Fellow:Derek Dashti

Derek is a PhD candidate/IGERT fellow in Bioinnovation at Tulane University. Educated as a Bioengineer (obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco), his research interests are in stem cell tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Importantly, Derek's Masters training further emphasized on translational medicine, and understanding the regulatory processes and entrepreneurial strategies to develop novel regenerative medical therapies from the "bench side to bedside." The Bioinnovation PhD program at Tulane extends his education in the innovative field of translational medicine, while emphasizing entrepreneurialism. Distinctively, it will elucidate the mechanisms and resources he needs to succeed in expediting his research interests to the biotech market. As a University Innovation Fellow, Derek hopes to gain entrepreneurial insight not just in the biotech field, but in other technological fields as well. Moreover, he is excited to interact, learn, and gain a new perspective on technological innovation and entrepreneurialism from his colleagues and peers in the UI program. Significantly, Derek aims to utilize what he has learned from the UI program so that he may serve as a mentor to both undergraduate and graduate students at Tulane University in promoting comprehensive innovation and entrepreneurialism on campus.