Reach out to a Licensing and Business Development Officer anytime or during one of our Office Hours to learn about partnering Cornell technologies with industry sectors and new venture community.
Licensing & Business Development
Business Development & Licensing
Technology and Venture Initiatives & Engagement
The Technology and Venture Initiatives & Engagement (TVIE) team is responsible for engaging a diverse audience through programs that range from funding to educational initiatives. TVIE coordinates the relationship with early-stage investors and angel groups, ensuring a continuous support cycle for Cornell’s IP-driven startups.
Director, Technology and Venture Initiatives & Engagement
Email: lci2@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4547
Lynda leads the Technology and Venture Initiatives & Engagement (TVIE) team at CTL, driving technology commercialization, venture development, and strategic engagement. She spearheads programs, marketing, and business development efforts, aligning CTL’s initiatives to maximize impact. Lynda also oversees the Ignite Gap funding series—spanning Ignite Innovation Acceleration, Ignite Fellow for New Ventures, Ignite Startup Projects, and Ignite Intern for Startups. She also works on implementing a Seed Fund, fueling investment in Cornell and regional startups. She works closely with Cornell research-led startups, providing strategic guidance and resources to support their growth and success. She forges high-value partnerships with investors and industry leaders to strengthen the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Before stepping into her current role, Lynda served as Assistant Director of Technology Initiatives & Outreach and as Outreach & Corporate Engagement Manager at CTL. Prior to joining CTL in 2014, she managed a startup softlanding program at Genopole, a Paris-region biopark focused on synthetic biology, gene, and cell therapies. She also facilitated transatlantic research collaborations as Deputy Attachée with the French Consulate in Boston and worked as a biopharmaceutical analyst at LexisNexis Analytics in Paris.
Lynda holds a bachelor’s in Immunology and Microbiology and master’s degrees in Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry (University of Bordeaux Segalen) and Management of Technology & Innovation (University of Paris Dauphine). She is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Healthcare Leadership at Cornell University.
Manager, Innovation Outreach
Email: kvb24@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 254-4639
Kris is responsible for supporting the planning and execution of CTL outreach activities across Cornell’s campuses. She coordinates signature events, meetings, webinars, info and training sessions, showcases, and special events. She helps generate awareness of CTL’s mission and services while encouraging activity growth through attention to participant interest and satisfaction. She supports CTL’s programming, including the Ignite Cornell: Research Lab to Market series, CTL Practicum, Women Innovators Initiative, and other related programs.
Kris joined CTL in January 2022. Prior to joining the team, Kris worked in management and administration for live theatre, specializing in the production of large events and creative program development in hundreds of venues across the United States, most notably in NYC. Additionally, Kris taught in the Performing Arts Department at SUNY Cortland for six years.
Kris received her BS in Communication Theory from the Millersville University of Pennsylvania and her MS in Nonprofit Arts Administration from Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
Manager, Technology Acceleration and Venture
Email: abd99@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 254-5545
Dr. Aaron Delahanty serves as the Technology Acceleration and Venture Manager within the Technology and Venture Initiatives & Engagement (TVIE) group at the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL), a role he assumed after initially joining as a Venture Fellow in 2022.
In this role, Aaron manages the programs under the Ignite gap funding series, including Ignite Innovation Acceleration and Ignite Fellow for New Ventures, to advance technologies and support the creation of new ventures. His work fulfills part of the office’s mission to support the University’s innovators and entrepreneurs in identifying, protecting and commercializing new technologies. He works closely with the Business Development and Licensing team to identify projects and intellectual property with high potential for commercialization and provides ongoing support for initiatives related to new ventures and startups.
Prior to joining CTL, Aaron held various positions in business development, engineering, venture capital, and private equity, and in technology translation. Dr. Delahanty is a published author, multi-time founder, patented inventor, and has contributed to the research and development of a variety of consumer, biomedical and semiconductor-based products.
Aaron received his Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven. He holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Glasgow and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Communications
CTL communications leads strategic messaging and storytelling efforts that highlight Cornell’s impact in technology commercialization, innovation, and entrepreneurship. From managing digital content and newsletters to supporting campaigns and branding, the team works across units to elevate visibility, engage key audiences, and promote the university’s research-driven contributions to society and industry.
Manager, Communications
Email: vbt6@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-9475
Veronica leads strategic communications and marketing efforts for the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL). In this role, she develops and implements campaigns that elevate the visibility of Cornell’s technology commercialization, from promoting initiatives and programs with internal stakeholders to showcasing groundbreaking innovations, licensed startups, commercialization milestones, and the inventors behind them. Her responsibilities encompass digital communications, brand development, content strategy, website management, and performance reporting, all aligned to support CTL’s goals across its various units.
Veronica joined CTL in January 2022. Prior to Cornell, she served as a marketing and communications specialist at UF Innovate, the technology commercialization office at the University of Florida, where she gained extensive experience in the tech transfer space.
She holds a BA in Communications and Advertising and a MS in Marketing Management from the Central American Technological University (UNITEC) in Honduras.
Intellectual Property Management
This team focuses on managing patent application and prosecution, IP information, relationship with outside counsel and government reporting.
Director of Intellectual Property
Email: wdp48@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4502
William (Bill) is the Director of Intellectual Property (IP). He joined CTL in June 2019 to lead the team of IP Officers and the IP service group, to oversee Cornell IP, and to support CTL’s licensing and business development functions.
