CAI Internship Program
Our internship program for provides in depth exposure within consulting, start-ups, and advanced technology. Interns will benefit from in-depth training and continuous, hands-on experience. By the end of the program, interns will have had the opportunity to see and evaluate hundreds of companies, and thousands of technologies. It is a unique experience to be at the forefront of innovation and to have a hand in curating it.
If you are interested in joining our team, please fill out the following form: Internship Application Form
**The Center for Advancing Innovation is currently seeking 5-10 interns to dedicate 10-20 hours per week to current projects. All work is virtual. Cancer research experience is highly recommended.**
The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) has orchestrated four global startup challenges, through which it has launched 58 startups around inventions at federal research institutes. CAI is focused on continuing this success with its future challenges. CAI is continuously looking for interns with a strong scientific and research background, who are interested in an exciting strategy consulting role with a focus on entrepreneurship and technology innovation. CAI interns will have the opportunity to see entrepreneurship, investing, technology development, and marketing strategies from every angle. A CAI internship can include the following responsibilities:
And more...
The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) has orchestrated four global startup challenges, through which it has launched 58 startups around inventions at federal research institutes. CAI is focused on continuing this success with its future challenges. CAI is continuously looking for interns with a strong scientific and research background, who are interested in an exciting strategy consulting role with a focus on entrepreneurship and technology innovation. CAI interns will have the opportunity to see entrepreneurship, investing, technology development, and marketing strategies from every angle. A CAI internship can include the following responsibilities:
- Evaluate cancer inventions, offered through CAI startup challenges by various research institutes (e.g. NIH), to identify those with the highest commercial viability. Evaluations would include the following steps:
- Market analysis
- Customer segmentation analysis
- Technology viability
- Funding analysis
- Operational feasibility analysis
- Make strategic recommendations after performing extensive research on assigned topics: various information sources to include prospect interactions with our website analytics, customer pipeline strategies, and other established research that defines market sizing
- Learn how to conduct research around the entrepreneurial ecosystem, innovative technologies, and current investment climates
- Perform stakeholder analysis and engagement to organizations and industry leaders that may have interest in participating
- Establish and execute multi-channel media campaigns to academia, foundations, research institutes, and industry
- Evaluate letters of intent, elevator speeches, business plans, live pitches, and financial models
- Train teams on specific items such as valuation, R&D planning, FDA paths, etc.
And more...
Intern Testimonials
David Auerbach
"RHT Consulting was my first experience in the consulting world - it gave me an excellent opportunity to learn about what consulting is and to hone in on my specific skill set. Ultimately, it contributed to my success as a Senior Consultant in the Life Sciences group at Capgemini Consulting in NYC. I appreciate all Rosemarie did for me and for her support throughout my time working with her!" |
Sonny Man
"I worked on the Neuro Startup Challenge and Breast Cancer Startup Challenge. I helped in the evaluation of the startup teams competing in the challenges. I loved to see advanced innovations at the federal laboratories and seeing it advance into commercialization. I hope to leverage my consulting experience at CAI with my business education into a future business endeavor." |
Steven Santos
"I loved the CAI because the team is great, and it was quite fulfilling to work/learn together so that as a team we could unleash unknown applications within government research. I strive for a career that helps drive scientific research towards the market, and CAI is helping me realize that goal." |
Intern Alumni
Ruipeng Wang, Ph.D., Consultant
Dr. Ruipeng Wang is a consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. Currently, He is working on the Space Race (NASA challenge) and the Nano Startup Challenge in Cancer, where he has finished the assessment of 200+ inventions, and also conducted strategic assessments of target clients, differentiators, market competition analysis, and market size/growth, etc. using a variety of databases. He also performed “deep dives" for NASA technologies tailored to spur economic growth in the Paso del Norte region - the El Paso, New Mexico, and Juarez regions. Ruipeng has extensive experience in biomedical research and bioassay development.
