Dr. Robert Birge received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Yale University in 1968, his PhD in chemical physics from Wesleyan University in 1972, and was a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University from 1973-1975. He was an Assistant and subsequently a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Riverside (1975-1984), and then served as Professor and Head of the Chemistry Department at Carnegie Mellon University (1984 – 1987). He joined the faculty at Syracuse University in 1988 where he was a University Professor of Chemistry and Physics, Director of the W. M. Keck Center for Molecular Electronics, and Research Director of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Computer Applications and Software Engineering. In January 2000, he joined the faculty at the University of Connecticut where he holds the Harold S. Schwenk Distinguished Chair in chemistry. He has published over 250 research papers and holds 5 U.S. and international patents on the use of proteins to make holographic associative memories, three-dimensional paged memories, and hybrid protein-semiconductor devices. He has served on the editorial advisory board of seven journals and was an associate Editor of Biospectroscopy. In 1997, he was listed among the fifty “Cyber Elite” by Time Digital for his work on protein-based devices, and the use of these devices for computer memories and processors. Dr. Birge won the Connecticut Innovations 2001 Annual Technology Award, the 2002 3M Award of Canada for Physical Chemistry and the 2009 Connecticut Medal of Science. Dr. Birge paved the way for the development of LambdaVision’s artificial retina and continues to be actively involved in the company.

Susan Froshauer, Ph.D., possesses over 30 years of leadership experience in the research and development sector of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Most recently, she served as President and Founding CEO of Pangolin Therapeutics, a Yale therapeutic’s start-up harnessing unique chemistry to target misfolded proteins. Dr. Froshauer is dedicated to assembling multidisciplinary teams to deliver treatments that enhance our quality of life. In support of this commitment, she assumes roles such as mentor, angel investor, Yale Entrepreneur-in-Residence, start-up executive and board member.

She began her career at Pfizer, where she stewarded drug discovery research focused on antibiotic and immune enhancer therapies. Later in the Strategic Alliances Group, she delivered to Pfizer R & D over $200M of biotech investments.

Susan founded and led Rib-X Pharmaceuticals (Melinta), a company specializing in the discovery of antibiotic drugs through the utilization of 3-D ribosome structures. She secured over $150 million in venture capital financing and developed a research and development organization that ultimately advanced several clinical candidates and commercialized several products. As CEO of BioCT, she leveraged her industry expertise to boost Connecticut’s life sciences sector, notably establishing the biotech incubator, BioCT Innovation Commons.

Susan has served on the boards of biotech companies and non-profits, receiving recognition from CT Governor Malloy for her community contributions. She earned a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Harvard and conducted post-doctoral research in cell biology at Yale as a Jane Coffin Child’s Fellow.