Prior to joining CTL, Bill Pegg practiced in large law firms as an intellectual property attorney for 20 years, helping to protect the intellectual property of numerous large and small corporations, both foreign and domestic, premier educational institutions and start-up companies. Bill’s practice included preparation and prosecution of patent applications and trademark applications, building and managing patent portfolios, transactional work, client counseling, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation support. Bill is admitted to practice before courts including the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Bill’s expertise encompasses a variety of technologies including, but not limited to, biometric devices and systems, security and access management systems, solid-state devices, semiconductor processing, software, telecommunications (e.g., wireless technology, near field communications, etc.), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, instrumentation and control systems, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, robots and nanorobots, autonomous vehicles, automotive systems (e.g., control systems, V2V and V2X technology, driver assist technologies), medical devices, smart textiles and performance garments, composite materials, microfluidic devices, and haptic devices. Bill also possesses expert level knowledge in computer systems and cyber-security and is one of a small number of attorneys earning CISSP certification by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium ((ISC)2).
Education
- JD, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago-Kent College of Law
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, Rutgers University College of Engineering
Patent Management
Senior Intellectual Property Officer, Life Sciences (Ithaca)
Email: eim28@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 254-4514
As Senior Intellectual Property Officer, Dr. Eugene (Gene) Masters works closely with inventors and the CTL Business Development and Licensing team to evaluate new technologies submitted to CTL. Gene strategically secures, manages, and maintains intellectual property protection to maximize value for licensing and new venture formation.
Gene is a registered patent attorney and has worked in private and corporate patent practice and technology transfer for over 10 years. 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 was 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.
Gene received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Utah and JD from Brigham Young University.
Intellectual Property Officer, Physical Sciences (Ithaca)
Email: zz458@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-5229
Zoe is the Intellectual Property Officer (IPO) at Cornell University’s Center for Technology Licensing (CTL). She manages IP-related activities, including patentability analysis, patent applications, and prosecutions, and collaborates with the CTL business development and licensing team, inventors, and external patent attorneys to align IP protection with commercialization strategies and maximize the value of intellectual property.
Zoe has over 10 years of experience as a registered patent agent. She has a broad academic and research background spanning engineering, computer science, chemistry, and biology. Zoe joined Cornell as a Patent Manager in 2016. At CTL, she manages inventions across a range of technology areas, focusing on advanced manufacturing and automation, chemicals and materials, digital and information technology, electronics and computing, energy and environment, and optics and imaging. Prior to joining CTL, Zoe worked as a patent analyst at Cardinal Intellectual Property, where she conducted patent searches and examinations of PCT applications, prepared PCT/ISA reports for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and performed patentability and invalidity analyses for law firms, universities, and companies across a wide range of technologies.
Zoe holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master’s in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and both a Master’s in Biochemical Engineering and a B.E. in Bioengineering from Zhejiang University. She is also registered as a patent agent with the USPTO.
Intellectual Property Officer, Biomedical Sciences (WCM)
Email: ecb233@cornell.edu
Phone: (646) 814-5857
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.
IP Services
Intellectual Property Services Manager
Email: mms67@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4622
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
Email: skg87@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 254-2898
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
Email: rew258@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4490
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 & Finance
This team focuses on financial accounting services, contract services and royalty distributions. Reach out to a Finance & Operations expert during one of our Office Hours to follow up on innovation and license status.
Director for Contract & Finance
Email: yl2677@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4496
As the Director for Contracts & Finance at CTL, Yalverton leads financial operations and contract management, directing agreement compliance, revenue collection and distribution, budget planning, and equity-holding management, among other activities. He supervises a team of finance and contract professionals to support tech transfer.
Yalverton has more than 20 years of experience driving strategic financial management, operational excellence, and high-impact team leadership in tech transfer. Before joining CTL in 2016, Yalverton held progressive leadership positions at Columbia Technology Ventures, where he developed deep expertise in technology commercialization, corporate accounting, and tax strategy.
He earned his Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Management with an Accounting specialization from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business. Committed to institutional advancement, Yalverton serves on Cornell’s Employee Assembly Finance & Budget Board and contributes to the broader technology transfer community through his active participation in the AUTM Operations Committee.
Contract Services
Contract Manager
Email: rlm436@cornell.edu
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
Email: kmt74@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4683
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
Email: des33@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4457
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.
Financial Services
Finance Manager
Email: as2554@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-7648
Ania joined the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) as Finance Manager in January 2025. In this role, she manages royalty distributions, develops specialized accounting procedures to support IP activities, and ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial data. Ania also leads the accounts payable and receivable team, streamlines workflows, produces detailed performance reports, and implements operational improvements to enhance efficiency across the team.
Prior to joining CTL, she worked at the OVPRI Finance and Budget Office, where she managed multimillion-dollar grant-funded projects, focusing on budget oversight, financial compliance, and reporting.
A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Wells College, Ania holds a Bachelor of Science in Business. She leverages her analytical expertise and leadership skills to drive operational excellence, ensuring the ongoing success of CTL’s financial operations.
Administration
Ithaca
Office Manager
Email: cef98@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-254-4486
Camila Fuhr Diel is the Office Manager of the Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) at Cornell University. She manages data collection, reports and surveys to support office metrics and for internal and external stakeholders, and coordinates major IT projects for new tools and upgrades for the office. Camila is responsible for organizing the office’s key business meetings in IP and marketing to ensure on-time completion. She manages office procedures, serves as the HR liaison, organizes office events and works closely with the Executive Director to recognize CTL employees.
Camila holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Brazil and a Master of Laws 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
Email: ef467@cornell.edu
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.”
Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)
Office Manager
Email: acheng@cornell.edu
Phone: (212) 516-3270
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
Email: bjm279@cornell.edu
Phone: (646) 849-4194
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.