Ruipeng obtained his Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Peking University College of Life Sciences, Beijing, China, for his investigation of the innate immune signaling pathways in response to bacterial and viral infections. As a postdoctoral visiting fellow and research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, he focuses on the Natural Killer Cell- and T cell-mediated immune responses against tumor and virus-infected cells. Ruipeng’s interests include biomedical research, high tech, computer, cooking, reading, and volunteering.
Dr. Ruipeng Wang is a consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. Currently, He is working on the Space Race (NASA challenge) and the Nano Startup Challenge in Cancer, where he has finished the assessment of 200+ inventions, and also conducted strategic assessments of target clients, differentiators, market competition analysis, and market size/growth, etc. using a variety of databases. He also performed “deep dives" for NASA technologies tailored to spur economic growth in the Paso del Norte region - the El Paso, New Mexico, and Juarez regions. Ruipeng has extensive experience in biomedical research and bioassay development.
Ruipeng obtained his Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Peking University College of Life Sciences, Beijing, China, for his investigation of the innate immune signaling pathways in response to bacterial and viral infections. As a postdoctoral visiting fellow and research fellow at the National Institutes of Health, he focuses on the Natural Killer Cell- and T cell-mediated immune responses against tumor and virus-infected cells. Ruipeng’s interests include biomedical research, high tech, computer, cooking, reading, and volunteering.
Leia Novak, Ph.D., Consultant
Leia received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Her thesis work centered around understanding HIV pathogenesis and the mechanisms that contribute to the persistence of the infection in patients. She discovered an alternate indication for an existing FDA-approved anti-cancer pharmaceutical by finding that the drug has the ability to not only inhibit HIV replication but to also disrupt its ability to persist in host cells for long periods of time. After earning her doctorate, she became a postdoctoral scientist at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. At the NCI, she studies HIV vaccine development and vaccine-induced immune responses. Her professional interests include scientific consulting, advising for science policy issues, and writing. Her personal interests include traveling and cooking.
Leia received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Her thesis work centered around understanding HIV pathogenesis and the mechanisms that contribute to the persistence of the infection in patients. She discovered an alternate indication for an existing FDA-approved anti-cancer pharmaceutical by finding that the drug has the ability to not only inhibit HIV replication but to also disrupt its ability to persist in host cells for long periods of time. After earning her doctorate, she became a postdoctoral scientist at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. At the NCI, she studies HIV vaccine development and vaccine-induced immune responses. Her professional interests include scientific consulting, advising for science policy issues, and writing. Her personal interests include traveling and cooking.
Nicolaas Fourie, Ph.D., Consultant
Dr. Nicolaas Fourie is a consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. He is currently working on engaging student teams, science professionals and successful tech-entrepreneurs for the NASA SpaceRace Challenge, as well as working on organizational and logistic aspects of the competition. Nic shares his time with the Center with the National Institutes of Health where he holds a Research Fellowship. He is intimately involved in the design, management and execution of scientific projects, which have resulted in biomedical patents.
Nic got his B.S. and M.S. in South Africa from the University of Cape Town. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the George Washington University for his research on stress physiology in primates. His research as post-doctoral IRTA at NIH focused on gastrointestinal disorders. Nic enjoys rugby, the outdoors, traveling and is an avid reader.
Dr. Nicolaas Fourie is a consultant for The Center for Advancing Innovation. He is currently working on engaging student teams, science professionals and successful tech-entrepreneurs for the NASA SpaceRace Challenge, as well as working on organizational and logistic aspects of the competition. Nic shares his time with the Center with the National Institutes of Health where he holds a Research Fellowship. He is intimately involved in the design, management and execution of scientific projects, which have resulted in biomedical patents.
Nic got his B.S. and M.S. in South Africa from the University of Cape Town. He then obtained his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from the George Washington University for his research on stress physiology in primates. His research as post-doctoral IRTA at NIH focused on gastrointestinal disorders. Nic enjoys rugby, the outdoors, traveling and is an avid reader.
