Jon Soderstrom, Ph.D.

A seasoned expert in technology commercialization and economic development, Dr. Soderstrom, for over 20 years, was Managing Director of Technology Commercialization and Faculty Innovation at Yale University’s Office of Cooperative Research, where he commercialized inventions resulting from Yale’s scientific research including patent license agreements, strategic corporate partnerships and the formation of new business ventures. He was also responsible for facilitating a robust ecosystem that supports faculty entrepreneurship. His work has helped form more than 30 new ventures including Molecular Staging (acquired by Qiagen), Achillion Pharmaceuticals (NASQ: ACHN), Protometrix (acquired by Invitrogen), Iconic Therapeutics, HistoRx (acquired by Genoptix), Kolltan Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Celldex), Arvinas (NASDAQ: ARVN) and Artizan Biosciences. Collectively, these companies have raised over $750 million of venture capital funding. He helped create the Academic Venture Exchange, designed to connect highly successful serial entrepreneurs with startup opportunities at major research universities. Previously, Dr. Soderstrom was the director of program development for Oak Ridge National Laboratory after serving for 10 years as director of technology licensing for Martin Marietta Energy Systems. In the Office of Technology Applications, he directed a group of 10 professionals responsible for negotiating license contracts and cooperative research and development agreements. Dr. Soderstrom was a founding board member and past president of the Association of Federal Technology Transfer Executives and a member of the Licensing Executive Society. At the Association of University Technology Managers, his roles included president, vice president for public policy and member of the executive committee of the board of directors. He frequently lectures and teaches seminars on various aspects of technology commercialization and economic development within the United States and abroad. Dr. Soderstrom has testified before Congress on technology transfer issues and served as an expert witness in several patent infringement litigations and contract disputes. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and his B.A. from Hope College.