Details

Published on Wednesday, 17 May 2017 16:00

Juliana Casavan 

Entrepreneurial Programs Manager
Purdue University

What is your role within SGCI and what do you do?

My role with SGCI is within the Incubator. I provide entrepreneurial teaching and coaching to the participants that attend the Science Gateways Bootcamp and would like to further pursue their market validation. I help science gateway developers look at their users/volunteers in a different way and think of their gateway as a “business” opportunity. This enables them to explore markets, customers, and funders outside of their normal thinking.

How did you come to be a part of SGCI, and why were you intrigued by the opportunity?

I joined the SGCI team through Mike Zentner at Purdue University. I have worked with Mike for a few years through my primary role as Entrepreneurial Programs Manager at the Purdue Foundry. I typically work with faculty and research staff that are looking to commercialize a technology or product. Science gateways were a different kind of product or service than I usually work with and I thought it would be an interesting way to explore market opportunities I am not familiar with. I like a challenge and helping others figure out a pathway forward with their ideas. I am also naturally curious about technology and science even though I am not a technician myself, so it is an amazing opportunity to work with people in those fields and learn what I can about their work and then help them see things a little differently.

What is the most challenging part of your work for SGCI?

The most exciting and challenging part is helping others see things in a different way. Many times we get stuck seeing things the way we always have and it can be hard to change that image. It is such an awesome experience when things finally click and I get to see that person get really excited about what they just figured out.

How else are you involved in the technology or gateway community?

SGCI is my only involvement with gateway communities at the moment, but I have really enjoyed the experience so far and look forward to more opportunities to connect!

What do you most like to do in your free time?

What I most like to do is nap or sip some wine outside on a nice day, but with a 1 ½ year old that does not happen too often! Most of my free time is spent with my daughter playing in the dirt or reading books.

If you were a superhero, what superpower would you have?

If I had one superpower that fits what I can already do it would probably be a sonic boom vocalization power or something. I naturally have a very loud voice, which is great for speaking to large groups, not so great for whispering. If I could pick my superpower it would be teleportation — I am impatient sometimes and just want to get to places fast.