David Auerbach
Current Job: Sr. Biologics Alliance and Project Manager at MedImmune
Roles at CAI: Developed 3-year strategic plan for local, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for infectious diseases. Scheduled and conducted 20 interviews with company personnel and external subject matter experts to gain insight into core competency areas including disease, technical, and drug process timeline expertise. Researched private/public industry, university, and government institutions for potential business development activities (licensing, M&A). Major contributor to market analysis of 50 disease areas by examining 40 dimensions including incidence rate, unmet need, geographical prevalence, development complexity, ability to execute, market size, scientific assessment, and competitive intensity. Participated daily in virtual and in-person team meetings with over 20 verbal and written deliverables.
Current Job: Sr. Biologics Alliance and Project Manager at MedImmune
Roles at CAI: Developed 3-year strategic plan for local, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for infectious diseases. Scheduled and conducted 20 interviews with company personnel and external subject matter experts to gain insight into core competency areas including disease, technical, and drug process timeline expertise. Researched private/public industry, university, and government institutions for potential business development activities (licensing, M&A). Major contributor to market analysis of 50 disease areas by examining 40 dimensions including incidence rate, unmet need, geographical prevalence, development complexity, ability to execute, market size, scientific assessment, and competitive intensity. Participated daily in virtual and in-person team meetings with over 20 verbal and written deliverables.
Sonny Man
Current Job: Research Associate at Leidos Biomedical Research
Bio: I currently work as a Research Associate at Leidos Biomedical Research as part of the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, a group that seeks to advance promising nanotechnology-based cancer therapeutics. I love to spend my time outside with my lovely wife and furry dog.
Roles at CAI: I worked on the Neuro Startup Challenge and Breast Cancer Startup Challenge. I helped in the evaluation of the startup teams competing in the challenges. Also, I helped in the preliminary portfolio analysis of NASA's technology.
Current Job: Research Associate at Leidos Biomedical Research
Bio: I currently work as a Research Associate at Leidos Biomedical Research as part of the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, a group that seeks to advance promising nanotechnology-based cancer therapeutics. I love to spend my time outside with my lovely wife and furry dog.
Roles at CAI: I worked on the Neuro Startup Challenge and Breast Cancer Startup Challenge. I helped in the evaluation of the startup teams competing in the challenges. Also, I helped in the preliminary portfolio analysis of NASA's technology.
Aysegul Verim Ergen
Current Job: Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Fellow FDA
Bio: I am a researcher with a great interest in cancer, stem cells, genetics and immunology. I like to talk about science, enjoy learning and connecting with people. My dream is to cure cancer and decrease health disparities between people.
Roles at CAI: Aysegul helped to identify, conduct outreach with strategic stakeholders and recruited more than 30 judges and supporters from academia for Neuro Startup Challenge. She was also involved in portfolio analysis of patented technologies for clients and identified commercially viable inventions with the highest probability of success. Helped to identified opportunities and problem areas, research gaps and relevant program needs and made recommendations. Formulated and presented new basic, translational and clinical research concepts, projects and initiatives.
Current Job: Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF) Fellow FDA
Bio: I am a researcher with a great interest in cancer, stem cells, genetics and immunology. I like to talk about science, enjoy learning and connecting with people. My dream is to cure cancer and decrease health disparities between people.
Roles at CAI: Aysegul helped to identify, conduct outreach with strategic stakeholders and recruited more than 30 judges and supporters from academia for Neuro Startup Challenge. She was also involved in portfolio analysis of patented technologies for clients and identified commercially viable inventions with the highest probability of success. Helped to identified opportunities and problem areas, research gaps and relevant program needs and made recommendations. Formulated and presented new basic, translational and clinical research concepts, projects and initiatives.
Animesh Shukla
Current Job: Scientist at MSD, Member Board of Directors at YBIS
Bio: Expert in ultra-sensitive protein assay development. Experience and skills in cancer biology, large scale computational data generation and analysis.
