UIRF Staff
Pamela York
Executive Director
319-335-4311
Dr. Pamela York is the Executive Director of the University of Iowa Research Foundation, an organization dedicated to the commercialization of university developed technologies for the greater good of the public and for fostering community and regional vitality. Pamela was formerly an entrepreneur and investor specializing in early stage technology companies. Her experience includes creating companies from infancy, raising capital, transactions, management, business strategy, marketing, technology, and technology transfer.
Recent activities include developing a community-based venture capital fund and business accelerator, and working with individual startup companies. Prior to this assignment, Pamela was a founder and member of the management team of two successful venture capital backed companies, Orchid Biosciences and Princeton Lightwave. She has an international reputation in several technologies, with a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and has published on and patented technologies extensively.
Brenda Akins
Associate Director - Licensing
319-335-4549
Brenda Akins is the Associate Director of the University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF), a position she has held since 1998. In her capacity as Associate Director, Brenda handles complex technology cases, including the CMV promoter patents with over 100 active non-exclusive licenses, and the sizeable CpG immunotherapy patent portfolio exclusively licensed to Coley Pharmaceutical Group. Brenda also oversees implementation of the management protocols, daily financial operation, and handles litigation, as well as supervises UIRF staff. Prior to joining the UIRF, Brenda served as Assistant Director in the UI Division of sponsored Programs for six years. Brenda earned her Juris Doctorate with High Distinction from the UI College of Law in 1992, and her Bachelor of Science from Eastern Illinois University in 1985.
Peter Donnelly
Associate Director - Business Development
319-384-2081
Peter has managed early stage startup companies for ten years. Recent engagements include CEO of an RNA-based therapeutics firm, which raised $18 million in external funding and which he successfully sold. In the last five years, Peter has been a senior advisor to approximately 20 early stage spinouts. Prior to this, he co-founded and served as COO of a thin films coating company that raised $27 million in venture funding. Earlier in his career, working for Intel, Peter was part of the leadership team that launched a new operation in mobile computing that reached sales of over 1 million units in its third year. Other industry experience includes the Boston Consulting Group. Peter received his MS/MBA in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University and his MA in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan.
Zev Sunleaf
Licensing Manager
319-335-4155
Zev Sunleaf joined the UIRF in 2000 as a Licensing Associate / Senior Licensing Associate. Prior to the UIRF, Zev served as Vice President of Imaging and Biotech UI spin-offs Soltech and Caviforce Technologies, Inc. Zev has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa.
Kathryn Cox
Licensing Associate
319-335-4738
Kathryn Cox joined the UIRF in 2005. Kate has a B.S. in Biochemistry with honors from Washington State University, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri, Columbia and her law degree with Distinction from the University of Iowa in 2003. Following law school, she worked as a patent attorney at Foley & Lardner LLP's Madison office. While at Foley & Lardner LLP, her main areas of expertise included drafting and prosecution of biotechnology patents and prosecution of trademarks. Kate is licensed to practice law in Iowa, Wisconsin, and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Lela Schumacher
Administrative Assistant
319-335-4031
Lela has worked with the UIRF as an assistant for the past 8 years; she is responsible for database management, IP administration, and reporting. Prior to that, she worked for The University of Iowa in other capacities for a total of 21 years.
Freda Stelzer
Licensing Assistant
319-335-4548
Freda joined the UIRF as a Licensing Assistant in June of 2007 following a 2 year position with the
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, where she was employed as a technology transfer associate. Freda received her AB from the University of California at Berkeley in Political Science – International Relations and followed that up with a JD from Washington University School of Law in 1999.
Brooke Langlitz
Licensing Assistant
319-335-4605
Brooke A. Langlitz joined the UIRF in 2006. Brooke received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications and Political Science from Iowa State University in 2001. Brooke received her law degree from the University of Iowa in 2004. Prior to joining the University of Iowa Research Foundation, she worked as Corporate Counsel for J. Lloyd International, Inc. Brooke is licensed to practice law in Iowa.
Elizabeth A. Horton
Licensing Associate
319-384-2718
Ms. Horton joined the UIRF in October 2007. She began her career with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center as a nuclear chemist and later as a research chemist for a start-up that developed drugs for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). She served in various corporate capacities at public utilities and was the executive director of a non-profit corporation. After completing her law degree she turned her attention to intellectual property and technology transfer.
Ms. Horton received her law degree from Drake Law School with a certificate in Public Service, Master's degrees from Johns Hoskins University in Environmental Science and Engineering and Public Policy, with a focus in power generation, and her Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Randolph College in Virginia.
Rob Penington
Market Analyst
319-335-4142
Rob organizes market research and technology marketing activities for the UIRF. He also initiated and serves as the lead of the UIRF's Market Research and Technology Commercialization Internship Program. Rob received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995 with a major in Cell & Structural Biology. He then attended the Mayo Graduate School in Rochester, MN, where he earned his MS in Biomedical Science, specialization Pharmacology in 1998. He spent the following years pursuing research activities in two gastroenterology laboratories at the Mayo Foundation. He then returned to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue his MBA, graduating in 2006 with Academic Excellence honors. Rob joined the UIRF in November of 2006.
Nancy Halder
Accountant
319-335-4073
Nancy joined the UIRF in 1995 as both secretary and accountant, and now manages all accounting functions for the UIRF. Prior to working for the UIRF, she worked as an Office Manager for a startup company in The University of Iowa’s Technology Innovation Center. Nancy has a BA in Communications from Goshen College.
Deborah Parker
Executive Assistant
319-335-4975
Deborah Parker joined the University of Iowa Foundation in March of 2008. Deborah received an AA in Applied Science and Legal Assistant, from Kaplan College and Kirkwood Community College. Prior to joining UIRF, Deborah worked as an Executive Assistant at Rockwell Collins for seven years and Pearson Education for one year.
Brenda Selck
Secretary
319-335-4169
Brenda Selck has been a Secretary II at the University of Iowa Research Foundation since October of 2000. She attended Marshalltown Community College prior to coming to the UIRF and is currently attending Kirkwood Community College pursuing an AA in Accounting. Brenda is responsible for IP and contract administration, database updating, and is training to back up accounting functions at the UIRF.
Katie Dasse
Secretary
319-335-3631
Katie has worked part-time for the UIRF as a secretary since January of 2007; additionally, she also works part-time as secretary for The University of Iowa Office of Corporate Partnerships, where she has worked for the past 3 years. Katie received her BA in English from The University of Iowa.
Erika Banks
Secretary
319-335-4546
Erika joined the University of Iowa Foundation in December of 2007. Erika has received a BA in Biology and English from Cornell College. She began her career at the University of Iowa in 2005 as a Patient Account Representative at UIHC and transferred to the UIRF.
Our Location
The UIRF is located in the University Capitol Centre on the 2nd floor in the south-eastern corner. The University Capitol Centre was previously referred to as the Old Capitol Mall.
Directions from I-80: Take exit #244 off of I-80 and turn south onto Dubuque St. Turn right onto Church St., then left onto N. Clinton St. You will see the University Capitol Centre on your right after passing Washington St. There are several parking garages in the vicinity; the closest is attached to the south end of the University Capitol Center just prior to Burlington St.
Phone: 319-335-4546
Fax: 319-335-4486
Mailing Address: University of Iowa Research Foundation
2660 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242-5500
Email: Email us with questions or comments at our UIRF email address.
Website maintained by network administrator.