Consultant Spotlight - April 2026

How long have you been with miLEAD? 

I’ve been with miLEAD since October of 2023!

What is the focus of your research?

Heart attacks cause permanent damage in part because new blood vessels fail to regenerate efficiently. My research investigates how activating a cell’s recycling center, the lysosome, can reprogram scar-forming cells into blood vessel cells, providing a new biological framework to restore circulation after heart injury and other ischemic diseases.

What are your current career goals?

Through client-facing project work and exposure to how organizations evaluate opportunities, I’ve become especially drawn to roles that sit at the intersection of science, strategy, and commercialization. In particular, I’m currently exploring technology transfer, where I could help faculty and lab teams translate research into market-ready innovations through licensing and commercialization support. I’m also interested in venture capital, where I could evaluate early-stage startups by assessing the scientific foundation, market potential, and risk profile to inform investment decisions.

What roles have you played on projects? 

I have consulted on two projects, managed one project, and advised on four projects!

What led you to seek out miLEAD?

I entered graduate school knowing I wanted to pursue a career in industry, but I was still figuring out what role would be the best fit. I also wanted to explore a potential career in consulting and better understand what that path looks like day to day. I sought out miLEAD because it offers hands-on opportunities to work with clients, to build strong networks, and to learn how scientific work connects to business decision-making. The career development programming also greatly appealed to me because it exposes me to a wide range of industry paths and helped me narrow down the direction I want to take.

Since joining miLEAD, what skills have you been able to develop?

During my time with miLEAD, I’ve gained a lot of skills! The most important to my future career goals are:

• Translating complex science for nontechnical audiences

• Conducting market/competitive research

• Synthesizing data into actionable recommendations

• Delivering polished presentations and written deliverables

• Guiding teams and stakeholders from problem definition to execution

What has been one of your most rewarding experiences thus far working with miLEAD? 

The most rewarding experience for me was conducting primary research during my second consulting project. I had the opportunity to survey and interview public school teachers, guidance counselors, and social workers to understand their experiences with the resources available to support students with mental health needs, including anxiety. It was especially meaningful to speak with these dedicated professionals, learn what improvements they want to see, and bring their perspectives back to our client as they developed training materials to help teachers better support students with anxiety. Knowing that our findings could contribute to tangible improvements in student well-being across the country made the work feel truly impactful.