Roles at CAI: As a volunteer strategy consultant at the Center for Advancing Innovation I worked on performing technology portfolio assessment and determine the market potential for new inventions to help our clients in licensing the technologies to industries and startups.
Current Job: Scientist at MSD, Member Board of Directors at YBIS
Bio: Expert in ultra-sensitive protein assay development. Experience and skills in cancer biology, large scale computational data generation and analysis.
Roles at CAI: As a volunteer strategy consultant at the Center for Advancing Innovation I worked on performing technology portfolio assessment and determine the market potential for new inventions to help our clients in licensing the technologies to industries and startups.
Julien Senac
Current Job: Project Manager at LNE/G-MED North America, Inc.
Roles at CAI: Created key segments of a growth strategy for a novel mobile cyber security company. Estimated growth $1 billion. Led a 5 person team to conduct due diligence for an oncology, gene therapy, and AIDs technology portfolio with over 450 inventions for the National Cancer Institute. Identified commercially viable inventions with the highest probability of success that also address high areas of economic burden. Led a 3 person team to conduct due diligence on technology portfolio for the National Heart, Lungs, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Managed the International Breast Cancer Start-up Challenge, as member of the core management team. Currently, member of the management team of the Neuro Startup Challenge.
Current Job: Project Manager at LNE/G-MED North America, Inc.
Roles at CAI: Created key segments of a growth strategy for a novel mobile cyber security company. Estimated growth $1 billion. Led a 5 person team to conduct due diligence for an oncology, gene therapy, and AIDs technology portfolio with over 450 inventions for the National Cancer Institute. Identified commercially viable inventions with the highest probability of success that also address high areas of economic burden. Led a 3 person team to conduct due diligence on technology portfolio for the National Heart, Lungs, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Managed the International Breast Cancer Start-up Challenge, as member of the core management team. Currently, member of the management team of the Neuro Startup Challenge.
Kostyantyn Bobyk
Current Job: Associate Consultant at ZS Associates
Roles at CAI: Kostya Bobyk has contributed to CAI during Sep 2013 – Nov 2013 (via the Strategy Consulting for Tech Companies, the FAES course) & Jan 2015 – Apr 2015 (via the internship at CAI) and worked on projects for the Breast Cancer and Neuro Startup Challenges as well as the Bioinformatics Dept. at NIH. Kostya loved working at CAI because of the excellent opportunities it offers to witness what consulting is and get your hands wet doing it.
Current Job: Associate Consultant at ZS Associates
Roles at CAI: Kostya Bobyk has contributed to CAI during Sep 2013 – Nov 2013 (via the Strategy Consulting for Tech Companies, the FAES course) & Jan 2015 – Apr 2015 (via the internship at CAI) and worked on projects for the Breast Cancer and Neuro Startup Challenges as well as the Bioinformatics Dept. at NIH. Kostya loved working at CAI because of the excellent opportunities it offers to witness what consulting is and get your hands wet doing it.
Ravikiran Bhairavabhotla
Current Job: HIV/AIDS Specialist at UNICEF
Roles at CAI: Lead consultant on a portfolio assessment. Performed further deep dive analyses on five commercially viable technologies/innovations.
Current Job: HIV/AIDS Specialist at UNICEF
Roles at CAI: Lead consultant on a portfolio assessment. Performed further deep dive analyses on five commercially viable technologies/innovations.
Joe Laakso
Current Job: Associate Director, Science Policy at The Endocrine Society
Roles at CAI: Worked with a team to develop a long term strategy and a series of recommendations for a Federal Technology Transfer office to improve commercialization of technologies. Conducted a needs analysis focused on improving outcomes for life sciences startup companies.
Current Job: Associate Director, Science Policy at The Endocrine Society
Roles at CAI: Worked with a team to develop a long term strategy and a series of recommendations for a Federal Technology Transfer office to improve commercialization of technologies. Conducted a needs analysis focused on improving outcomes for life sciences startup companies.
