Michelle M. Ragozzino, Ph.D. received her B.S. in biology from U.C. Irvine and her doctorate in molecular and cell biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where her research focused on cancer biology. She completed postdoctoral work at Tufts University.
In January of 2004, Michelle assumed the role of Continuing Education Specialist and Director of the Applied and Natural Science Department at U.C. Santa Cruz Extension in Silicon Valley. In this capacity, she is responsible for planning the biotechnology, bioinformatics, clinical trials and environmental health and safety curricula for diverse audiences of adult learners. For the six years prior to accepting this position, Michelle was the Director of the Basic Science and Biopharmaceutical Studies program at UC Berkeley Extension.
Michelle also served for several years as the Administrator and Associate Project Director at the Bay Area Bioscience Center, a non-profit organization founded to foster the biotechnology industry in Northern California, where she worked on several studies examining the biotechnology industry in the Bay Area.
Robert Cormia is a full-time faculty member at Foothill College, where he teaches XML, bioinformatics, and informatics. Bob's background includes a long career in technology and business development while working at Surface Science Laboratories, specializing in materials analysis and new market development. After entering the Internet in 1994 as an educator and Web developer, Bob developed the eCommerce curriculum at Foothill College. Bob joined Foothill College full-time in fall 2001, where he developed courses in Internet projects, XML for biologists, bioinformatics, and the upcoming nanotechnology program. He completed the UCSC extension Certificate in Bioinformatics in 2003, and helped to develop Foothill College’s certificate in bioinformatics. Bob now pursues research topics in Semantic Web Technologies, and strategies for solar energy development to reduce global warming.
Jim Bischof is currently a consultant to the biomedical device industry. He has over 25 years experience as a quality manager, quality engineer, and manager of regulatory affairs. For the past three years, he has been administrating the curriculum of biomedical classes for the Silicon Valley Section of the American Society For quality. This endeavor started out as one course designed to assist people without biomedical experience, to nevertheless, break into the biomedical industry. The curriculum has now expanded to 18 courses and serves those already in the biomedical industry as well as serving those who seek to get into that industry.
Stephan Crothers PhD, MBA holds a doctorate in Medical Science and Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Prior to joining the San Jose State University’s College of a Science in 2002 Dr. Crothers pursued a 25-year career in the pharmaceutical, medical diagnostics, and life science research products industries most recently as vice president of product development at Entelos, an “in silico R&D” company. In addition to positions of increasing responsibility at SmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Syntex’s medical diagnostics company SYVA, and Molecular Devices (analytical instrumentation) he was a co-founder to two startup companies, PanAb Laboratories and TransMed Biotech. Dr. Crothers is best known in his role of private consultant in the management of product research and early stage development where his expertise is in the ”strategic focusing of R&D resources”.
Dr. Crothers is responsible for directing the College of Science at SJSU towards the establishment of new degree programs to prepare students for employment in areas of emerging biomedical technologies and their commercial development. Currently he is leading the effort of developing a Master of Science in Clinical Research and Development degree program. Dr. Crothers also participated with the City of San Jose Redevelopment Agency and the San Jose State University Foundation in the establishment of a Biotechnology Incubator and Innovation Center. He serves as a “CEO mentor” at the Innovation Center.
