Maria Geraghty
Program Coordinator, Life Sciences
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
What makes you the best person for your role?
My background is in bioengineering, so I understand and appreciate the science that powers many of our companies – regardless of the field that it stems from. I have worked on developing electrochemical methods for eradicating antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the uBiointerface Lab at Pitt and collaborated with ROAR Lab at Columbia to redesign a high heel that promotes a more natural gait. Anything is fair game!
On the entrpreneurial side of things, I served as a teaching assistant for the Hk Maker Lab which taught engineering design and entrepreneurship to NYC high school students. I mentored students as they worked to address a health problem with a novel medical device and selected which projects would be incubated at the Harlem Biospace in Manhattan. This gave me an appreciation for working with and aiding startups at the earliest stages of development.
What is your favorite thing about working with startups?
Startups are energetic and exciting. There is always someone new doing something new and the potential to find the next big thing. I get to see these companies at each stage on that journey. It is also incredibly motivating to see founders who are so passionate about their mission – it inspires me each day.
What do you love about living and working in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is one of the most welcoming and collaborative places I have ever lived or worked. Everyone is willing to lend a helping hand in order to see you succeed. In this community, you will never find yourself without a friend.
Where can we find you outside of work?
Exploring the city! I have lived here for two years, but I am always finding a new museum, book store, or restaurant to check out. And when the weather agrees with me, I like to take in the scenery in one of our many parks.