Mike Pieck
Current Job: Presidential Management Fellow National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Roles at CAI: Reviewed multiple academic and government science and technology patent portfolios, including NIH and NASA, to identify the most commercially attractive inventions based on scientific merit, unmet clinical needs and commercial potential. Conducted due diligence on 450 start-up team members and 13 business plans to identify the most commercially viable business plans for the 2014 Avon Breast Cancer Startup Challenge.
Current Job: Presidential Management Fellow National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Roles at CAI: Reviewed multiple academic and government science and technology patent portfolios, including NIH and NASA, to identify the most commercially attractive inventions based on scientific merit, unmet clinical needs and commercial potential. Conducted due diligence on 450 start-up team members and 13 business plans to identify the most commercially viable business plans for the 2014 Avon Breast Cancer Startup Challenge.
Olga Pavlova
Current Job: Regulatory Manager at Amarex Clinical Research
Roles at CAI: Intern for CAI working on portfolio strategy, due diligence and invention marketing.
Current Job: Regulatory Manager at Amarex Clinical Research
Roles at CAI: Intern for CAI working on portfolio strategy, due diligence and invention marketing.
Jessie Zhang
Current Job: Associate, Assurance, Asset Management PwC
Roles at CAI: Scored breast cancer related technologies by about 50 criteria including inventor’s merit, project progress, strategy alignment, funding ability, medical and market attractiveness, and operational feasibility. Quantified addressable market size for about 80 indications of cancer, orphans and AIDS in drug, diagnostic and vaccine areas. Ranked 51 U.S. states by more than 40 factors including capital resources, education level, state-wise economy status etc. Reached out to top 10 states’ economic development offices (about 30 directors) with 2 final engagements confirmed.
Current Job: Associate, Assurance, Asset Management PwC
Roles at CAI: Scored breast cancer related technologies by about 50 criteria including inventor’s merit, project progress, strategy alignment, funding ability, medical and market attractiveness, and operational feasibility. Quantified addressable market size for about 80 indications of cancer, orphans and AIDS in drug, diagnostic and vaccine areas. Ranked 51 U.S. states by more than 40 factors including capital resources, education level, state-wise economy status etc. Reached out to top 10 states’ economic development offices (about 30 directors) with 2 final engagements confirmed.
Aswani Valiveti
Current Job: Seeking next commercial opportunity in lifescience/biotech/healthcare industry
Roles at CAI: Assisted in the development of new tech transfer strategy; performed data collection & analysis, and prepared presentations for client-meetings. Created financial models, in collaboration with a six-member multi-disciplinary team. Identified process and operational practice improvements that anticipated >$250M revenue rise.
Current Job: Seeking next commercial opportunity in lifescience/biotech/healthcare industry
Roles at CAI: Assisted in the development of new tech transfer strategy; performed data collection & analysis, and prepared presentations for client-meetings. Created financial models, in collaboration with a six-member multi-disciplinary team. Identified process and operational practice improvements that anticipated >$250M revenue rise.
Sarine Markossian
Current Job: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health
Roles at CAI: Engaged stakeholders for a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiative -Cancer Nanotechnology Challenge which is part of TONIC- Translation of Nanotechnology in Cancer (TONIC) at the NCI. Identified potential partners and investigators for product execution. Planning to solicit and evaluate cancer-related nanotechnology inventions from academic and industrial entities in the US and abroad for commercial viability. The primary goal of the Challenge is to stimulate the creation of start-up businesses based upon these inventions.
Current Job: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health
Roles at CAI: Engaged stakeholders for a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) initiative -Cancer Nanotechnology Challenge which is part of TONIC- Translation of Nanotechnology in Cancer (TONIC) at the NCI. Identified potential partners and investigators for product execution. Planning to solicit and evaluate cancer-related nanotechnology inventions from academic and industrial entities in the US and abroad for commercial viability. The primary goal of the Challenge is to stimulate the creation of start-up businesses based upon these inventions.
