Technology and Licensing (CTL) at Cornell University. In addition to maintaining and organizing office operations, she assists the Ithaca team and Director with scheduling and clerical needs.

Elanore holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Slippery Rock University. Prior to joining CTL in January of 2025, she worked for a specialized pet care business in Pittsburgh, PA where she discovered a passion for positive training. She also worked at Bank of New York Mellon for five years specializing in foreign exchange operations and corporate trust.”

Office Manager

Annie Cheng is the Office Manager at the Center for Technology Licensing at Weill Cornell Medicine.  In addition to managing activities related to the office’s daily operations, she handles attorney invoices and patent reports. She also works closely with WCM inventors to complete formal papers.

Prior to joining the Center for Technology Licensing, Annie worked at GE Medical Systems as a mechanical engineer. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Administrative Assistant

Brenda DeWitt is the administrative assistant of the Center for Technology Licensing at Weill Cornell Medicine. She supports the New York City team with all administrative tasks including office operations and procedures, scheduling and correspondence. She returns to Weill Cornell Medicine after three years. Previously, she worked at Weill Cornell Medicine as an administrative assistant in the Department of Surgery’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. Prior to joining Weill Cornell Medicine Enterprise Innovation in 2022, Ms. DeWitt also worked at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.