Program Director, Technology, Innovation, and Partnership (TIP)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Alexandria , VA, United States
Linda K. Molnar, PhD, Program Director, Convergence Accelerator, US National Science Foundation
Dr. Linda Molnar is a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, and thought leader. She has expertise in leading change, program development, and partnership building. She is passionate about creating actionable solutions for preventing climate change while driving forward economic development goals. Fifteen years identifying strategic needs, developing and executing global programs for federal government agencies, technology and biotechnology start-ups, and investors. Currently, Linda is a Program Director for the NSF Convergence Accelerator Program in the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) directorate at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The Convergence Accelerator is a relatively new organizational structure and activity within the NSF, designed to accelerate the transition of use-inspired convergence research into practice in areas of national importance. As Program Director, she launched the NSF Convergence Accelerator funding opportunity “Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges,” including environmentally sustainable semiconductor manufacturing and PFAS.
Previously, Linda was a Program Director in the NSF Engineering Directorate in the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships where she managed a portfolio of Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR grants on a wide variety of topics including advanced materials and advanced manufacturing. Prior to joining NSF, she was co-founder and CEO of Simpatica Medicine, Inc., an artificial intelligence precision medicine company based in San Francisco, California. Linda founded and advised life science startup companies from many universities. She has also provided strategic consultancy to venture capital firms, public companies, non-profit institutes, and the federal government. Her background includes positions such as Managing Director in the Life Sciences Merchant Banking group and Venture Group at Burrill & Company, Executive in Residence at Momentum Biosciences, Program Officer for the National Cancer Institute in the Office of the Director (Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives), and research and business development roles at Caliper Life Sciences, NASA Ames Research Center, and Rohm & Haas Co. Linda earned a Ph.D. from the Program in Polymer Science and Technology (Materials Science and Chemical Engineering) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s in chemistry (biology) from the University of Pittsburgh (magna cum laude).
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Wednesday, July 10, 2024
10:40am – 11:00am PDT